Nobody finishes alone
Vasbyt Road Runners have met at the Second Avenue clubhouse in Bloemfontein three times a week since 2003. Hills on Tuesday, the time trial on Thursday, the long one before sunrise on Saturday. Walkers and twelve-minute kilometres included.
See the run calendarThe next four runs
41
Comrades medals earned by Vasbyt members this year. Eleven of them were first-timers.
23
Years of Tuesday hills. The first group was six people and one torch, in 2003.
387
Paid-up members. About ninety of them still pitch for the time trial in mid-winter.
0
Runners left standing on a hill on their own. The back marker is a club job, not a favour.
Vasbyt is Afrikaans for bite down
Nobody is left behind on the hill. Whoever is last has company all the way to the gate, every run, every week.
Four of the people you will be running next to
"I came to lose weight and stayed because somebody waited for me at every corner."
"Twelve Comrades, and I still run Thursdays at the back with the beginners."
"In January I could not run one kilometre. In June three people talked me up the last hill of a 21."
"Nobody here has ever asked what my pace is before inviting me along."
The pace leaders
Runs the hill session and counts you up and down it. Twenty-one years in the club and still cross when somebody skips the warm-up.
Takes the long run out to Maselspoort and back. Knows every tap, shop and shady tree between the clubhouse and the river.
Last man home on purpose. If the Naval Hill climb is beating you, he is the one walking next to you talking about rugby.
Takes the couch-to-5 km group off the clubhouse steps every Thursday. Run a minute, walk a minute, and nobody times you.
Come to one and see
Your first three runs are free and you do not need a licence for them. Leave your details and one of us will phone you before the next session.