In celebration of the 1 Mile Race’s 10th anniversary, SPAR Thembisa Mile returned with a bang on June 30 at Moses Molelekwa Arts Centre where the build-up to this year’s marathon kicked off.
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Thembisa Mile attracts competitors throughout the country and these athletes must use both physical and mental power to complete the marathon.
The Thembisan joined the Thembisa Mile this year as a media partner and was also present at the launch event on Thursday.
Road-running dignitaries, sponsors like Spar, City of Ekurhuleni, past winners, top athletes and sports figures attended the launch.
Elite and social runners and walkers will turn out at Thembisa’s premier road running event.
The annual event, which includes a street mile (1.609km) and a 10 km race, will start and finish at Moses Molelekwa Arts Centre next to Makhulong Stadium.
Registration opened on July 1 and is available at www.thembisamile.co.za
Registration closes on October 23 or when the maximum race capacity has been reached.
The race is open to a total of 2 000 participants, with 1 500 entries available for the 10km event and 500 for the mile.
Ahead of the race, participants will be able to collect their race numbers and t-shirts at the SPAR Thembisa Mile Expo, to be held between October 28 to 30.
With the prestigious road running the event is again expected to attract some of the country’s top athletes, a total prize purse of R75 000 will be on offer for the elite field.
The men’s and women’s winners of the 10km race, which makes a comeback to the calendar after being cancelled due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, will each take home R5 000, while the winners of the invitational mile will take home R3 000.
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In addition, SPAR vouchers will be given to the top three boys and girls in the u-10, u-13 and u-15 age groups.
All finishers will receive a medal and a SPAR goodie bag.
Event organisers are also aiming to raise R30 000 for Thembisa Athletics Club development programmes.
“We believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and we share a vision with this race.
“This partnership is a great way for us to do that while contributing to the development of road running,” said Nhlanhla Twala, Retail Operations Manager, SPAR North Rand.
“With Covid regulations lifted, we are delighted to see sports events being held again, and the SPAR Thembisa Mile is always one of the most exciting races on the calendar, so we are looking forward to a strong field and some great times from the elite runners and plenty of fun for all other participants and spectators.”
The race will be streamed live on the Vision View TV app.
The SPAR Thembisa Mile is made possible by the event’s partners: SPAR North Rand, City of Ekurhuleni Sports and Recreation, Vision View TV, Lenmed Zamokuhle Private Hospital, The Thembisan, Athletics South Africa, Central Gauteng Athletics and Thembisa Athletics Club.
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