{"id":17226,"date":"2018-04-04T16:28:20","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T14:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/?p=17226"},"modified":"2018-04-04T16:28:20","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T14:28:20","slug":"africanx-pays-tribute-to-trail-runners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/press-release\/africanx-pays-tribute-to-trail-runners\/","title":{"rendered":"AfricanX pays tribute to trail runners"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trail runners taking part in South Africa\u2019s premier three-day Stage Trail Run, the AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS the weekend of 27 \u2013 29 April 2018, are encouraged to send through their nominations for the event\u2019s cherished \u2018Sanet Wentzel Spirit Award\u2019.<\/p>\n

Introduced in 2010, one year after the AfricanX\u2019s inception (the event celebrates its 10th<\/sup> anniversary this year), the award was founded in memory of Sanet Wentzel, an AfricanX participant who passed away tragically at the end of 2009 after being knocked down by a car during a morning training run.<\/p>\n

Wentzel had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed AfricanX to the fullest so much so that she could not wait to compete again in 2010. Sadly this dream did not come to fruition.\u00a0\u00a0 The \u2018Sanet Wentzel Spirit Award\u2019 was introduced in memory of this fallen athlete.\u00a0 Today the award honours AfricanX entrants who persevere irrespective of the adversity that they face.<\/p>\n

In 2017 the award was presented to Anele Mnukwa, a petrol attendant from Grabouw.<\/p>\n

Mnukwa had always wanted to take part in AfricanX, but was not able to cover the entry fee.\u00a0 After hearing about his dream, Big Box Containers offered him a complimentary team entry.\u00a0 With only two weeks to the start of the event, Mnukwa and team mate Francois Groenewald immediately started training. \u00a0\u00a0While running the XTERRA route in Grabouw on the Monday, Anele fell and seriously injured his leg.\u00a0 Although the injury became infected, the team scheduled their second training session for the Friday, but Anele did not show up.\u00a0 Francois later learned that Anele had been attacked by seven men who stole his shoes and watch.\u00a0 Thankfully he walked away unscathed.\u00a0 The team\u2019s dream of racing AfricanX had been cut short.\u00a0 Their new goal was just to finish each stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning the Sanet Wentzel Award was the best part of AfricanX,\u201d says Mnukwa.\u00a0 \u201cI felt like a champion.\u00a0 Now I want to win more awards.\u00a0 I am happy to say that my leg injury has heeled nicely and that my training is going well.\u00a0 I am training six times a week, mostly on the road with some jeep track in between.\u00a0 I\u2019m averaging +- 120km a week.\u00a0 Francois and I try to run together at least three times a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to sleeping in the Big Box Container again,\u201d continues Mnukwa.\u00a0 \u201cThe container sleeps really well and I can safely store all my personal belongings.\u00a0 I am really looking forward to experiencing the trails as this year the event will be hosted at a new venue.\u00a0 My goal is for \u201cTeam Big Box\u201d to finish in a Top Five position.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honour to know that Anele has confidence in me as a partner,\u201d says Groenewald.\u00a0 \u201cIt meant the world to me when he won the Sanet Wentzel Award. Irrespective of the hardship that he endures, he still goes out every day and runs 20 \u2013 40kms in the dark.\u00a0 He is used to podium finishes, but before AfricanX he had never won an award that praised him as a person.\u00a0 We are incredibly thankful to the Big Box family for seeing our potential as athletes and realising our needs.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0In turn they motivated us to perform better than we thought we could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Irrespective of the trials faced, Team Big Box\u2019s Anele Mnukwa and Francois Groenewald completed the three stages of the 2017 AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS in a combined time of 09 hours 03 minutes 22 seconds, securing an overall 10th<\/sup> place positon in the men\u2019s team category.<\/p>\n

According to Willie Ward, Director of Big Box Containers, Anele and Francois are true Big Box ambassadors.\u00a0 \u201cThey never give up.\u00a0 On any given day you are sure to find Anele training on the N2 just outside of Grabouw.\u00a0 Awards come and go, but the Sanet Wentzel Award was special because it was as if the universe just said to Anele \u2018you are good enough\u2019 and showed that people recognize his challenges.\u00a0 Both Anele and Francois are very talented runners, but more so they are nice guys.\u00a0 We count ourselves lucky to have them run in the Big Box colours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nominate a runner now<\/u><\/em><\/strong>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Trail runners taking part in the 2018 <\/strong>AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS <\/strong>are encouraged to send their \u2018Sanet Wentzel Spirit Award\u2019 nominations with a short description to niquita@stillwatersports.com
\n<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

EVENT INFORMATION<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 2018 AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Teams of two (male\/female\/mixed) will be seen putting teamwork and endurance to the test when they battle it out on a route that will vary in distance between 22 – 34km each day.\u00a0 The three routes have been planned in such a way that the runners will have the opportunity to tackle a different breath-taking scenic route each day.<\/p>\n

DATE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>27 \u2013 29 April 2018<\/p>\n

FORMAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Three-day stage race \/ teams of two (male\/female\/mixed)<\/p>\n

VENUE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Boschendal Wine Estate (Stellenbosch\/Franschhoek)<\/strong><\/p>\n

DISTANCE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Between +- 22km \u2013 +- 38km each day
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

BEST DRESSED COMPETITION:\u00a0 <\/strong>Although all three stages of the AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS <\/strong>are equally special, Stage Two features \u2018that extra flair\u2019 with trail runners allowing their creative sides to get the better of them as they try to outdo their rivals in the AfricanX\u2019s \u201cBest Dressed\u201d competition.\u00a0 With awesome sponsor prizes up for grabs, \u201cDress Up Day\u201d is sure to be the source of much excitement.<\/p>\n

Follow us on Face Book:\u00a0 <\/strong>Stillwater Trail Running<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us on Twitter: \u00a0<\/strong>@ASICS_ZA<\/a> \/ @runtheafricanx<\/a><\/p>\n

For additional information on the AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS contact Stillwater Sports on 082\u00a0991 0045 or email entries@stillwatersports.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/p>\n

Issued by:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NEWSPORT MEDIA<\/a><\/p>\n

On behalf of:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 STILLWATER SPORTS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d Trail runners taking part in South Africa\u2019s premier three-day Stage Trail Run, the AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS the weekend of 27 \u2013 29 April 2018, are encouraged to send through their nominations for the event\u2019s cherished \u2018Sanet Wentzel Spirit Award\u2019. Introduced in 2010, one year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":58746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1206],"tags":[3107,2771,2772,3150],"class_list":["post-17226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-press-release","tag-africanx","tag-africanx-trailrun","tag-asics","tag-trail-run"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17226\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}