Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014

ER N A DI E RT PA parkrun SA Ma M parkrun SA Join the friendly, free 8am Saturday morning 5km in your area! us Parkrun foc us Parkrun foc Rietvlei Parkrun Potchefstroom parkrun www.facebook.com/potchparkrun Twitter: @potchparkrun Uvongo parkrun www.facebook.com/uvongoparkrun Images: Jason Morsink and Manie Esterhuizen. The Uvongo parkrun route makes its way from St. Michael’s on Sea Beach at Mhlanga River, alongside the picturesque South Coast coastline of KwaZuluNatal, to a turning point where runners find themselves dwarfed by the enveloping cliffs at the mouth of the Vungu River on Uvongo Beach. The run boasts all types of terrain, including grass, rocky paths, paving, gravel and sea sand, so it’s definitely one to try out and challenge yourself! This parkrun is a stunner! The route meanders through coastal bush with windows of sea views flashing past and benches bearing name plaques lining the pathway as gentle reminders of those that enjoyed this route before. After a kilometre, you burst into an opening known as Orange Rocks, revealing recreational fishermen trying to catch that ‘big one,’ and you’ll experience an exhilarating feeling of rejuvenation while running this parkrun and losing yourself in the magical surrounds. Plus, like all parkruns, there are many fellow athletes to meet and run with. Uvongo still has its village-like charm, mainly thanks to building restrictions, and one is spoilt for choice for activities in and around Uvongo, like zip-lining, game viewing and ocean safaris. Should you want to visit Uvongo parkrun and make a holiday of it, or just want more information about the South Coast, visit www.tourismsouthcoast.co.za. - Jason Morsink Wikipedia notes that Potchefstroom is the ‘Home of Sport’ in the North West, and the locals often proudly point out that the Spanish soccer team made Potchefstroom their base camp and went on to be crowned champions of the 2010 World Cup. No wonder the new kid on the sporting block, Potchefstroom parkrun, has become so successful! This parkrun has grown from 90 registered parkrunners in February this year to close to 1700 in August! Visitors attribute it to many factors: The scenery, the hard work of the volunteers, the support of national managers Bruce and Gill Fordyce, and the fact that the local municipality in the form of Thomas Muswede has ‘bought into’ parkrun. Every Saturday, runners and walkers amble along the 5km gravel and grass route that starts under the trees opposite Trim Park in the Green Belt area, adjacent to the Mooi River. It’s a picturesque route with willow trees, flowers and shrubs, running alongside and across the river. This May, a week before her great Comrades run, Potch parkrun was also honoured to have Olympian Zola Budd-Pieterse running the route. But even in winter, when temperatures drop below zero degrees and there are no celebs in sight, the locals pitch up, which speaks volumes! So come have a run with us when you’re in the area. – Suna Verhoef TATS parkrun SA S Number of parkruns: 36 Number of events: 1916 Number of active runners: 70 579 Number of individual runs: 367 176 Total distance covered: 1 835 880km Total run time: 27 years, 117 days, 4 hours, 29 minutes and 24 seconds *Last updated 12 September SIGN UP! Go to www.parkrun.co.za to find your nearest parkrun and to register for free. Just a simple contact form and voila, you

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014 | Page 49