Margie Saunders, local running legend for 35 years, is inviting all women and their partners to celebrate Women’s Day with family and friends by entering the Choose to Challenge 10km on Saturday, 5 August.
Her motivation for running: “Running has and always will be my best stress reliever!”
Margie started running in her mid-30’s and ran all her best times in her mid-40’s, including a personal best marathon time of 2.55 and two silver Comrades, finishing in 7.24 and 7.25!
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and endured six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before she could get back to her prior fitness levels.
She juggled work pressures but kept running and in her 60’s she broke a couple of SA records, for 15km, half marathon and marathon distances, including a few age group world bests for the 15km and 30km.
She has been struggling for the past 12 months recovering from an abdominal operation last year and a freak accident in January this year when she broke her ankle and foot.
Choose to Challenge will be Margie’s first race this year and probably her last before she turns 70 in September.
“I have really missed the Eastern Cape runners, particularly my fellow Nedbank running club members, and look forward to seeing everyone again, happy running all,” said Margie, who then hinted at her future goals.
“Soon with my 70 age category tag, I have some (hopefully not too lofty) goals! “
Margie Saunders epitomizes the inspirational strength which this event celebrates, consistently keeping her goals in challenging times, EP Athletics salutes this strong local athlete.
Last year hundreds of runners participated in the NMB Choose to Challenge 10km race, formerly known as the popular Diva run.
The Choose to Challenge race was renamed in 2021 in line with International Women’s Day theme and is open to all runners, serious athletes, fun runners, moms and their daughters as well as supportive men who wish to celebrate women with their participation in this event.
The race embraces these key messages: We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality; we can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements; collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world; from challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge!
Last year the Choose to Challenge 10km was won by Ikhamva Athletics Club top athlete, Melikhaya Frans, who had an excellent finish in 29.37, and Kelly van Vliet, running for Nedbank, who led the women home in 36.26.
This year, the popular Choose to Challenge 10km and 5km, which is presented by Eastern Province Athletics in partnership with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, will start from Cillie’ High School’s JJ Engelbrecht Sports Grounds, situated on the corner of Sydenham and Ambrose Street, North End.
The 10km will start at 07.00, and the 5km at 07.10. The Choose to Challenge 10km is an EPA Participation and Prestige League event and club gazebos are welcome.
The first 300 entries will receive Nike T-shirts and all finishers will receive medals at the prize giving and lucky draw, attendance only, which will be held at 08h45.
The cost for 10km run is R100, 10km runners aged 60 years and over, will only pay 50% of race fee, R50. The temporary license, required for the 10km only, is R40.
Race numbers can be collected, and late entries will be available, at Cillie’ High School’s JJ Engelbrecht Sports Grounds from 14.00 to 16.00 on Friday, 4 August. Both race number collection and late entries will also be available between 06.00 and 07.00 on the morning of the race.
