Most great South African races have a water feature of sorts, even if it is just the watering stations. The Elands Valley Marathon offers what may be the most impressive of them all: the waterfall at Waterval Boven/Emgwenya. This has long been a tourist attraction and many people return here for the sheer spectacle of it. The same can be said of this marathon. The route is mostly a downhill canter and crosses the river close to one of the most splendid waterfalls in the country. The route winds down spectacular mountain passes, surrounded by forests and farm houses built many decades ago. The craftsmanship of the 19th century stone masons can be admired from the road as you pass the old ZASM train tunnel and the five-arch bridge where, long ago, rack-and-pinion locomotives hauled their loads up these steep inclines. The equally magnificent stone masonry of the three lime kilns at the finish date back to the days of the Barberton gold rush, when burnt lime from these kilns was a much needed commodity. Many looking for either an easy Comrades qualifier or searching for an elusive PB come here. While the race is a marathon, and should never be underestimated because it is predominantly downhill, it is a favourite. The drop from the highest point to the lowest is more than 500 metres. All this adds up to real potential when battling the stopwatch. The challenge of this, one of South Africa’s most beautiful marathons, ends opposite the Ngodwana Mill Training Centre and sports field.