Entries open for SPAR Women’s 10km/5km race
On your marks, get ready, go for the 26th SPAR Women's race on Sunday, 7 June.
GET ready for the 26th SPAR Women’s 10km/5km Durban race on Sunday, 7 June on the familiar flat course around the city’s spectacular beachfront.
The race follows a scenic route, with the majority of the 10km run along the seaside promenade with the inspiring backdrop of the Indian Ocean and the Blue Lagoon Green Hub. Over 6km of the course is run along the water’s edge with breathtaking views of the ocean skyline and through the Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct.
The two-distance race (10km and 5km) follows the same route as the 2014 event, around the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead precinct with staggered start times: the 10km race begins at 8am and the 5km race at 9am from Masabala Yengwa Avenue going north. After the Moses Mabhida precinct, the route moves east into the newly-renovated Blue Lagoon hub, followed by a long straight stretch along the beachfront, offering opportunities for elite competitors to really accelerate their runs. After this it steers back west to the finish at Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead.
Additional inspiration to compete seriously is provided by SPAR’s Grand Prix series, which sees top athletes vying for the honours in five race fixtures (Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg) to accrue placement points, with the ultimate goal of winning a coveted R150 000 in cash this year.
With only one race completed in the 2015 Grand Prix series, 2013 overall winner Mapaseka Makhanya (Nedbank) so far leads the pack after having won the Cape Town race in record time, bagging herself 20 points for the win and an 10 extra points for a record time of 32.54. Having just set a new personal best at the Hannover Marathon in Germany a week ago with a time of two hours, 31 minutes and two seconds, the in-form athlete could be the star to beat in the quick-fire 10km race.
But it looks like the Kalmer sisters (Rene and Christine), who featured in the top five in the recent Cape Town race, and last year’s Durban winner, Lebogang Phalula and her twin sister Diana-Lebo, will offer Makhanya a full run for her money as the stakes are high this year.
Not only is there a massive cash prize on offer, but the need to do well is paramount: 2015 is an important year for many of the South African top athletes as they try to either qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Beijing in August this year and for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Race director, Brad Glasspoole, said this year’s race may provide for some truly exciting attempts at some personal bests and records.
Rob Philipson, MD of SPAR, said this race is not only about the serious runners, it is about the social runners and walkers who are here to enjoy the camaraderie of womenhood, the challenge of participating, and ultimately a healthier lifestyle.
“We are also pleased to announce that R5 from every entry will be donated to KZN Athletics to be used to improve the nutritional intake of athletes in their District Athletics Development programme. Last year we donated R67 000 to this programme, and hope to top that this year,” said Philipson.
This year, the official race charity will be the Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home. R2 from each entry will go to the home, and online entrants have an option to make additional donations.
There’s also more than R65 000 in lucky draw prizes on offer after the race at Sahara Stadium, so participants are encouraged to stay on afterwards and enjoy the live music and the chance to win big.
Entries will be limited to 17 500. Race registration is at SunZone at Suncoast, located off the promenade, on Thursday, 4 June and Friday, 5 June from 10am to 5pm, and on Saturday, 6 June from 10am to 3pm. Two entry options are available: online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za, with payment by credit card, or manual entries which will only be accepted at the race registration on the three days prior to the event. Entry forms will be available from participating SuperSPAR, SPAR and KwikSPAR stores in KwaZulu-Natal. No entries will be taken on race day.
As a special bonus for online and bulk entries, Fordoun Hotel and Spa are offering a lucky draw prize of three nights’ accommodation for two people, valued at more than R11 000.
To enter online, go to https://www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban-home/ – online entries are now open. Entry forms will also be available in SPAR stores.
