Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Página 39

iarise
D
-Chem
e Dis
th

Race Preview

If you’re looking to start your 2014 running year off on the right
note, then the Dis-Chem Half Marathon on 12 January is the
race to do it in. Just make sure you get your entry in for one of
Johannesburg’s ?nest races before they’re all snapped up!
– BY SEAN FALCONER

Y

es, we know it’s still November, and right now you’re probably just trying to make it to
the end of the year for a well-deserved break from work or studies, but take a moment to
think ahead to January. Picture yourself dusting off the festive season cobwebs and hitting
the road to get the old legs ticking over again – and possibly to run off that extra helping of
Christmas pudding and the New Year’s Eve bubbly. Also, you may have entered one of the big
ultra’s and will be looking to up your mileage once January arrives.
•

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO…

There are more than enough great reasons to run the Dis-Chem Half, including:
•
•

A seeded start, so the faster runners can line up near the front and the more social runners
can take it easy nearer the back.
And get your free copy of the January edition of Modern Athlete at registration!

Either way, the hugely popular Dis-Chem Half Marathon offers a terri?c kick-start to your
running year. Starting in Bedfordview and taking in the eastern suburbs of Bedfordview,
Morninghill, Bedford Gardens and Primrose, the route is de?nitely a tester, especially in
the second half. After a relatively ?at ?rst 11km, the next 7km just keeping climbing,
but the reward at 18km is a lively downhill sprint to the ?nish. (There is also the
accompanying Re-Hidrat 5km on offer, if you’re not quite ready for 21km so early in the
year.) Modern Athlete is proud to once again be the media partner to the race, and
working in conjunction with our sister company, Peak Timing, which will handle online
entries and timing and results for the event.

ENTER SOONER AND SAVE
Now the reason you need to start thinking ahead is that Dis-Chem entries opened on
16 October – and the ?rst 1 000 were snapped up within the ?rst day! Entries will close
on 6 December OR when 6 000 entries are reached, so don’t miss out. Get your entry in
NOW at www.championchip.co.za, or you can enter at Virgin Active Bedfordview and select
Johannesburg and Pretoria races.

BONUS: The earlier you enter, the less you pay:
•
Early Bird online entries – ?rst 2 000 entries: R85 per entry (R55 for Grandmasters)
•
Remaining 4 000 online entries: R95 per entry (R65 for Grandmasters)
•
All manual entries: R110 per entry (R80 for Grandmasters)
•
Last 500 entries: R130 per entry
(Blind runners can enter for free – and their entries will still be taken at registration.)

GET YOUR CHAMPIONCHIP
This will be a Championchip-timed event, so make sure you have a chip – either buy one with
your entry, for R120, or pay R45 to use a chip for just this race. (But take note, more and
more races in the Gauteng area are using the Championchip timing system, so if you don’t
own a chip yet, it makes sense to buy one now and save money in the long run.)

AVOID THE REGISTRATION QUEUES
Also take note that Peak Timing offers a courier service through Lynx Couriers to have your
race pack and goody bag delivered to your front door, so you don’t have to queue to register.
More details available at www.championchip.co.za.

39