Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 122, September 2019 | Page 48

ADVERTORIAL
Runners
experience a New
side to the City at
the Hollard JURA
O
ver 1500 runners put away their ties, put down their calculators and forgot
about all those e-mails on Saturday 24 August for the Hollard Jozi Urban
Run Adventure (JURA) in partnership with Joburg City Parks and Zoo, held
at Marks Park, Emmarentia. Runners of all shapes and sizes got to explore their
city and Johannesburg’s favourite parks, all while experiencing the unexpected
along the way.
This year’s race featured new and improved 6km, 12km and 18km routes, to keep
things exciting without compromising the Hollard JURA signature vibe. Russell
Willis, BAM Event & Activation Creators, expands: “We can definitely see that
runners from around Johannesburg and beyond, loved the event and appreciated
the work that we put into keeping it a fun, inclusive and family-friendly event. We
work hard on getting the right mix, and based on feedback, we’ve found that
balance. The Hollard JURA is an event challenging enough for those who like it
tough, but fun enough for those who just want to have a fun and healthy day out.”
that we face in our day jobs, the run was definitely a much easier challenge to face.
The EMS team loved the run, and we definitely plan on bringing an even bigger team
next year. Because the fitter we are, the better,” concludes Mzolo.
The Hollard JURA is all-out fun, but it’s also about creating a better Johannesburg
for all. Heidi Brauer, Hollard Chief Marketing Executive comments, “The Hollard
JURA is about creating something unique that resonates with our purpose of
enabling better futures. We live in this city, enjoy this city and work with the city,
as in the case of our partnership with Joburg City Parks and Zoo so we should
celebrate it. Every year in preparation for the event, we clean up the Spruit, clean
up the trails and create employment opportunities, and that creates better futures.
We look forward to continuing to develop and support experiences that make
people smile and celebrate living in Johannesburg.”
Louise Gordon, Business Development and Stakeholder Manager for Joburg City
Parks and Zoo, says, “Our mandate is to develop open spaces that people can
enjoy and feel safe in. A lot of people are sometimes a little bit scared to explore
our city. Events like these allow people to run and have fun with their family. It
allows them to see firsthand what the city has to offer. When you experience it for
yourself, instead of just reading about it in a book, it brings these spaces alive. It’s
great to partner with events that showcase the incredible spaces we have available
in this city.”
Some of the city’s own heroes joined in on the action. Nkosi Mzolo, City of
Johannesburg - Emergency Management Services, along with 29 of his colleagues,
were there to ‘put out the fires’ from all the excitement. “Compared to the challenges
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ISSUE 122 SEPTEMBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
The Hollard JURA routes are created for all types of runners, featuring urban
elements, inflatables and completely optional obstacles to enjoy, all while running a
new side to the city.