Candice Richards, 30, who is passionate about running, is inviting all women and their partners to celebrate Women’s Day with family and friends by entering the Choose to Challenge 10km this Saturday, 5 August.
“If you are looking for a running partner, I’m the girl to ask, I just can’t turn a run down!”
Candice started her running journey weighing 106kg. Someone told her she was really pretty but too fat and that was the turning point for her.
She started with changing her diet and hit the gym. Her brother was the reason she started running when he invited her to join him on a run on his friend’s farm. That run changed her life.
“I stopped drinking alcohol, partying, quit smoking and focused on a healthy and fit life.
“I started running in December 2019 and in January 2020 I started a 5km a day commitment which lasted for 570 days until I had an ITB injury.
“I did whatever fitness I could during lockdown, from running around the garden’, to running on a trampoline, you name it, I did it!
Candice joined 32Gi athletics club and ran her first marathon in December 2021, her first Ultramarathon, Two Oceans, in April 2022 and her first Comrades in August 2022.
Her motivation for running: “When the bug bites, consistency and dedication can take you to your goals and dreams quicker than most people think.
“It’s not always easy to get out there, but once you are, you never regret a run in your life!” confirmed Richards.
For Comrades 2023 Candice aimed high to run a Bill Rowen in sub 9 hours.
“With hard work, discipline, and dedication, I achieved the goal, it was tough, but so worth all the hours.
“My next big goal is to tackle my first 100 miler in December this year, the Lofar 100, said an enthusiastic Candice.
Candice’s commitment to change her lifestyle and tackle her running goals one by one certainly reflects the aim of the NMB Choose to Challenge event, which celebrates women achieving their goals in challenging times.
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.
Enter online, on www.webtickets, before 22.00 on Tuesday, 1 August, the first 300 entries will receive Nike T-shirts. 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.