The country’s best attended night race for seven years running, is sure to draw mega crowds on Wednesday 11 February, when Irene Athletics Club host the ever popular Spar Lantern 10km night race.

With over 4000 participants each year, this race is a favourite on the running calendar due to the scenic lantern strewn country routes and usually lovely summer temperatures.

The Irene campus of the Agricultural Research Council as venue, lends a unique farm-experience to the race, where families usually linger longer after the race to have a picnic or enjoy the food and drink on sale. The event is aimed at young and old alike, and as receptive as it is to families, the organisers of the race often witness romantic gestures, with couples treating the race as a Valentine’s day outing.

The race entry fee is R60 and R40 for the 10km and the 5km respectively and temporary licences for the 10km run are R30. Pre-entries can be done until 8 February at various Spar and Super Spar stores, as well as selected sports shops. For more information on where to enter, please log on to www.irenerunner.co.za.

The 10km and 5km races start at 18:30, and early arrival is encouraged due to the popularity of the event.

Watering points with spirited support teams, the unique farm atmosphere and romantic ambience of hundreds of lanterns and of course a little bit of endorphins, are sure to cater for the adventurous, the fun-seeking and the romantic at heart. If you run one 10km race this year, make sure that it is this one.

For more information, including route planning, log on to www.irenerunner.co.za or phone Wynand Breytenbach on 082-937-0733.