Entries are open for the SPAR Women’s Challenge
Women are called to enter the empowering 10/5km race where they stand a chance to walk away with some exciting prizes.
ENTRIES are open for the 34th running of the Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge that takes place in and around the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium on June 23.
The uplifting theme for this year’s race is #ChooseYou, with the underlying message of motivating oneself and encouraging women to prioritise self-care, both for their mental and physical well-being.
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Menelisi Luthuli, marketing executive of SPAR KZN, said the theme amplifies their commitment to inspire a healthier community.
“In a world where external pressures often overshadow personal well-being, we encourage women to embark on a journey of self-care and self-discovery. SPAR advocates a balanced lifestyle where individuals prioritise their own needs alongside external demands, finding fulfilment in both. Ultimately, our theme this year emphasises that self-care isn’t selfish but rather crucial for lasting well-being and happiness,” she said.
Two phenomenal, strong local women are the 2024 race ambassadors. Inspiring youth wherever she goes, sporting star and role model, Precious Mthembu, is the current Baby Proteas coach and a teacher at Danville Park Girls’ High School, and she was a Protea netball player, notching up 97 caps for South Africa. Joining her is Dr Marise Subrayan, an award-winning obstetrics and gynaecology specialist based at Durban’s St Augustine’s Hospital, who is passionate about educating and empowering women and girls about female-related health.
The challenge route remains unchanged from the 2023 event, with the fast and flat ‘out-and-back’ course starting under the shadow of the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, and finishing on the outer fields. The 10km race begins at 08:00 and the 5km at 09:00.
Entries for the Durban event are online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban. Online entries close at midnight on June 16. Entries are capped at 12 000. The online entry fee for the 10km run is R180, with a KZN Athletics licence, or R230 with a temporary licence, and for the 5km, it is R180. Entries at race registration are R200 (with licence) and R250 (without licence) for the 10km and R200 for the 5km. Bulk entry collections are also available.
At this challenge, a field of highly competitive runners will compete in the national SPAR Grand Prix Series that travels around South Africa. The total series prize purse is sitting at over R1.68 million this year.
Prize money for the first female athlete crossing the line in Durban is R33 000 with the runner-up earning R25 000 and third place winning R20 000. The first South African woman across the line will also earn R10 000. There are also prizes for top age-category runners. A variety of lucky draw prizes will be awarded at the prize-giving, including a chance to win a car.
For more information, visit the SPAR Women’s Race KZN Facebook page SPARWomens10and5kmRace, or follow on Instagram sparwomenskzn or X (formerly Twitter) sparladiesrace.
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