New sponsor, new route & more prize money. Everything you need to know about the 2025 Mpileng TNU 50km
For an event which first took place in just two years ago, the fact that the Tshwane North Ultra has grown into one of the premiere 50km races north of the Jukskei River is a testament to the hard work put in by the organising committee. First run in April, 2023, the only single lap 50km race in Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) has made a name for itself as essential Comrades Marathon preparation, by attracting a number of Comrades champions and gold medalists such as Tete Dijana, Edward Mothibi and Nobuhle Tshuma.
The success of this fledgling event has not gone unnoticed because they have now managed o attract the race’s very first headline sponsor. Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the 2025 event which will take place on 19 April, 2025, Race director Mahlomola 'Hlox' Lebea announced that Tshwane-based education, training and funeral company Mpileng Group has signed on the dotted line as the race’s new main commercial partner.
"The truth is that when Mpileng came to us last year, we didn’t even have a sponsor and all they wanted to do was a water point. And when I showed them what can happen they said they are on board. Ever since we have been engaging with them we’ve seen how they work. They call themselves a small company, but I told them that they are very big - they just don’t know it yet. I say that because they have already been active in athletics in a short space of time. We did the Waterberg 73,3km a few weeks ago and a cross country in Limpopo, all of which were a success. So that’s the kind of support that we need," he explained.
In addition to a new sponsor, the fourth edition of the race which is run along the eastern spine of the Magaliesberg mountain range north of the nation’s capital, will also have a new route. Because of the construction on the main route that we initially measured, unavoidable changes have had to be made to the ultra and half marathon races which will start together at 6am. World Athletics Route Measurer Norrie Williamson says despite the enforced changes to the route, the spirit of the race as a tough pre-Comrades tester remains unchanged.
"The distance isn't your challenge. Your challenge is the 600m of climbing. When we did the measurement I asked Hlox if he was trying to find every single hill that there is on this side of the mountain?" He laughed. "There is 14% incline. In open cast misses they don't go above 5 or 7% incline, so this is double that. So from the point of view of training for Comrades - this is it. There will be mats, so you will be able to qualify for Comrades."
In addition to the route, organisers of the 2025 Mpileng TNU have also changed the prize money. Where the top five finishers earned prize money in the past, only the top three finishers will walk away with cheques next year as the winner’s purse has been upped from R10 000 to R15 000. Nobuhle Nobukhosi Tshuma who took fifth place (6:12:18) at The Ultimate Human Race in June after winning the TNU in April, is pleased with the increase in price money saying the tough race which includes hills like the infamous Rankatata, helped her to get ready for Comrades.
"This race made me run comrades well. I remember that early this year I was looking for 50km races. During my preparation for Comrades I mainly did 50km races. I told my husband Givemore (Mudzinganyama) that is a new ultra in Tshwane and I want to go and test it. Then I came here. At the start the race was kind and calling me - woza, woos, woos. But then we hit a mountain where I asked myself where I was going. This is a nice race, especially for preparation for Comrades. If you come here and run this race you are guaranteed to have a nice Comrades. I’m looking forward to next year and I’ve already started cooking!"
For those not aiming to qualify for Comrades, who want to enjoy a morning of fitness with the family, the event also boasts fast and flat 5km and 10km races which start at 06H45. Entries are open and the first 500 entries will receive a free long-sleeved t-shirt from Extreme Wear.
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