Mapping the way for Unogwaja Challenge
MapIT has been providing an interactive route map of the Comrades Marathon, indicating the route profile, kilometre markers, refreshment stations, medical points, landmarks, hotspots and spectator points, since 2009. It is now extending this to assist the team undertaking the Unogwaja Challenge from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg.
In 1931, Phil Masterton-Smith, known as Unogwaja (The Hare) by the local Zulus, became the youngest ever Comrades winner at age 19, a record that still stands today. In 1933, unable to afford the train fare to Pietermaritzburg, he opted to cycle from Cape Town and still managed to finish the marathon 10th overall.
In 2011, four men and one woman, inspired by passion for the 'challenge', attempted this feat again for the first time since then. For the second year running, this extraordinary team takes on the Unogwaja Challenge, which involves cycling for 1766 kms in 10 days and finishing off on the 11th day by running one of the world's most gruelling marathons, the Comrades - 89 kms in under 12 hours - all in the name of charity.
"We have created a site that will monitor each individual person's total distance travelled per day, indicate the cities the athletes will be staying overnight and, most importantly, live tracking services," said Carey Dodd, marketing manager for mapIT. "Each team member has a device that is tracked via IntelliSports and this information is fed to the public through the company's interface."
The challengers set off from Cape Town at 4am on Thursday 24 May 2012 and will reach Pietermaritzburg on 3 June 2012. To monitor their progress, go to http://unogwajachallenge.mapit.co.za.
