📽️ Marathon puts Barberton’s ancient mountains to the test
The race proved to be every bit as demanding as its reputation suggests, while once again placing Barberton’s extraordinary geological and cultural heritage firmly in the spotlight.
If the athletes who took part in the fifth Barberton Makhonjwa Mountain 4 in 1 Marathon, (BMMM 4 in 1) on Saturday had to describe the route in one word, “mountainous” would probably beat “hilly” by a considerable margin. The race proved to be every bit as demanding as its reputation suggests, while once again placing Barberton’s extraordinary geological and cultural heritage firmly in the spotlight.
According to Jacqueline Selaelo, Exco member of the Bellas Athletic Club, this year’s marathon was one of the most challenging events the club had to pull together. The race took place only five weeks after the club had hosted its GBVF Half Marathon, leaving the organising team with a short turnaround to prepare for another major event.
The race calendar also presented its own challenges. Having previously experienced a crowded September calendar, the marathon was moved to the second week of September, only to find that four races were being held across the country at the same time.
Initially, the organisers expected around 600 runners across all the distances, based largely on slow registration numbers. The absence of the traditional expos at the Two Oceans and Comrades Marathons was also expected to affect entries. Then, during the final week, registrations surged.
A total of 975 runners eventually entered the three races, including international participants. Although the organisers had hoped to reach the 1 000-runner mark this year, the final figure was still a significant achievement. “Entries have grown by 34% since the inaugural race in 2022,” Jacqueline said.
The race was conceived as a way of celebrating Barberton, its heritage and its tourism potential through running. And what better way to experience the area than by putting runners through their paces among some of the oldest rocks on Earth? The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains form part of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, one of the oldest geological formations on the planet, dating back more than 3.5 billion years. The area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018 because of the exceptional geological record preserved in its ancient rocks.
For the organisers, the marathon is therefore about considerably more than kilometres and finishing times. “It is about creating awareness of the World Heritage Site, encouraging people to experience the natural and cultural heritage of the region, showcasing Barberton as a running destination and, in the process, promoting tourism and supporting local businesses,” Jacqueline said.
The timing also gives the event a particularly appropriate character. The marathon takes place during Heritage and Tourism Month in a town that has been around for more than 141 years. For visitors arriving from outside the area, the marathon consequently offers a rather unusual sightseeing experience. Instead of strolling through Barberton’s history, they get to run through it.
The organisers have also earned a reputation for their pacers, affectionately known as the “bus drivers”. These runners take on the responsibility of helping participants achieve their targets and make it across the finish line. Their dedication has become part of the character of the race.
The runners were left with their own memories of the route. One runner broke the marathon down into four memorable stages: “The first three kilometers were a monster and kilometres 12 to 15 seemed to never end. The stretch from 27 to 32 kilometers brought Kwanja Soth'umlilo and Polly Shorts twice! When the finish was finally within sight, the Sheba Road section from 38 kilometers threatened to take the target away again.”
Another summed up the experience with the distinctly South African observation: “Makhonjwa is nie pap en vleis.” Yet despite the suffering, the comments also reflected the camaraderie and support surrounding the event. “I want my revenge,” one runner declared, while in the same breath describing it as a “very well organised race” with amazing support and giving a big shout-out to Bellas Athletic Club.
Perhaps that combination of punishment and appreciation is exactly what the Makhonjwa Mountain Marathon is all about. The organisers are also conscious that hosting a major event in such a significant natural environment comes with responsibility. The club is committed to environmental stewardship and heritage preservation, with runners encouraged to respect the fragile environment of the Barberton Geo Heritage Trail by avoiding littering, remaining on marked routes and supporting sustainable event practices.
Water stations and sanitation facilities are managed with the aim of reducing the event’s environmental footprint and protecting the unique landscape for future generations. There is also a strong community element to the race, highlighted by the partnership between the club and the Umjindi Taxi Association. The taxis play a vital role in transporting runners to the starting point, and the enthusiasm of the taxi owners and drivers has become part of race morning. By 03:00, while much of Barberton was still asleep, the taxis were already lining up to collect runners and transport them on the Bulembu road towards the Josefsdal Border Post.
It is a fitting example of how an event such as the Makhonjwa Mountain Marathon can bring different parts of the community together.
By the time the final runners crossed the finish line on Saturday, they had not simply completed another marathon. They had travelled through a landscape that tells a story more than three and a half billion years old, experienced a piece of Barberton’s gold-rush heritage and tested their own endurance along the way.
For the organisers, the ultimate finish line is perhaps even bigger: to establish Barberton and its ancient mountains as a destination where running, heritage, tourism, community and conservation meet. And judging by the runners’ comments, the Makhonjwa Mountain Marathon is certainly leaving an impression.
Anchen Coetzee
Liz Thorne
Mariana Balt
Naomi Roebert
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