Julia Barlow (60) recently put herself in the company of the brave hearted, when she ran the 21.1km section of the ‘Voet van Afrika’ race in the scenic Bredasdorp region.

This annual race which takes place in October is unique in character, taking runners over rural dirt roads and mountainous tracks over the Anysberg.

Runners knew what they could expect - some rocks, sand, water and gravel.

Julia thoroughly stretched her inner strength to its utmost limits when she fell 9km from the finishing line.

She aimed to finish in two and a half hours and although injured with a bleeding arm wrapped in a bandana still registered a time of 2:37:56.

This energetic 60 year old runs for the Whalers Athletic Club of Hermanus.

The woman who won the 60+ Masters Category is Nancy Will from Pinelands AC in 02:06:06.

The Voet van Afrika Marathon was held for the first time in 1978 when a local teacher, the late Eps Joubert, ran the Napier mountain route with learners from Bredasdorp High School.

Eps was convinced that runners nationally would enjoy both the challenge and the scenery.

The 69 year old David-John Price with his permanent Blue Race Number ‘5’ was the only runner who still competed and who completed all 37 previous “Voet” Marathons since 1978. 

He finished the 42km race in 05:30:35, representing the Fish Hoek Club. The Voet van Afrika Marathon will be 40 years old in 2018.

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