Pretoria Marathon Club

WELCOME TO THE

PRETORIA MARATHON CLUB

RUN WITH HEART, RUN WITH PMC

WHERE LEGENDS ARE BORN

AND LEGACIES ENDURE

About PMC

Welcome to the Pretoria Marathon Club (PMC) – a beacon of running excellence in Pretoria for half a century. As we mark our golden jubilee in 2023, we honor our rich legacy, rooted in the passion and dedication of our founding members, including George Claassen senior, the father of renowned Springbok rugby captain Wynand Claassen. His spirit lives on through our flagship annual race, a tribute to his lasting impact on the club and the running community.

Since our inception, PMC has been more than just a club; it’s a journey through running history. Our members, ranging from enthusiastic beginners to elite athletes, have consistently brought home silver and gold medals from prestigious events like the Comrades Marathon, embodying the spirit of excellence and determination.

As we step into the next fifty years, we invite you to join the PMC legacy. Be a part of a community where every stride celebrates our past and paves the way for future triumphs. Whether you’re chasing personal bests or lifelong friendships, PMC is your starting line for extraordinary running adventures.

pmc hosted races

PwC GEORGE CLAASSEN MEMORIAL ROAD RACE

The 48th PwC George Claassen Memorial Road Race is scheduled for Saturday, 20th January 2024, at Faerie Glen Shopping Centre, Faerie Glenn. This event, with about 3500 participants, includes a 21.1km, a 10km, and a 5km fun run, starting at 06:00. Online registrations are available at entrytime.co.za, with additional assistance from Run-A-Way Sport. Late entries are accepted on 18th January at the Pretoria Marathon Club and 19th January at Pick n Pay Hyper, the race venue. Entry packet collection is also available at these locations on specified dates and times.

 

The race honors George Claassen, a legendary athlete and educator. He first competed in the Comrades Marathon at 43, placing third, and won it the following year. Claassen, a Comrades veteran with ten medals and a Comrades record holder, was also the Pretoria Marathon Club’s founding member and chairman. He passed away in 2014 at age 97.

BROOKLYN ROAD RACE

In memory of one of our members – Andrew Greyling
Andrew Greyling was a well-known former athlete and sport shop owner. At the age of 58 his life was tragically ended. Andrew Greyling and Marcel van’t Slot opened Run-A-Way Sport in Lynnwood on 10 March 1994. On 4 December 1994 Marcel was tragically killed while out running. In January 1998, Stein Steinbach became a partner in Run-a-Way Sport and in December 2007 Stein and Werner Steinbach bought Andrew’s shares.

Andrew was a versatile athlete who had received national colours for cross-country running and excelled at obstacle-racing. He came 3rd in the Two Oceans race in 1980 and on the track, Andrew finished 3rd in 1975, behind Ewald Bonzet (who set a SA record) He finished 3rd in the 3000 steeplechase at the 1977 SA Championships. In the marathon of 1975 Andrew finished 3rd at the SA Championships. His PB marathon time was 2:18:49