New Midlands parkrun involves running with wildlife
Parkrun will be opened in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on November 25 by comrade legend, Bruce Fordyce.
The latest route to join South Africa’s popular collection of pakruns boasts the unusual attraction of zebra, red hartebeest, black wildebeest, blesbok, eland, waterbuck, duiker, oribi and impala roaming on the pathways.
The Brahman Hills Game Park Run officially joins the parkrun series with a 5km path across softly rolling hills in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Parkrunners to meet at 7.30am on Saturday mornings in the parking lot of The Midlands Kitchen, to start run at 8am.
The Brahman Hills is a 4-star hotel in the Blue Crane Nature Reserve, where elegant Brahman cattle also roam among the wildlife.
The parkrun is the Brahman Hills hotel’s latest attraction, with the trail leading past its dams and luxurious self-catering cottages then up into the hills. “Having the wildlife here makes it unique because you’re running through a game reserve with wild animals,” says Wayne Chislett, General Manager of Facilities for the hotel. Runners of a nervous disposition will be pleased to know there are no predators!
The route has been cleared and levelled to make the going easier, with markers put in place to clearly define the way. “The route is rated as moderate on the Park Run scale and goes along a contoured path around the lodges, taking in the dams and gorgeous scenery,” says Chislett.
It’s mostly on grass with a part on tarred road, and we have put in support beams to create a level path that’s gently contoured and has signage so you can follow it easily.
The Brahman Hills Game parkrun is the ninth to operate in the KZN inland region, and Chislett anticipates that it will become very popular once news of it spreads. “We are anticipating participation of about 150 to 300 runners on a Saturday morning. Park running has really taken off in South Africa and this parkrun should appeal to runners from Durban as well as weekend guests from Johannesburg and Pretoria”.
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The parkrun organisation oversees free, weekly 5km runs around the world that are open to everyone and easy to take part in. All you need to do is register at www.parkrun.co.za and turn up on the day.
For further information, contact Theresa Gibbon: theresa@theresagibbonpr.co.za / 082 820 8437.
