Since the first official Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon in 2008 with some 600 runners, this early Comrades qualifier has grown to some 2\u00a0700 runners in 2023 \u2013 and the upward trend continues! For the 2024 edition on Sunday, 27 October 2024, Sapphire Coast Tourism and organisers, Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, are anticipating a number of athletes to take advantage of this scenic race.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmanzimtoti is an absolute coastal gem and this well-organised race continues to attract competitors who want to experience this beautiful part of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline,\u201d said Lynette Botha of Amanzimtoti Athletics Club. \u201cAnother major drawcard is the incredible community spirit shown through this event, from the welcoming residents and encouraging supporters, to the many causes being run for on the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Running for a cause<\/strong><\/p>\n One such runner who embodies the heart of Amanzimtoti is Sapphire Coast Tourism\u2019s own Romy Wenzel (40), a community activist and proud resident. Born in Germany, Romy first came to South Africa in 2004 to conduct voluntary work but found her place on the Sapphire Coast where she\u2019s lived since 2005. A decade later, she joined the NPO, Sapphire Coast Tourism which actively markets the region, extending from Athlone Park in the north, to Clansthal in the south, inland up to Umbumbulu.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis truly is the warmest place to be,\u201d she said, commenting on her love for the region. \u201cWe have the most stunning beaches along the upper KZN South Coast with coastal suburbs that offer tranquillity away from the busy city.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her role within the organisation involves engaging with the local communities, government, and private sector to create and advance tourism opportunities. This involves holiday entertainment in the form of the Sapphire Sizzling Summer; tourism node upliftment like the Sapphire Blue Walls; ongoing clean-up campaigns in partnership with the Clean Surf Project; and safety initiatives in line with eThekwini Municipality\u2019s Safer City campaign.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Support for Wheels on Waves<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Supporting the 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon forms part of this, but in addition to competing in\u00a0the half-marathon (for the 3rd time!) Romy is showing her support for an incredible initiative \u2018Wheels on Waves\u2019 that seeks to transform Amanzimtoti Main Beach into an internationally recognised tourism spot for the disabled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Started by the\u00a0father-and-son team, Wesley (43) and Reece Smith (18), Wheels on Waves provides disabled beach-goers with a specially formulated flotation device that allows them to enjoy the water. Reece, of the YouTube channel Rolling with Reece, is a quadriplegic who has accompanied his father into the water since he was young. However, upon seeing Wesley\u2019s struggle to carry him into the water, Friends of Toti sponsored a water-based chair which Reece immediately donated to Amanzimtoti Main Beach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the support of the incredible Beach Manager, Jace Govender, Wheels on Waves secured another chair to facilitate, free of charge, this incredible service for disabled visitors to Amanzimtoti Main Beach. However, a decade on, the chairs have served their purpose and the team has managed to secure two Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchairs (manufactured by American-based Angling and Marine Connection) \u2013 with more planned. All donations raised by Wheels on Waves goes directly to the purchase of a Sandcruiser.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is just about giving disabled people access to the water for free. Whether they\u2019re physically disabled, injured, vision impaired, terminally ill – it\u2019s for anyone who wants to get in the water but can\u2019t without assistance,\u201d explained Wesley Smith. \u201cWe are raising funds to secure at least one, if not three more Sandcruisers for Toti, so that we can establish this as a tourism hotspot for disabled individuals, and any further funds raised will go towards buying Sandcruisers and providing the necessary training at other beaches.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Romy says she will be running in the 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon to raise awareness about the great work being done by Wheels on Waves, and to raise funds for the purchase of more Sandcruisers, \u201cI am so proud to be representing this incredible initiative at the marathon and hope that, through this, we can achieve their goal of making our beach \u2013 and beaches countrywide \u2013 accessible for all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon Details<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There\u2019s still time to enter the 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon!<\/p>\n Date<\/strong>: Sunday, 27 October 2024<\/p>\n Venue<\/strong>: Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, 1 Riverside Road, Amanzimtoti<\/p>\n Parking<\/strong>: R10<\/p>\n Online Entry<\/strong>: www.eventtiming.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n Late Online Entries Close<\/strong>: 20 October 2024<\/p>\n Enquiries<\/strong>: toti.ac.racedirector@gmail.com<\/a> | 079\u00a0467 6457<\/p>\n Medals for all finishers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10km Race <\/strong><\/p>\n Route: https:\/\/za.mapometer.com\/running\/route_5534958.html<\/a><\/p>\n Starts: 6am<\/p>\n Late entry fee: R230<\/p>\n Temp licence: R90<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 21.1km Race <\/strong><\/p>\n Route: https:\/\/za.mapometer.com\/running\/route_5471990.html<\/a><\/p>\n Starts: 6am<\/p>\n Late entry fee: R280<\/p>\n Temp licence: R110<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 42.2km Race <\/strong><\/p>\n Route: https:\/\/za.mapometer.com\/running\/route_5470780.html<\/a><\/p>\n Starts: 5.30am<\/p>\n Late entry fee: R400<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Late Entries and Race Pack Collection Details<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Venue: Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, 1 Riverside Road, Amanzimtoti<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friday, 25 October 2024 | 4pm to 7pm<\/p>\n Saturday, 26 October 2024 | 10am to 4pm<\/p>\n Sunday, 27 October 2024 | From 4.30am<\/p>\n *No entries on race day<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information about the Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon, contact 079 467 6457 or email toti.ac.racedirector.co.za.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information about the Sapphire Coast, visit www.sapphirecoasttourism.co.za<\/a> or the Sapphire Coast Tourism<\/a> Facebook page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n