Women celebrated at Tshwane SPAR race
“The Tshwane leg of the SPAR Women’s Challenge has grown from humble beginnings to one of the world’s biggest road races.”
Women felt braver, stronger and fitter at this year’s annual Spar Women’s Challenge Tshwane in Centurion on Saturday.
The event was held at SuperSport Park Stadium under the theme #YESIAM.
The women’s challenge saw an estimated 25 000 plus people partaking in this exciting race in the streets of Centurion to celebrate and embrace women.
Challenge spokesperson Natasja Martens said, “the Tshwane leg of the SPAR Women’s Challenge has grown from humble beginnings to one of the world’s biggest road races.”
She said the challenge was the most popular and inclusive road race in South Africa as it attracted top professional female athletes and thousands of recreational runners.
Cecile Caroto said it was the first time she was competing in the 10km run.
Caroto said she used to compete and run in various competition, including the Spar Women’s challenge before she suffered two knee injuries.
“I just recovered from two knee replacements and I haven’t ran in competitions for a while.”
Caroto said she was looking forward to the race.
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Renschiz van Heerden said this was her 13th Spar Women’s Challenge.
“I have and still am enjoying this event.”
The event saw the likes of Caster Semenya running for her club Masai Athletics Club supporting participants.
The two-time Olympic champion said: “It was important to be involved in the race because women don’t get the recognition that we deserve in sport. For us to be part of the race is a token of appreciation and to show we support women, we want to empower them, and we are working on this milestone with them.”
Martens said the Spar race began in 1996 with just 600 entrants racing along the University of Pretoria’s Groenkloof campus.
“Today, more than 25 000 entrants from around Gauteng run through Centurion’s streets along a 5km and 10km route.”
Martens said the SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria gained more territory over the years, which caused stakeholders to rename it to the SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane.
“This was done to include more of our loyal and faithful supporters.”
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