Heat takes its toll on Sapphire Coast Marathon athletes
The club also informs members that the AGM will take place on 26 October at Lords and Legends.
AMANZIMTOTI Athletics Club is proud to announce another successful marathon/half marathon.
The chairman thanks the committee and everyone who helped to make the annual Goss and Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon a huge success, for which to date there has only been positive feedback from athletes. Thanks to Goss and Balfe, Sapphire Coast Tourism, Kingsway Therapists, Rescuecare, Johan from JK Outlets Warner Beach, Mpact for cardboard boxes, Toti Gas for the ice, Hyundai for the lead car, Coke, Metro Police, CCPO, Avon, Bidvest Van and Truck Hire, Protea Hotel Karridene, referees and judges and Modern Athlete for providing magazines for the runners and Event Timing for doing entries and timing.
The weatherman had forecast cooler conditions but on the day it turned out to be hot, with over 250 athletes missing the five hour cut-off qualifying time for Comrades and Two Oceans. The club rescue bus made several trips for those who bailed. Big thanks to Martyn Clarke.
The race committee thanks the following water tables for getting up bright and early to supply the runners with Coke and water along the route on Sunday morning. With around 2,000 runners, the 16 water stations were kept busy. As the morning progressed, the weather turned hot and windy and water was in demand. The runners enjoyed some much-needed carbohydrates at the Karridene Hotel, which supplied bread, potatoes and oranges.
The water tables were: Rho-tech, Meumann and White, Hyundai Amanzimtoti, Venus Gym, Wimpy Amanzimtoti, Karridene Hotel, Amanzimtoti Lions, Amanzimtoti AC juniors and parents, Scottburgh Lions and Umkomaas AC.
This year the club joined the run clean campaign with the logo on all its water tables and bins. There were eight big cardboard bins at each of the 16 water tables but unfortunately the runners didn’t make use of these bins. This is a huge problem at all road races, with the resulting litter left behind.
The problem is being addressed by the relevant roleplayers. Suggestions have been made to fine athletes or runners must supply their own hydration. The simply solution would be to use the bins supplied so that everyone wins. The clean up crew started in Umkomaas and collected all the waste and consumables, finishing at the finish in Riverside Road, Hutchison Park. This year’s cleanest water table and a R1,000 prize went to the Amanzimtoti AC juniors and parents, Well done to you all.
Upcoming races: 23 October Mtubatuba Challenge at Ashley sports field, Ashley 10km run/walk starting at 7am.
30 October KZN 10km Challenge at Kings Park Athletic Stadium starting at 7am.
6 November Checkout Challenge at Kings Park Athletic Stadium 21km run/walk and 10km run /walk starting at 6.30am.
The club walker’s championship will take place as follows: 10km: 30 October – KZN Challenge at Kings Park Athletic Stadium starting at 7am; 21km: 6 November – Checkout Challenge at Kings Park Athletic Stadium starting at 6.30am.
The club also informs members that the AGM will take place on 26 October at Lords and Legends. Nomination forms are available at the clubhouse or these can be emailed on request.
Note that reflective belts are mandatory for time trials.
Weekly time trials are on Wednesdays with walkers starting at 5.30pm and runners at 6pm (both over 4km and 8km). Visitors are welcome to meet at the clubhouse at Hutchison Park. On Saturdays there is an 11km run and walk from the clubhouse at 5.30am for walkers and 6am for runners. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served afterwards. Call club chairman Des van der Merwe on 082-806-0348, captain Chris Stange on 083-301-3632, coach Cecil Clarke on 083-805-1277 or for junior track and field queries, call Riaan Vosloo on 078-457-1936.
