Roads in and around the Wanderers Sporting Club were awash with grace, beauty and pink as more than 15 000 runners and walkers took to the streets to participate in Joburg’s most beautiful race.
Once again a roaring success, the annual Spar Women’s Race was hosted on 11 October with women – and the supportive men in their lives – of all shapes and sizes donning their running shoes in aid of the designated charity for the race, Reach for Recovery, which is a support group for women with breast cancer.
Participants could either do the hotly-contested 10km challenge run, or opt for the 5km fun walk.
In the 10km run, Lebogang Phalula took first place with a time of 00:35:08.
When crossing the finish line, Phalula collapsed to the ground.
“Where are my babies?” she asked as she stood up again and then lifted her daughters and nephew over the barricades, hugging them tightly.
Phalula’s twin sister, Diana-Lebo, also participated in the race and took third place with a time of 00:36:22, just behind second place winner Rutendo Nyahora, who finished in a time of 00:35:49.
Cherry-Lee Schoeman came first in the junior category, followed by Nicole van der Merwe in second place, and Simonay Wetse in third.
The veteran category was won by Janene Carey with Ronel Thomas taking second place and Melanie Jennett third.
Judy Bird took the podium for the master’s class, followed by Ansie Breytenbach and Sarah Crooks.
Frances van Blerk won in the grandmasters category, while Sonja Laxton took second place and Virginia Augustine took third.
The entertainment was supplied by Coca-Cola Popstar winner Lyle Anthony, who whipped a pink crowd into a frenzy of dance and sing-a-long after the race.
For the first time, participants were able to recognise a friend or family member who has been affected by cancer by placing a message on one of the two Trees of Hope at the finish line. The messages were posted on the race’s Facebook page.
Details: www.spar.co.za
