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Achilles is one of the oldest established running clubs in Port Elizabeth and for that matter the Eastern Cape Province, having been established in 1936.
 The club has its “home” at the Old Grey Club (Kemsley Park, Lennox Street - opposite Mount Rd Police Station). The facilities at the club are excellent and runners can enjoy a hot shower and a few beers after a run. Despite its long existence the Achilles club is relatively small, and has a membership of approximately 100 running members, plus a few social and non-running members. The club feels this provides for a friendly and special relationship among its members, which is usually lost in large less personal running clubs.
Visitors are, however, always very welcome and we enjoy large support of non-members on our training runs. Runners wishing to join the club are encouraged to attend the club runs in order for both members and the aspiring members to see how they fit in, before they apply for membership. This procedure may sound cumbersome, but Achilles have felt it is a formula that has served them well over the many years of its existence. Club Runs are run on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings from Old Grey at 5.30pm and distances range from 5km to 16km. The club is well represented in both cross country and road running and our members have performed well in both the local league competitions and the SA Champs, in shorter distances as well as marathon races. Road running is however the dominant area of participation.
Achilles hosts several races throughout the year, including the well-known Friendly City Marathon and PEB Print Lake Farm 25 km race. These races in particular raise significant sums for particular local charities. The Friendly City Marathon has been held in the city for some 20 years and is one of the most popular “City” marathons in the Eastern Cape. Achilles is also very active socially and apart from regular organised functions such as the annual (formal) Dinner, Xmas Dinner Dance, AGM and Prize Giving functions, braai’s, outings and other fun events are arranged on an on-going basis. This serves to strengthen the morale and spirit of the club and ensures it lives up to its motto of “ LUDUM LUDE ” or “ Play the Game ”. |
