SPAR KZN Women’s 10/5km
Durban: Sunday 24 August
Celebrating women in August, the 25th running of South Africa’s most beautiful race returns to Durban with thousands of women gearing up to participate in the SPAR Women’s 10/5km race on Sunday 24 August.
The race takes place around the Kingsmead precinct with two distances on offer, the shorter 5km course or the longer 10km route. The start this year is in Masabala Yengwa Avenue with the route going north first, circling around the Blue Lagoon area and then a long straight along the scenic beachfront taking the ladies back to town. The finish is in Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead.
Race Director, Brad Glasspoole commented, “Simply putting it - This year’s race has a great route! The run on the promenade heading back towards Durban will be breath-taking, and surely will make it worthwhile for all the ladies.”
The start times will be staggered with the 10km race going off at 08:00am and the 5km race going off at 09:00am.
The race organisers have decided to limit the entries this year to a total of 17,500 enthusiastic runners - amazingly 25 years ago, in the first SPAR Women’s race in 1990 only 2,200 ladies lined up to participate.
“A quarter of a century, what a wonderful milestone we are passing this year,” MD for SPAR KZN, Rob Philipson said.
Continuing, he stated, “The 2014 race is a bit later on the Durban calendar, but I believe it is fantastic having it in women’s month. The weather is likely to be a bit warmer than the usual July winter start and it is uplifting to see how many people come from around KwaZulu-Natal to participate and I hope that you all will enjoy the day with us!”
The race registration will be at Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World from Thursday 21 and Friday 22 August from 10:00am to 05:00pm and on Saturday 23 August from 10:00am to 03:00pm. There are 2 entry options; online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za with payment by credit card of EFT, or manual entries which will only be accepted at the race registration on the 3 days prior to the event. Entry forms will be available from participating SPAR stores in KwaZulu-Natal. No entries will be taken on race day.
All online and bulk entries received stand a chance to win a 3 night getaway for 2 people to the award winning Fordoun Hotel & Spa in the KZN Midlands valued at over R11,000.
In the Grand Prix, top athletes will be racing to win the R10,000 that is up for grabs. Elite runners from around the country will be taking part in the hope of not only taking the top honours but earning points for the national SPAR Grand Prix.
In recent times Olympic athlete, Rene Kalmer has dominated the Durban race taking three victories in the last decade. In late June, she also ran to victory in the Pietermartizburg SPAR race, “I love the Durban SPAR race; the route is flat and fast, so you can truly test yourself and aim for a personal best time. You are guaranteed good weather and the support is amazing!”
Being mindful of the future generation of road runners, the official race charity for this year will be The Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Home. R2 from each entry will go towards the official charity and online entrants will have an option to make additional donations to this very worthy cause.
For more info go to www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban or like the Facebook page SPAR Women’s 10/5km. For a run through of the actual race route, you can go to YouTube and search for SPAR WOMEN’S 10/5KM RACE SIMULATION – DURBAN.
ENDS