With the race taking place almost six weeks earlier this year there is plenty of incentive for exercise enthusiasts to waste no time in entering the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Port Elizabeth.
Online entries opened last week and the motivation for local women to get in on the action is that the first 8 000 entrants will receive goodie bags and a race T-shirt.
The event, which comprises 10km and 5km distances, will take place on the Summerstrand beachfront, adjacent to Pollok Beach, on March 21.
SPAR Eastern Cape sponsorship and events manager Alan Stapleton encouraged females to join in the fun of “Port Elizabeth’s most beautiful race”.
“There are big incentives for the professional runners but, more importantly, this race talks to every woman,” he said.
“It challenges every woman to come out and test themselves in a safe and stress-free scenario, to exercise and to enjoy the fun, the camaraderie and the friendship of women.”
Besides the goodie bags, Stapleton said there were plenty of other incentives to enter.
“There will be lucky draws with some amazing prizes and, yes, someone will walk away with a year’s free groceries voucher.
“In addition, the first 2 000 online entries will receive a Women’s Challenge peak.”
While confirming the re-introduction of goodie bags, Stapleton had a message of warning.
“Please note that T-shirt sizes cannot be guaranteed, but we will try our best to give you the size which you have indicated on your entry profile,” he said.
“The earlier you collect your race pack the better your chances of securing the correct size.”
He added that race pack collection would take place at the Race Village at Pollok Beach on March 19 and 20 from 9am and 6pm.
By logging on to the website, www.sparec.co.za, and following the simple entry process you can secure your place among thousands of females, and a few males in drag, in the March 21 event.
Once they have entered online, competitors will receive race confirmation and a race number as soon as payment has been confirmed. They should allow three days for electronic transfers to clear.
Entrants paying cash at an ATM will have to add an additional R10 bank charge fee and if you pay cash at a teller, add an additional R43 per entry.
Entry for the 10km costs R60 and R100 for licensed and unlicensed runners respectively (licensed competitors over 65 have free entry into the 10km race). The fee for the 5km is R60.
Prospective participants can enter online until March 17.
Manual entries can be handed in until March 18 at: The Footballer and Brian Bands Sports (Cape Road), Action Sports (6th Avenue Walmer and Summerstrand), Sportsmans Warehouse (Moffett Retail Park) and UD Sports (Graaff-Reinet Road in Uitenhage).
For any queries with regards to online registrations you can contact 041-484 7860 from 9am to 4pm or send a whatsapp to 073-003 4134.