Following the sold-out Durban race, the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge takes to the streets around Alexandra Park on Sunday 17 August.
Entries are open online for the #Run033. There are two distances that participants can select from; the social 5km race or double the distance for a more testing 10km run. Both races get underway at 8am on Princess Margaret Drive, near Maritzburg College, and finish on the fields of The Oval Cricket Stadium. The race is capped at only 3,500 entries.
Cut off times for the two distances; for the longer run athletes have 2.30 minutes to complete the route, while the shorter distance, if participants are not through the 4.5km mark after 50 minutes, they will be pulled aside.
After the race, SPAR KZN will be giving away various lucky draw prizes. Participants are encouraged to stay afterwards to stand a chance to win, as prizes will only be awarded to participants who are present at the lucky draw, For the competitive participants, the prize money for the top five runners is R25,500 in total for the open category, with the first across the line earning themselves R10,000. In each of the category prizes totals SPAR is awarding the athletes R4,500.
There are two ways to enter, the first is online for early bird entries - visit the race website at www.sparwomenschallenge.co.za/maritzburg. Online entries close on Monday 11 August. If there are still entries available, then manual entries can be done at Race Registration on the two days before Sunday’s run. Online entries will cost R180 regardless of distance. 10km runners/walkers without a KZNA / ASA club running license, must buy a temporary license for the 10km race which costs R55 when they do their entry. Late entries will cost an extra R20 if entered manually at Race Registration.
Teams of ten or more can do bulk entry options by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details. Bulk entries close on Monday 4 August. Collection of race numbers and Goodie Bags must be done at Race Registration at The Oval Cricket Stadium on Friday 15 August from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 16 August from 10am to 3pm. No race pack collections are allowed on race day or after the event.
The official race charity for the PMB SPAR Women’s Challenge is the Childhood Cancer Foundation SA, specifically CHOC House in Pietermaritzburg. CHOC is a non-profit organisation that and their families. Five Rand from each entry will be donated to CHOC.
Join thousands of women for this year’s Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge on Sunday 17 August.
For more information, follow the race on social media or visit the website www.sparwomenschallenge.co.za/maritzburg
Top image: Ssstretch! Limbering up for the running of the he Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/ 5km Challenge that takes place on Sunday 17 August are (left to right) Cindy Watridge (SPAR KZN Omni Channel Retail Operations Manager), learner from Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School, Abusiswa Mnguni, and Natasha Jeebodh (SPAR KZN Development Design Manager).
Photo credit: Val Adamson