Launch of Spar Women’s race
ILLOVO - The Spar Women's Challenge, dubbed Joburg's most beautiful road race was launched at the Wanderers Club.
The race, which comprises of a 10km run for the more professional athletes and a 5km fun run for the less fit, is scheduled to take place on 13 October.
Created by veteran Spar Challenge runner, Sonja Laxton, the 10km signature race route takes the runners along Corlett Drive and Oxford Road as far as Riviera Road in Killarney, before zigzagging back through some of Johannesburg’s leafiest suburbs.
The 5km route meanders through the plush suburbs of Illovo, Melrose, Birdhaven and Atholl-Oaklands, giving runners a chance to peek at some of the most beautiful gardens in Johannesburg.
Laxton, who will be running in her 80th race said, “I do most of my training in this area, and I think all the runners will enjoy the new 10km route. It is not as challenging as the previous route. There are a few longish uphill drags, but generally it is quite a gentle route, and I think the layman runner will appreciate it.”
The Joburg Challenge is the last of the five challenge races that make up the Spar Grand Prix, with the runner earning the most points from the five races winning a brand new car.
Other participants will also have a chance to win a car. As runners complete the race, the lucky draw slip on their number will be torn off and automatically entered for the draw. There are prizes worth about R200 000 to be won.
Schools with the most entries will win laptops and there will be a Bring-a-Friend competition, which offers runners the chance to win running shoes worth R1 000.
Reach for Recovery, the major beneficiary of the challenge, will receive a portion of proceeds from the race.
The first 15 000 entrants will each receive a T-shirt on registration and the first 15 000 finishers will be given a medal and a goodie bag.
Online entries opened on 1 August and close on 27 September, but late entries will be accepted between October 10 and 13.
Details: www.sparwomensrace.co.za
