With a fresh route in place and a new start and finish at Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium Outer Fields, the 27th SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Durban which takes place on Sunday, June 5, 2016 promises new energy for participants.
This year, there are cash prizes and SPAR voucher prizes totalling R37,250, for the top category runners, and of course, elite athletes will once again be participating in the challenge as part of the nationwide SPAR Grand Prix series.
Now in its 10th year, the SPAR Grand Prix series has a whopping R160,000 cash prize for the top runner with second place taking R53,000 and third R32,000. In addition, the winner of each race will be paid a bonus of R10,000. SPAR also recently announced, as part of the 10 year celebrations of the SPAR Grand Prix, and to help grow the sport of running, that the winners over the last ten years will be mentoring younger runners for all the nationwide 2016 SPAR Women’s Challenges.
The Durban SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge, incorporates a 5km fun run/walk, and will start just north of Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue. Shortly after the start, runners will turn east towards Blue Lagoon on Athlone Drive followed by a scenic stretch going south towards the city on Snell Parade. Just before Suncoast runners turn under the Ruth First Highway and then south back on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, and clockwise around the Sahara Kingspark precinct and back north on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue to Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium. The 5km runners, will follow the same route but turn north at the Battery Beach Road and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue intersection, heading to the finish.
“As they say, a change is as good as a holiday,” says Race Director Brad Glasspoole. “We have managed to secure a slightly different route this year, providing some lovely long flat stretches that are all on the road for the athletes to really give it their all and incorporated a sea view for both the 10km and 5km events, so it should be exciting to see how things pan out.”
“This promises to be an exciting year for runners, ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games,” says Rob Philipson, MD of SPAR. “But the big focus here is for women and girls to participate in the challenge as a means to work towards a goal of living a healthy lifestyle, which includes having loads of fun doing so, and we will be doing everything to make this event as festive as possible.”
R2 from every entry will go to this year’s official race charity, CANSA Mkhuhla Care Home in Durban, a home-away-from-home to cancer patients receiving cancer treatment far away from their own homes.
As always, big lucky draw prizes are up for grabs at the finish, all female participants will receive a fabulous promo bag on registration, and all participants will receive a breakfast pack on completion of the challenge.
Entries are limited to 18,000. Race registration will be at Berea Rovers, 73 Jacko Jackson Drive (off Masabalala Yengwa Avenue) on Thursday 2 June and Friday 3 June from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 4 June from 10am to 3pm.
There are two entry options available: online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za with payment by credit card or EFT, or manual entries which will only be accepted at the race registration on the 3 days prior to the event. Entry forms are available from participating SPAR stores in KwaZulu-Natal and at registration. No entries will be taken on race day.
For more info email durban@sparwomensrace.co.za, like the Facebook page SPAR Women’s 10/5km Race or follow on Twitter for up to the minute postings. #run031
Photo by Val Adamson