The Dis-Chem Half Marathon has been consistently ranked in a number of our surveys as a well organised and well-presented event. This is traditionally the first half marathon of the year in Gauteng. It is extremely popular and in order to avoid parking and congestion at the start it is vital to arrive early. A map detailing the location of secure parking areas in and around the venue will be provided on the event website.

This is a big race in every way. From the well-appointed start/finish venue, to the watering tables and the marshalling, this race constantly achieves a high level of efficiency. There is a five kilometre ‘Dash’ held with the half marathon, it starts at 06h15 and has no time limit. The event will be staged for the 22^nd time in 2024.

This route will test your skill as a runner, no doubt about that. The first half of the route must be run with restraint. This is easier said than done when you are back from Christmas, driven on by a huge and excited field. Restraint. Enjoy leafy suburban Bedfordview as you meet and greet fellow runners and wish them well for the coming year. As you canter past the halfway mark, focus, for here the work really begins.

The next seven kilometres will prove challenging, but if you have been cautious in the opening stages, there will be nothing to fear as you slowly make your way to the top. Once you have conquered this from the 18-kilometre marker board there is a lively sprint to the finish.

There are 6 000 entries available for the half marathon and all entrants receive a technical race T-shirt in their goodie bag. There are 1 000 entries for the five kilometre fun run and entrants get a pair of Centrum-branded socks.

Funds raised during the event will go to the Lambano Sanctuary for orphaned children with HIV and the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation, which undertakes the sterilisation, vaccination and treatment of animals in informal settlements on the East Rand. All donations by runners, over and above their entry fee, will be matched by the Dis-Chem Foundation.