Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 67, February 2015

Ma Advertorial HUGGING the Coastline Deloitte Challenge Marathon, Half Marathon & 5km Fun Run, Lifestyle Centre, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, 1 May W hether you’re a Comrades entrant looking for a last long training run or a faster qualifier ahead of the 4 May deadline, or a marathoner looking for a scenic, relatively flat coastal run, you should head to Ballito on Worker’s Day for this race! With an easy half marathon and 5km fun run along the Durban promenade, this event caters for every type of runner, and race day is definitely one for the whole family! So what are you waiting for? Entries are now open at www.deloittechallenge.co.za or www.championchip.co.za. Note: The event will be timed by ChampionChip. No chip, no result, no prize. For more information, go to www.championchip.co.za. Ma advertorial Images: Courtesy Barry Holland Starting in Ballito, the marathon route turns onto the M4 highway where competitors can catch beautiful glimpses of the coastline and forests. The route then dips past the Umdloti Lagoon, where the only real hill of the course awaits. After halfway, there is a fast section down to Umhlanga Lagoon, followed by a gentle climb into Umhlanga, and then runners are greeted with a fast run into the city, where the Durban beachfront skyline and iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium beckon you home at the Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium. Bring Your Vuma! W hen a race has been around for 41 years, it must be doing something right… Perhaps it is the well-manned watering stations, or the fun-filled entertainment along the route and at the finish. Perhaps it is the diverse mix of distances, or the relatively fast course designed for fast times. Or perhaps it is all of the above. The point is, this is a highly recommended race! This two-lapper gently meanders through four suburbs of Vereeniging, with sections along the banks of the Vaal River. While the route is relatively flat, you will have to work the whole way, but this is definitely a day to target PBs. Just a 45-minute drive from Johannesburg, the event also serves as a qualifier for the Comrades Marathon, and is the last qualifier for Two Oceans in Gauteng. 44 ISSUE 67 FEBRUARY 2015 / www.modernathlete.co.za ENTER NOW on www.championchip.co.za or www.vaalmarathon.co.za • First 500 online entrants for the marathon or half marathon receive a race T-shirt. • Walkers are welcome in the 5km, 10km and 21.1km races. • Blind runners can enter on the day directly with the organisers. • Wheelchair athletes are welcome in all events, but must comply with all rules, and a suitable helmet is compulsory. Online entries close 22 February 2015! Note: You are required to own a ChampionChip to participate in this event and ensure that you are accurately recorded in the race results. No chip, no result, no prize. For more information, go to www.championchip.co.za. Images: Roelof Van Wyk Cape Gate Vaal Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 5km • Sunday 1 March Dick Fourie Stadium, Klipriver Drive, Three Rivers, Vereeniging

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 67, February 2015 | Page 44