Running – South Africa gears up at the weekend

This weekend sees the launch of the Western Cape 2021 Discovery Vitality Virtual Run Series with the running of the Firgrove Half Marathon. A second leg in the series will be run in three week’s time.

The Spartan-Harriers–organised event, along leafy Steenberg Rd in Cape Town’s Tokai and Constantia, is one of the most popular events on the calendar. Twelve months back, Khayelitsha’s running pastor, Lindikhaya Mthangayi took line honours ahead of Raydon Balie. In the women’s event, visiting Swedish triathlete Camilla Lindholm Borg narrowly held off local athlete, Kelly Nel, to win the women’s competition.

This weekend’s participants will race using a very different format, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Runners will take part in a virtual series, completing 5km, 10km or the full half-marathon on a course of their own choosing, in a socially-distanced, COVID-compliant manner.

Attractive prizes are up for grabs, but not on a “first past the post” basis as is usually the case.  Anyone who enters goes into the draw and stands to win one of a number of attractive product prizes.

Entries are now open for the second leg of the Discovery Vitality Virtual Run / Walk series, the Century City Express 2021 on https://www.topevents.co.za/event/century-city-express-2021-with-discovery-vitality-virtual-run-walk/.

Traditionally a speedy 10km circuit through the precincts of Canal Walk at Century City, runners this year can choose been three distances – 5 km, 10km and 15km – which must be completed over the weekend of 27 and 28 February to qualify.  Entries close at midnight on Wednesday 17 February.

Organisers are offering all who enter an embroidered running cap or peak plus and a bottle of Powerade, to be collected after 10h30 from a Sportsmans Warehouse store on Friday 26 February – as well as a virtual medal upon completion of the event. 

Discovery Vitality members stand to benefit significantly, earning fitness points for completing a minimum of 5 km or 6 500 steps using a Vitality-linked fitness device, or a Strava app and get 50% back on their entry fee plus a VIP voucher from Woolworths to refuel and recover. Vitality members who complete all three races in the series stand a chance to win a Garmin Forerunner fitness device.

Story by Stephen Ganger

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