Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 114, January 2019 | Page 6

Have Your SAY LETTERS Got something on your mind that you want to share, a burning question you want answered, or a good story to tell? Then send it to [email protected], and add a pic if you can. Letters should preferably be no more than 300 words long, and pics must be high-resolution to be usable in print. (Note that letters may be shortened due to space limitations.) SPOILT FOR CHOICE EDITOR’S PICK WHERE IS THE BLACK TALENT? I so wish the black female South African contenders for the Comrades Marathon can get much-needed support financially in their preparations for the race. I’m yet to see an article where it gets reported that they are camping in Kenya or other countries for a couple of months preparing for the Big C. Nutrition and running apparel isn’t enough. Surely they can’t afford such trips, and are in no position to take unpaid leave for that period of time. Yet so much is expected from them on race day. Visiting the Eastern Cape in December just made me realise... We runners in the Western Cape are lucky to have at least two races a week, not even to talk about the mid-week races! By comparison, in the Eastern Cape there is a serious lack of races. I really missed my racing weekends while I was away. – Cheryl Louise Green, Cape Town Those of us living in the major urban centres definitely have far more events to participate in, but we also have the problem of events clashing, thus forcing us to choose between great races when we would like to run them all! Pro’s and cons, as they say. – Ed. RACE CALE NDAR Powell Drive, near Stellenbosch, 8:30am, 8:40am & 8:42am Ugene Nel 082 658 3078 Friday 25 January Top Gear Nite Race 10km & 5km, Top Gear Sports Shop, Hibernia Street, I therefore think it is up to the athletes to decide whether they want to pursue the Comrades path, or to stick to shorter standard distances... and I think we need to respect their choice if they do opt for the standard option. After all, the most lucrative international events are nearly all standard distances up to the marathon, not ultra- marathons, and I would ideally like to see our top athletes doing well on the world stage, not just in one event on the SA calendar. – Ed. 6 ISSUE 114 JANUARY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za FAR NORTH LIMPOPO George, 6pm, Sidwell Oktober 078 395 8489 Saturday 19 January Thornhill Seeff & Spar 3-in-1 Half Marathon, 10km WESTERN PROVINCE & 5km, Thornhill Shopping Centre, Shelley Drive, Polokwane, 6:30am, Saturday 5 January Corrie Calitz 072 149 2674 Stragglers Beachcomber 15km & 4km PLUS 10km Walk, Strandfontein Sunday 20 January Saturda y 5 January MPUMALANGA Pavilion, Strandfontein Road, 6:30am Cape Summer Trail Series #2 13.4km Runstac Kearsney Striders les 10km 6:45am, Allen Barnes Half & 7:30am PLUS & 6.3km, Lebanon Forest, Grabouw, & 4km, 10km, KwaZulu-Natal, Marathon & Ostrich Cape Town Ranch, Saturday 19 January 20 January 083 858 5857 7:30am & 8:05am, Wildrunner Events off N7, Philadelp Van Schoorsdrif Eskom 021 821 9898 (w) Anglo Power Run hia, Western Road, Sunday 13 January Cape Summer 3-in-1 8:30am, Trail Series 32km, Half Marathon, Cape, The Grind 12km 30km & 15km, Bay 10km & 5km, NutriBullet Bay to #3 HQ 021 & 6.2km, Meerendal Dirtopia Ride & Run 10km Trail Run, Saturda 813 9282 Eskom Wine Estate, Bay (30) & Hout Saturda y 26 January Park, Witbank, 6am, Jafta on y 26 January (w) Cove, Camps Pearce Street, Berea, Maiden’s Durbanville, Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Farm, 7:30pm & 7:50pm, Ottosda 5:45pm, Mahlangu Gajiga Sharon 072 213 9594 l Nite Maratho Run 5km, Harbour (15), 5:30am (30) & 7:30am Eldridge 083 284 Wildrunner Bay R44 between Stellenbosch & Klapmuts, Events 021 821 3781 Maratho (Inflatab Big Red n, Half Kleine Kuppe, 9898 (w) 7130 (w) Saturday 12 January le obstacle n, 10km Wednesday 511 (15), Top Events 021 Barn, 7 8:30am, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (w) 23 January 6am, Info: s), Nelson Saturday 19 January Show Grounds & 5km, Ottosda Olifantsf farmwhk Gesinsfees 18km Road, Middelburg Ferrocrome ontein, fitness@ l & 12km Trail Run, , 4:30pm Centurio East Tuesday 15 January (42), Nite gmail.co London Wednesday 16 January 10km (5), Time Eye 6:30pm Jacobsdal Golf Course, Hospital 10km n, Gauteng Ehlanze 5:30pm m TBC, More Kees (21) & & 5km, Taljaard Stadium, & ni Champs Sarel Cilliers , & 5km, Beacon Bay Cape Summer Trail Series #1 10km 6:40pm Naude info: www.ga Jordan Full Moon Run 10km & 5km, Street, Jacobsdal, , Triathlon Country Club, 073 526 Middelburg, (10), Standar GI Joe Willa jiga.co.z 7pm, 6:45am, More info: d 1.5km/4 4563 James Faber : Beaconhurst Drive, 5.8km, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Charity a Jordan Wine Estate, Stellenbosch 0km/10k East London, 6:30am, www.entryninja.co Clash 12km 750m/20 082 443 4193 Tikwe River m, Sprint Thursday 3 Rhodes m km/5km Graham Reynolds Avenue, Bishopscourt, Cape January & 6km, Kloof Road, Vottenberg, off M12 near , Lodge, Super 082 448 NORTH WEST NORTH 400m/10 0727 112 Highland Sprint Avenue, Rocky Events 19 January km/2.5k Saturday 26 January & 7:21pm, Wildrunner Saturday 7pm 15km, Town, Run Virginia. Stellenbosch, 7pm & 7:10pm, More info: Bay Trail Sunday m, Duathlon s Sunday 27 January 10km Standar Free State, 27 January & 5km, Rocky Race Office AEL Mielie Marathon, d 10km/40 : Volksrust 5-in-1 9898 (w) 821 021 No races Bay Resort, Time TBC, www.entryninja.com Gauteng Marathon, Half Marathon, Old Main Bridle Drift Half 057 212 January km/5km 5km/20k 32km, Urban Road, Rynie Park, Marathon & 5km, scheduled NutriBullet Bay to Bay 30km & 15km, Western Province, 13 3306 , Sprint 10km & 5km, HTS Half m/2.5km race calendar Sprint #1, in Marathon, 6am, 19 Shane Sunday Sports 10km terrific this College, Sisa a , January & Grounds, Gouldie Dukashe Super Saturday 4km, period with 2.5km/1 Volksrust 27 January Friday 25 January St Johns Stadium, Mdantsane, St David 082 332 9552 Sprint Volks Road, Welkom, High School, cnr for the 0km/1.5 are blessed Road, Houghto Obstacl Adelaide Johanne 5:30am, Philip 5:30am, Alex Kambule km, Kids Hohenort 15km, Alphen Centre, Tambo Str 1km/5km runners really e Wars Spier Twilight Trail Run 10km, 5km out these events running sburg, (9-11) 074 139 0550 McLaren 082 452 & Govan Mbeki Drive, n, #1 4km, /750m & Sunday 6 January South African Vian Road, to do so check 4569 Wimberl 6am, Time TBC, RACO: Sunday 20 January Volksrust, Winston Constantia Main Road, Constantia, Nippers VAAL TRIANGLE NORTH 750m/3k & 3km, Spier Wine Farm, on R310 as well as other great races ey 082 Gillits, KwaZulu Park, (5-8) Alwyn Strydom 081 Paul m/500km 550 7793 Kenneth and trail runs More info: with so many Friday 25 January 083 280 9798 401 2361 EASTERN PROVINCE GRIQUALAND Fresh @ Wolwespruit Trail Run 6am, Jerome , Longme COTTRELL -Natal, Castle Merton Baden Powell Drive, near Stellenbosch, Stainbank White River, Monday Trail 15km, including road www.en 8am, re Dam, – BY TOM WEST 10km & 5km, Kenneth tryninja. 28 January Mpumal Standard Bank Wednesday 30 coming month 17km, 12km & 5km, Wolwespruit Park, racing plans! No Race Scheduled com 6:30pm, 6:40pm & 6:42pm, Ugene Nel Field 082 anga, 7am, TrailrunSeries – Stainbank January Gauteng 23 January Wednesday make your 442 5833 Nature Reserve, Taryn Schools Defensor Van Wetten’s Nite Saturday 5 January Saturday 19 Jochemus Street, Erasmuskloof, Pretoria, Durban, 7am, Luyt disciplines and 082 658 3078 League 10km Helpmek Nite 15km, Aurora Naval Hill 6km, Naval Hill 7:30am January JointEeze Dan & 4km, aar Saturda Sprint #1, & 7:45am, Lauren Finlime FALCONER Mbombela Stadium, Madiba Statue, Bloemfontein, 9564 The First Choice Kollege y 19 January 7am, Eloff Hoffman 083 399 January Booth 082 791 AND SEAN Race 15km & Flat Nelspruit, Street, Road & 6pm, Hoërsko One Patterson 9 Spar, 7069 Durbanville, 6pm, Saturday 19 January North West Maratho 6km, Maratho Melle Street, ol, Empire Wednesday Race n, www.trailrunseries Victory Christian Organiser Trail Run 10km Sunday 13 January Half 082 801 Johanne Triathlo School, Jeffreys n, 10km & .co.za Run Braamfo 6:30pm, Albie de Waal 084 584 4112 3600 TrailAdventure Tiger Trail ure Rietvlei Trail ten bate van Wielie Walie Bay, n League 1.5km/4 5km, Lime sburg, Time ntein, 6:30am & 7am, Corrie Recreational TrailAdvent 0km/10k Ronnie BOLAND Acres Gardens, Pretoria, Rooies 10km Saturday 26 January Coetzee Club, Central & 5km, Tierpoort TBC, GSL: m, 750m/20 , Tri: 21km, 15km, 10km Speelskool 10km & 6km, Raka Wine Davel Memorial & 4.9km Chambe & 400m/10 Acres, 6am, 26 January & 5km, Nite Race, rs 083 Saturday 16km 073 905 2231 & 5km, Botanical 9582 Karen Avenue, km/5km HTS 474-946 Laddsworth km/2.5k Middelburg Legacy Loyd Makie Street, 082 332 No Races Rooikat Gouldie Lime Field, Adventure Farm, Rugby 3 Estate, near Stanford on R326, 8am & Primary m, Vaal Club, Orkney, Hilton, Marathon, Runclean Series #2 – Leon Botha 4km, Red Hill STBB School, 7pm, Theuns 7pm, Shane schedu 082 906 River Boat 7am, John Holliday Sunday 13 January Saturday 12 January Luus 083 Tempe led in this 4304 Shane 630 082 Tierpoort, Pretoria East, 7am, 8:15am, Info: www.entryninja.com 8729 Silverglades Sports Stadium, Bloemfontein, 10am, NORTH 8am, Yolanda North West Province 5km, 6749 & 806 36km period 12 January WEST N2 City Bluewater Half Resolution Trail Run 15km, 12.5km, , Kruger 332 9582 Table Mountain Complex, Nelson Road, Fish [email protected]. Gouldie 082 Saturday Hoek, Bay Challenge CAPE za Eersterust 082 787 Trail Run 19km, Sunday 15km 5496 & 5km, Dirtopia Trail Centre, Athletic Club 7.5km GAUTENG & 5km, Eesterust 12km & 7km, Mcoseleli N2 City No 20 January SOUTH WESTERN DISTRICTS CENTRAL Complex, (42 & 36) & 7am (5), Marieta 5:30am Secondary races schedu January 10km & 5km, Wednesday 23 Trinity Bluewater Bay, 6am Farm, on R44 between & Marathon, Delvera School, Table Mountain, Series & 6:30am, Colin led in this cnr St Joseph 073 470 4444 Stevens 7am, Germist Night of the Stars TrailAdventure 7:30am & period Parkins 083 651 inc CGT & Klapmuts, 7am, 7:15am, West, Soccer Stadium, January on, #2 THANK CENTRAL 7:45am, Lauren Pretoria Stellenbosch 3836 Saturday 5 January Triathlo NORTH WEST Saturday 5 Lawns, West, Booth 082 791 30 7069 S, Café, The Clay Sunday & 5km, n Champs Trail Run 10km Coverdale January BORDER 15km, Library Wednesday Tri: Hans 7:30am & 7:45am, Dirtopia Roewyn 13 Standar & Kudus TOM 12km (5), 18km, January , Saturday 19 January Red Men Trail Run Varsity Yale d 1.5km/4 & & 6:15am Sunday 20 January SA 7 Nelson & 10) Road, The Big Red Barn, East Campus, Brackenfell 10km & 5km, Brackenfell Sprint & 0km/10k 6am (21 021 884 4752 (w) Montagu Saturday 19 January Triathlon Sprint NEDBA Galaxy Grill Two 5km, Herold Wine Farm, off Kearsney Para 750m/20 Wits University m, Grant 2923 Views Challenge Champs Gouldie State Paratri NK 082 804 7pm, Shane 6:40pm & n, 6:30am, Olifantsfontein, Danster Striders Rogland Street, School, High Juniors Half & Free Juan Botes Bert’s Bricks Great Marathon Friday 11 January 10km & 5km, Moffett Pass, north of George, 8am, Invitatio Mini 400m/10 km/5km, & Road, Braamfontei Spier Trail Run 10km, 5km & 3km, 10km, Kearsney Brick Run Half This Race Run 10km, On Main Centre, 750m/20 nal, Sprint 6843 082 332 9582 Visser 072 222 Leon 6:50pm, Old 443 5010 College, Kids 200m/5k Tails River km/2.5k NAMIBI km/5km, Marathon, 10km Martin Road, Walmer, PwC Nite 10km, Main 071 648 7147 Hayward 084 Adventure 10, 5 Wine Farm, on R310 Baden m, A 6 JANUARY in Spier & 5km, Old Selbornian Club, Road, Botha’s Hill, 6am, Eusentha m/1km, Olen Park Various starts 8:30am Calenda (Dogs allowed 6am, Jennifer Rigby – WAS SUNDAY Ones 75m/2.5 Young to 9:45am, Rugby Stadium, Pillay 084 665 0910 r has from Saturday 26 January NEW DATE 5km & 2km, Potchefstroom, 083 531 9417 Jan Smuts Maselsp km/500m Bloemfo been compile oort, north Standar Saturda 6:30am, Chantelle ntein, 9am, 3-in-1 Irene River, , Du: Wonderpark Akasia & 2), Smuts d 10km/40 y 12 January of d Pat 073 466 9158 7am, Glizelle Run Christa Resolution Trail Run, Boland, 13 January Friday 12 January with the km/5km Wednesday 23 Centurion, Trail Night 073 718 Warthog & Para Alley Roads & Irene, 10km Marathon, Marathon, Half Road, January , Sprint help ure Kyalami 5427 5km/20k Run Half Tri Series TrailAdvent Midrand, m/2.5km 264 3931 of Tom Imperial Nissan PLUS 10km Half Maratho Mini 2.5km/1 Olympic Dis-Chem 5km, Wonderpark Center, author and Shopping 083 , Juniors #4 Triathlo Crusaders Running Kyalami Estate, Cottrell, Langerman 1.5km/4 Central Walk, Otjihase n & 10km 0km/1.2 10km & 5km, publisher n, Club 6km Night 332 9552 Windhoe Marathon, Heinrich Street, Akasia, 5:30am, Danie 5km, Kids 1.25km/ Sprint 750m/20 0km/10km, Nedbank Fun Run, Collegians of the Gouldie 082 January Road, near k Airport, 5km/500 13 January 7pm, Shane Sunday 13 Runner Run 21km, km/5km Bowling Club, Blue m, Young 6am (run) Gauteng, (walk), 500m/2. 400m/10 , Youth ’s Guide Lagoon, Durban, Badenhorst 082 458 8495 ure Smuts Trail Charles Road and Ones 5km/500 km/2.5k River, +264 (0)81 & 6:30am to TrailAdvent January 6pm, Ward Events m, Ekurhule m & Sub-You Off-roa Smuts Irene Municipa 200m/5k Gail Sunday 13 & 082 492 1995 124 9471 & 5km, Saturda d Races South Africa ni m/1.25k 12km l Park, Germist th 20km, 7am, 7pm & 7:10pm, Tierpoort Trail Challenge 15km, 10km y 26 January Half Marathon in m, Midmar Howick, Gauteng Dis-Chem Kempton Park, . Now in Irene, Centurion, on Lake, Sunday 27 January Bedfordview Sunrise Dam, edition, Time TBC, , Times Farm, Smuts Road, its 28 th Adventure 082 859 0801 & 5km, Tierpoort Jan w 5km Dash, Fun Run TBC, More the Runner Triathlon 332 9582 Road 074 187 Bedfordvie info@trin Elliot-Wilson January 082 PDAC 16km 25 Windhoe Buuren 25km, Trail Info: Plus Friday Watercrest Mall, Waterfall, ’s Guide 7140 & 8km, itysports essentia Pretoria East, Night Club, Van Shane Gouldie Rooikat Street, Tierpoort, k Trails, Farm .co.za is an l compan ure Serengeti Virgin Active Otjivero to Lahee Park, Anderson , 6am & 6:15am, Mopani ion Alley Roads TrailAdvent Street, Trail Hunter Serengeti racer in 16 January NORTH Road, Pinetown, 7am, 7:05am & 7:10am, Loweve SA, providin for every Entrance, Bedfordview 4843 Wednesday 10km & 5km, GAUTENG Tri Series 5am, Greg Patterson #3 10km ld Triathlo Park, & Duathlo Run 15km, Aquathl Trail Race 061 069 7384 083 453 g valuable info includin Events 063 686 7315 n on, 1km/5km #5 Swim/Run n Challen Estate, Kempton Old Charn Swart Zwartkop Nite Club, Wildlife & 58 g ge inc Golf Ushaka Country & 500m/2. Gilboa Challenge 332 9552 January Zwartkop times, route venues, start ISSUE 114 Beachfro Trail 15km, 10km & 4km, 6pm, Cowhouse 16 January Gouldie 082 5km, & 5km, Tuesday 1 Seasons at the Four Pretoria nt, Durban, JANUAR 7pm, Shane Wednesday descript Triathlon Bushwillow, Karkloof, rg Road, Centurion, 11km & 5km, and Dal Night Y 2019 Time TBC, everything ions and Plus 074 7am, 7:30am & 10km, 5km & 2.5km, 004 0915 (w) Avenue, New Year’s Hyper Berg 15km, Johannesbu Run Series / www.m 187 7140 January cnr of President 2 Cussonia else you 7:45am, Lauren 5km Events 012 odernat Saturday 26 Booth 082 791 7069 may want President Hyper, know about Ridge Road, Pretoria Botanical Gardens, Du Toit Run 10km, hlete.co , Cowhouse Market, BoutTime 15km & 5km, Tails Park Night Run to .za Daan a race. Adventure Streets, Krugersdorp 5 & 2), Rietvlei Trail Thursday 31 January 8588 ure 083 669 Pretoria, 7am, East, 5pm, Evelyn Botha allowed in 10, Market & Pretoria TrailAdvent Dam, Pretoria, & 2km, (Dogs Sharlene Gagiano Twilight Run 6km 082 572 4169 Kenmuir Street, & 5km, Rietvlei with Funky Pants, 7pm & 7:10pm, Farm, 168 Bert’s Bricks Great Sunday 27 January 10km 332 9582 7am, The Parks King Fisher Canoe Brick Gouldie 082 January Shane Estates, Benoni, Club, Blue Lagoon, Run Half Marathon, 082 512 9640 7pm, Series Trail Barn Saturday 5 TrailAdventure Safety Half Norton’s Home Durban, 5:40pm, Central 4 All Road 083 264 3931 www.funkypants.c North West, 19 January 19 January & 5km, The A4 Aerobics 15km, 10km Saturday 21km, o.za January Centurion Glizelle Langerman Thursday 17 Trail Run Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Killarney Night Marathon, Big Red Barn, rg 7 Nelson George Claasen Hyper, cnr Decathlon PwC Road, January 5km, cnr Old Johannesbu Pay Sunday 27 #1 10km & Half Shane & Gouldie 7am, 10km 5km, Pick n Lifestyle Centre, Olifantsfontein, Marathon, Centurion, Summer Series 5th Street, South Roads, Johnson Crane & Selikats Causeway, Course, 60 Sahara Park, 5326 9582 & Lenchen 082 332 627 Killarney Golf Atterbury Road rg, 7pm, 10km & 5km, (21 & 10) Lehomo 083 Marathon, Johannesbu Benoni, Pretoria, 6am 6:30am, Matome start Harpur Avenue, Houghton Estate, Faerie Glen, Wednesday 30 January ado.co.za Willowmore, 678 2140 – 21 & 10 walkers Barn Run 15km, sean@wann (5) 072 Tails info: More & 6:15am Organiser Trail Run Adventure TrailAdventure 082 649 4506 57 allowed in Owl Night 6am, Race Bert van Raad Run & 2km, (Dogs 5:30am, Club, Irene Country Nelson 10km, 5km 10km Summer Trail Friday 18 January Barn, & 7 5km, Night Trail Run Shift Wellness The Big Red MI8, Doornkloof, Centurion, 7pm, ure Dainfern Tails Tiger Walter Sisulu 1 10, 5 & 2), TrailAdvent Adventure Golf and 7am, Glizelle & 2km, 8km & 5km, in, 5km Dainfern 13km, Road, , 10km, & 5km, 9582 Malcolm Shane Gouldie 082 332 Road, Olifantsfonte 3931 Run 10km 21km,15km 7pm, Tierpoort Botanical Gardens, 083 264 in 10, 5 & 2), Estate, Midrand, , 7am, Jacqui Langerman Residential (Dogs allowed Roodepoort 55 Street, Poortview, 082 332 9552 Farm, Rooikat 907 0063 Shane Gouldie Adventure Glizelle Sunday 6 January East, 7am, Purchase 061 Trail Run ure Rietvlei Tierpoort, Pretoria 3931 January TrailAdvent 30 January Pretoria, Sunday 20 Veritas 083 264 Wednesday Nite Rietvlei Dam, 15km & 5km, Langerman Centre Neon 10km & 5km, Road, Garbie 32km, 332 9582 Arwyp Medical School, Nestor Gouldie 082 6am, Shane Barnard Stadium, College Senior (32 & 15) & 15km & 5km, Road, Springs, 6am Swart & Plane Pollak Park, Der Walt Between CR Lelani Van 6:15am (5), Saturday 19 January Run The Vines #11 Trail Run 17km, 10km & 5km, Doolhof Wine Estate, Bovlei Road, near Wellington, 7:30am, 8am & 8:15am, Lans Pepler OBSTAC LE COURSE RAC 082 787 2472 2019 FREE STATE KWAZULU-NATAL ORIENTE ERING NORTHE RN CAP E ADVENT URE RACING WESTERN CAPE 54 ISSUE 114 NEIGHBO COUNTR URING IES 073 561 4912 TRIATHL ON & DUATHL NORTH WEST ON JANUARY ES Great Sta rt! Off to a AR RACE CALEND EASTERN CAPE I understand your wish to see more black female runners featuring amongst the Comrades elites, but my perception is that most of the current top black female athletes in SA choose to focus on the shorter distances, only stepping up to the marathon distance later in their careers. On the other hand, I know that many of the pro/corporate teams in SA put a lot of store in their Comrades results, given the coverage the event enjoys, and thus these teams are undoubtedly pushing for more of their top runners to move up to Comrades if they are seen as contenders for a gold medal. Saturda y 26 – Sunday Kaia Manzi 27 January Rugged Triathlo Off Road n #1, Saturda 400m/12 y: Kids km/5km , 200m/6k 75m/2.5 m/2km, km/1km & 50m/1.2 Sunday: 5km/500 Long Distance m, 1.5km/2 6km/10k m, Kaia Bronkho Manzi rstspruit Dam, 6:45am, Resort, BoutTim e Events 012 004 0915 (w) Sunday 27 January Standar d Bank IRONMA Africa, N 70.3 1.9km/9 South 0km/21. City, Border, 1km. 6am, Ironman Buffalo 041 581 SA 7990 (w) Cassies 15km & 5km, Kabega Park Primary School, Old Cape Road, Kabega Park, 6am, Jan van Eeden 083 276 7483 GAUTENG With all the perception about their talent, not enough financial support and stuff, I understand how it’s so difficult for them to navigate their way to the top. I hope they get the strength to overcome all the barriers, and the myths about them. I’m hoping for a good Samaritan to give them the necessary support and nurturing from the grassroots level, so they can achieve top performances in the Comrades and beyond. – Sbusiso Msane, via Facebook Standa rd Bank IRONM Africa, AN 70.3 Triathlo n, 27 January South RACE CALENDAR Saturday 26 January RACE CALENDAR .za JANUARY 2019 rnathlete.co / www.mode WAY TOO EXPENSIVE I feel that a lot of clubs are starting to see races as a money- making opportunity. There is a particular race in January 2019 that has increased its entry fee by more than 30% from last year! The only way we can make these clubs understand that it is not okay to charge so much is to not run those races. Yes, it costs money to host races, and it also costs money to manage a club, but a reasonable entry fee and sponsorship should cover the costs. Charging R230 plus all the transaction fees plus an admin fee is crazy. Everyone, be it individuals, clubs, companies, etc. is entitled to make a profit, but you can also abuse the process. So I think CGA should set standard prices: 10km – R80 to R100, 15km – R90 to R120, 21.1km – R120 to R160, etc. Last year Rockies charged R150 for its 21km, and I felt that was fair, while the Pick n Pay 21km was R180, which was already on the steep side, but still palatable. This year it’s R210. As a family of three, that’s R630 plus credit card fees, plus the admin fee, plus petrol, plus paying for parking... Well, now you are at R700 to R750. Whereas for a few bucks we can join a club run and still have a whale of a time. Therefore, as a family we have made a decision that any race, particularly a 21km, that costs more than R180 per person will not get our entries. Have they considered the cost implications for many of our fellow runners that cannot afford to run these “prestigious” races? These costs have made me think twice, My apologies to those who think I’m playing the race card, but my dream is to see these athletes rising above the obstacles and being counted in the Comrades top 10. It just shows how far black female athletes still lag behind in terms of support as compared to their male counterparts. Sponsors must show up for them as well. It’s about time playing fields get levelled in that aspect.