Enter Sapphire Coast Marathon

RUNNERS and walkers are gearing up for one of the year’s competitive racing highlights, the Goss and Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon, on Sunday, 29 October.

This road race – which includes a 21.1km half-marathon and 42.2km marathon – is designed to ensure all competitors can take full advantage of the aptly-named Sapphire Coast, with the race route passing along the beautiful South Coast shoreline.

Participants are advised to arrive at Hutchison Park, Amanzimtoti by no later than 4.40am to reach the train station, which is a 20-minute walk, as the train departs at 5am sharp. Competitors will travel along the coast to the start of the half-marathon run at Ifracombe, and then on to the start of the marathon at Scottburgh.

Starting at Scottburgh at 6am, the race takes runners through the town and out towards Park Rynie for approximately five kilometres before turning back north along the old South Coast Road. The route then passes by Scottburgh again and on to Umkomaas and Ilfracombe, the starting point of the half-marathon. Competitors will then go through Umgababa, then to Winklespruit and finally, Amanzimtoti.

The Goss and Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon serves as a qualifier for both the Comrades Marathon and Old Mutual Two Ocean Marathon with a total prize purse of R39 400 divided among category winners.

Anyone wanting to enter this year’s Goss and Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon must visit the website www.eventtiming.co.za/gossbalfe and complete the online form. Entry tags and race packs can be collected on race weekend at Hutchison Park, Amanzimtoti on Saturday, 28 October from 10am to 4pm or on Sunday 29 October from 3.30am to 4.40am at the Civic Centre.

All unlicensed athletes must purchase a temporary license at R30 per entry. Entrance fee for 42.2 km run is R200 and entrance fee for 21.1 km walk/run is R160. The age limit is 16 years on race day for the 21.1km event and 20 years for the 42.2km event with parental consent required for all competitors under 18 years.

This is strictly pre-entry and the closing date for entry is 19 October. Visit www.totiac.co.za.

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