A great 37th running of the Forest Marathon

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KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Forest Marathon enjoyed a welcome return at the Knysna Oyster Festival this year with its 37th edition taking place on Saturday 9 July.

The Knysna Forest Marathon, which is the largest race event organised by the Knysna Marathon Club every year, took a break in its traditional form in 2020 and 2021, but was welcomed back with wide open arms this year by runners from around the country.

More than 4 500 runners took part this year across its half-marathon (21,1km) and marathon (42,2km) distances.

PHOTO GALLERY: The Knysna Forest Marathon 2022

Runners poured in from far and wide, with some making the trek from as far as Johannesburg just for the race. For organisers, the number of entries received was particularly encouraging as it came very close to what they were used to expect pre-Covid. This is something that many events are still aspiring to, and showcases the high regard in which the event is held in running circles around the country.

Winner in the 21,1km race Lloyd Bosman receives his finisher's medal.

As per usual the two distances both started in the early morning from the Glebe on the Prince Alfred's Pass (R339), where the road turns from tar to dirt. The 42,2km runners were set on their way first at 07:00, and the 21,1km (where the bulk of the runners competed) started at 08:00. The full marathon route took runners up the R339 to the Diepwalle Hiking Hut where, after a short forest trail loop, they took the Kom-se-Pad road.

Following this road up to Gouna, they ran the Gouna Road to the top of Simola Hill before running through the Simola Golf and Country Estate.

The route then took them down Old Cape Road, the N2 and a bit of Waterfront Drive where they finished at the Knysna High School Sports Fields as is customary.

Charl Msizi and Stanton Msizi tackled the 21.1km race.

While the marathon runners went up the R339 to Diepwalle, the half-marathon runners went in the opposite direction past the Denron Quarry, ultimately turning onto the Ridge Road. They followed this road for the bulk of their run, but did a forest loop shortly before Simola Hill, from where they ran the same stretch home as the 42,2km distance.

In the half-marathon, 2019 winner and defending champion Lloyd Bosman was a man on a mission, hoping to hang onto his title. He achieved just that, finishing in an incredible time of 01:05:39, even faster than his 2019 winning time, with Francois Maquassa finishing in second place (01:09:31) and Selwyn Matthews in third (01:10:33). The first lady across the line was Lijan van Niekerk who finished in 01:30:13.

Melissa Laing was the second lady (01:31:22) and Nadine van Driel was the third lady (01:32:01).

The marathon leaders were also running at a phenomenal pace. Winner Renier Grobler finished in a great time of 02:48:19.

Mark Hankin finished second (02:50:13) while Warren Kelly was third (02:53:21). Ladies winner Anene Claassen finished her race in 03:09:23, and second-placed Danette Walley followed her over the line (03:15:35) with Madelé du Plessis close behind her (03:16:22).

A chuffed Anene Claassen after being the first lady to finish the 42.2km.