FREE STATE DSD ATHLETES HEAD TO TWO OCEANS MARATHON

By Masilonyane Ramookho

• Fourteen marathon runners from the Free State Department of Social Development are taking part in the Two Oceans races this weekend.
• They will be either running an ultra-marathon of 56km on Saturday, 5 April 2025, or the 21km half-marathon on Sunday, 6 April 2026.
• 2025 marks almost a decade of the Free State Department of Social Development’s athletes taking part in the Cape Town races.

On a rainy Friday in Bloemfontein, members of the Free State Department of Social Development Athletics Club gathered to travel down to Cape Town to take part in the Two Oceans Marathon.

The 14 athletes, including five women, from the five district offices will be tackling the 56km Two Oceans ultra-marathon on 5 April 2025, or the 21km Two Oceans half-marathon taking place on Sunday, 6 April 2025.

The Two Oceans event, known as the world’s most beautiful marathon, has a rich and extended history. Africa’s largest running event, 2025 marks the 54^th edition of the race.

All affirm that they are ready for the task ahead.

They are accompanied by a provincial communication official to showcase their participation over many years in the marathon. The Department of Social Development’s athletics team began officially taking part in the Two Oceans races in 2016.

The club came from small beginnings with a handful of runners, to now having more than 40 active members.

The department’s management and employee health and wellness unit made the trip possible.