Discovery Vitality is excited to host the second edition of its popular Vitality Run Series in Gqeberha next month.
The BayRun will be hosted by 32Gi athletic club on Saturday, 5 October, and will start and finish at Cape Recife High School.
The Vitality Run Series was introduced in 2017, with the aim to help people improve their fitness through physical activity. The Series has over the years offered iconic events in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal and last year launched the George and Gqeberha Series.The series is open to anyone, and Vitality members earn Vitality points for participating in races.
A field of over 1000 runners powered to the finish of the Rafi’s BayRun with Discovery Vitality Series last year.
Local retailer, Rafi Selvilya, of Rafi’s Appliances and Mattresses, sponsored the inaugural BayRun, but has since retired. Rafi has been sponsoring local running events for many years and continues to encourage all runners, the serious and the fun runners, to join this event.
Sinethemba Mirele, of Nedbank running club, won the21km last year in 1.13.29 and Cherise Carreira, of Boxer athletic club, was the first woman to finish the 21km in 1.21.12. Last year’s 10km saw Sinawo Poti, of Ikhamva athletics club, finishing first in 31.22 and Kelly van Vliet, of Nedbank running club,was the first woman to finish the 10km in 38.04.
Mari Leach, Wellness Specialist at Discovery Vitality, welcomed the Gqeberha edition to the national Vitality Run Series, which consists of 17 running events across South Africa.
“The camaraderie amongst the Gqeberha runners is inspiring, from beginner walkers to those looking to improve their personal bests, these series events really have a place for everyone,” confirmed Leach.
“We had a fantastic turnout and a great vibe last year in cold and wet conditions, so hopefully this year the weather will be fine and we will celebrate an even bigger crowd of runners at the start line of all three distances,” said race director, Jonathan Mandell of 32Gi athletics club, who is keen to see the event grow with Discovery Vitality’s support.
The BayRun, which hasEP Athletics league status, will offer three flat and scenic distances, 21km, 10km and a fun 5km. All finishers will receive a BayRun with Discovery Vitality Series medal and this year the first male and female winner in each distance will receive a pair of Puma running shoes.
The event program will start with the 21km at 06.00, the 5km at 06.05, the 10km at 06.15. The prize giving for the 10km will start at 08.20, followed by the 21.1km prize giving at 09.30.Participants can look forward to a range of super lucky draw prizes with the main lucky draw for R2500 cash prize taking place at 09.45.
Enter online at www.webtickets.co.za until midnight on Tuesday, 1 October, or enter at Brian Bands, Sportsmans Warehouse, and UD Sports, in Uitenhage, before Wednesday, 2 October.
Collection of race numbers and late entries will be available from the home of 32Gi athletics club, Wembley Tennis Club, 1 McCoy Road, Mill Park, Port Elizabeth, on Friday, 4 Oct, from 12.00 to 19.00, and from 05.00 until 05.45 at Cape Recife High School on race day.
Club Gazebos are welcome and encouraged and the Club or School with the most entries will win a branded gazebo. Runners can enjoy coffee, boerewors rolls and pancakes at the finish.
For more information, contact Jonathan Mandell on 083 414 2624 or Theresa Buchner on 081 723 8230.
