Be ready for the Mall of the North Marathon

Athletes who wish to participate in and pre-register for the popular Mall of the North Marathon will be able to do so as from 31 March.
With a R150 registration fee, the marathon, which will take place on 9 April, affords runners the perfect opportunity to still qualify for this year’s Comrades Marathon.
The race starts at 06:00. The registration fee for the half marathon is R100 and runners will leave the starting line at 06:15.
A 10 km (R80) and 5 km (R40) race will also take place and athletes should be prepared to start at 06:30 and 07:00 respectively.
The starting point for the race is located in the parking lot of the mall. This is also where the race will end. According to the organisers, only 3 000 athletes in total will be able to participate.
Pre-registration can be done online at www.mallofthenorth.co.za. Registration forms are also available at Total Sports in Mall of the North and Sportmans Warehouse at Thornhill, Fourways and Centurion.
Participants can collect their race numbers at the help desk of Mall of the North between 1 and 8 April. Athletes will also be able to collect their race numbers on 8 April between 16:00 and 20:00 at the starting point, or on the day of the race between 04:30 and 06:00.
The first three athletes in every category will receive gold medals. Silver medals will be awarded to the next 50 athletes and bronze medals to all other athletes who manage to complete the race.
There will be three separate award ceremonies: 08:00 for the 10 km, 09:00 for the 21,1 km, and 11:00 for the 42,2 km race.
Race organiser and chairperson of Pietersburg Road Runners, Colinda Potgieter, can be contacted on 082 898 8341.

ELNA ESTERHUYSEN
>>observer.elna@gmail.com