With you in the long run
As one of the most challenging road races in the world, the Comrades Marathon is one of the much anticipated event in South Africa. As a proudly South African company that promotes health, wellness and accessible quality healthcare, this ultra-marathon is an ideal fit for Bonitas to talk about health and celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
As a major sponsor of the Comrades Marathon for the past decade, Bonitas has renewed its contract for an additional four years. The brand’ s stance on the race is simple:“ As a proudly South African company that promotes accessible quality healthcare, we feel this ultra-marathon is an ideal fit for us to talk about making good wellness choices every day and celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
The Comrades Marathon, an ultra-marathon run annually between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, is celebrated as“ the ultimate human race”. It is a triumph of camaraderie and determination. Every year, nearly twenty thousand local and international runners tackle the gruelling 90 km race – one of the highlights on the athletics calendar.
The renewed sponsorship sees Bonitas continue to host the already popular Novice Seminars held around the country to assist rookie Comrades runners to get race-ready for this unique challenge. The training programmes and advice include rest, nutrition, hydration and pacing. Bonitas will also host 12 national Comrades general training seminars and five breakfast seminars directed specifically at the women who take on this annual challenge.
“ Our vision is to stage the biggest and best ultramarathon in the world and to remain the most inclusive sporting event in South Africa,” says Chris Fisher, General Manager of the Comrades Marathon Association.
“ Our association with Bonitas is long standing and we are thrilled that they will continue to support us in making this iconic sporting event the success it is. The tenacity of the runners is testament to the race’ s legacy. Nothing deters them in their quest to cross that finish line in the cut-off time of 12 hours, often helped by fellow runners. They are further bolstered by the spectators that line the route. The Comrades showcases true grit and endurance and we are proud to have Bonitas share this amazing journey with us.”
For Bonitas, the partnership with the Comrades is about being there every step of the way, from the preparation and determination of the training regime, to race day, we will be alongside each of the 18 000 + runners as well as the organisers, families and crowd cheering them on.
The 2017 Comrades Marathon will start outside the City Hall in Durban at 05:30 on Sunday, 4 June 2017 and the cut-off time is 12 hours later in Pietermaritzburg.
B-Living Issue 1, 2017 Page 20