Understandably, there has not been a single Athletics South Africa sanctioned road race since South Africa went into lockdown on midnight 26 March 2020. Athletes are keen to know if any of the 2021 envisaged road races are actually going to happen, because of the preparation required for specific events.
A popular road race could easily serve as a super-spreader event, with the masses mingling in close proximity, bundling during the initial kilometres, and hanging around after.
Perhaps it is necessary to change the entire road race model?
Perhaps time trails at local athletics club level should serve as first level screening. Only those that run a certain distance below a certain time should be permitted to complete at an area level, where in turn screening permit to elevate to a next geographical level. Provincial and national races perhaps limited to the elite, professional and best performing athletes.
There are several race timing products available that enable staggered timing, or tap-and-go and end-and-tap timing. There is no need for ‘gathering’ of all for time trails.
Jenna Challenor, an Olympic marathon qualifier, SA elite and professional runner, and parkrun SA female record holder (16:35 on 3 August 2013), for example tweeted on 24 January:
Running Lab @m_running, among other replied “Yes, so unfair that rugby and cricket goes on here in SA, but no other sports”. It is quite ridiculous that contact sport may take place, but individualised competing not?
Goodwill. @gudi37 replied saying “You pro runners should be given a chance to race both @2OceansMarathon and @ComradesRace . We back of the pack runners have no business doing such hard races.” I fully agree. Localised clubs could (and indeed some do) arrange club (and inter club) events that are Covid compliant, with physical (social) distancing, own hydration, masks at start and end, etc.
Cuan Walker @runwithcuan replied saying “Athletes here are being robbed of some of their prime years whilst other sports carry on. It’s a real shame”, which is entirely true. Back runners can run individual or in small informal groups to their hearts content.
Mlungisi @mlu2468 replied saying “ASA is dead........’
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