Tens of thousands of women take part in the five challenge races held at centres around South Africa, with the Port Elizabeth leg the second race in the series. Once again, part of the proceeds from the race will go towards the Yokhuselo Haven - a place of safety for victims of domestic violence.
Rene Kalmer was the runaway winner of the first Grand Prix in 2007, but international commitments in 2008 meant several top runners missed two or three of the races. The final winner was Poppy Mlambo, who finished with 88 points. The top three on the Grand Prix ladder ran all five challenge races. What makes the Grand Prix very appealing to the runners is that they can earn points in three different ways:
Overall position in the race;
Position in age categories;
Time incentives, with bonus points for beating the time posted in the previous year‘s challenge.
Kalmer has dominated the Port Elizabeth Challenge in recent years but last year she had to miss the race because she was competing in the African Athletics Championships in Ethiopia, and one of her arch-rivals, and the runner-up in the 2007 Grand Prix, Annerien van Schalkwyk of Irene, seized her opportunity and claimed her first challenge victory in 35 minutes and 25 seconds.
There was a thrilling tussle for second place, between Ezbe Strydom of Potchefstroom University and Catherine Nkosi of Transnet, with Nkosi pipping Strydom to the post at the last minute. Although the competition is very fierce at the top level, most of the thousands of women who will compete have no chance of featuring on the Grand Prix log, but are simply out to have a day of fun.
There are spot prizes and lucky draws, everyone who finishes will receive a medal, and there are also free race t-shirts for the first 8000 to register.
“We are very proud of the challenge, which we see as the flagship event on our sponsorship calendar,” said Spar Eastern Cape marketing manager Martin Webber. “We believe it demonstrates our commitment to the region as well as to women. It is also the year of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, so there will be added interest.
“We will be calling on clubs, businesses, schools and tertiary institutions to participate in the race. We are also proud that the route in the Friendly City has been described as the most beautiful of all the challenge routes.”
There are six weeks before the challenge - so it is time for the women of the Friendly City to slip on their takkies and get out to practice.
Source: The Herald
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