Briefly, the race starts outside the CSIR International Convention Centre. The route is almost immediately uphill into the CSIR grounds for about 2km followed by a 1km downhill. You then have a fairly easy 3 to 4km loop out of the CSIR around the suburb of Brummeria - it's relatively flat here. Then back into the CSIR grounds for another serious climb and then a fast 1km downhill to the finish. The 21km splits from the 10km at 9km and besides an extra loop to make up the extra km, does the same lap again.
Yes, it is a tough course - make no bones about it. But there are some wonderful views from the highest points and last year we received far more compliments than complaints, which is why we've not changed it.
And here is a course profile of the 10k race, (so basically double this for the Half):
I laugh at this profile because the first climb is literally 'off the charts'. This person's motion based says there is about 1200ft of elevation gain/loss.I'm over-analyzing not because the course seems difficult. I know myself all too well: I am worried I will get to the race and not be able to just run it as a long training run. I will want to race. I have been running more than ever before and haven't done a road race since last December.
However, I have an ambitious few weeks ahead of training before I start to taper (NYRR 18ish miler, Half Marathon RACE, 20 miler).
I wish I could decide last minute, but doing the race requires a driver and a 4am wake up call.
Hmmmmmmm...maybe I should just focus on work and getting to Johannesburg tomorrow?
Man that's a tough decision. If you think you can do the run as a run do it, I bet the course is so hard that even walking it would be a killer training session. How many people can say they ran a half marathon in South Africa?
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