Toti AC athletes prepare to bundu bash

ON Saturday Amanzimtoti Athletics Club athletes will compete at the KZN cross country champs to be held at Gelofte School in Pinetown.

The trail running season has started with the sandy beach run on Saturday, 24 August from Umhlanga to Durban. The sandy beach walk and run race is a 14km beach run on the spring low tide. It starts at 10am am and early bird entries close on Thursday, 8 August. Enter online at www.roag.co.za

The three falls trail run on 11 August, is at Krantzkloof Nature Reserve over 19km. Go to www.kloofconservancy.org.za

A group of athletes will travel to Mtunzini bush run this weekend for the 16km Bush run. This is a great run and includes road, beach single track and forest running.

Toti AC’s women will celebrate Women’s Day by competing on Friday, 9 August in a Women in Action 10km walk at Chatsworth Stadium.

The 10km Merewent club champs was well supported. The first man home was Mbongeni Maphumulo in a time of 33.35 and first woman home was Suzette Linden in a time of 48.40. Thanks to vice chairman Andre Oliver for making the scrumptious burgers for the hungry athletes, and Toti club for supplying the food and refreshments.

Athletes competing in any road races must remember that their Toti vest with age category on the front and back must be visible and only plain black running shorts are permitted.

This year’s Goss and Balfe marathon is strictly a pre-entry event and entries close on 30 September. The race is on Sunday, 6 October starting at 6am. A free train ride will take the 21km athletes to Illfracombe station and the marathon runners to the start in Scottburgh. Both races end at Hutchison Park. Entry fee is R130 for the marathon and R90 for the half marathon All athletes receive a goodie bag and T-shirt. Cut off for the marathon is five and a half hours and three and a half for the half marathon. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.totiac.co.za Call Cornell if you can assist with marshaling on 083-643-0111.

Toti’s weekly time trial is on Wednesdays from Lord’s and Legends for walkers (8km) at 5.30pm, and runners (4km and 8km) at 6pm. On Saturdays there is an 11km run and walk from Hutchison Park at 5.30am for walkers and 6am for runners.

Call Des van der Merwe (chairman) on 082-806-0348 or Renier Fouche 084-504-9808 or go to www.totiac.co.za for more club information. Join in coach Cecil Clarke’s training and get advice about Comrades and ultra-marathons. Anyone is welcome to join his training group.

Meet up with him on Tuesday afternoons from 5.15pm.

Email Cecil at cecil.clarke@lake.co.za or just find his training group at Hutchison Park.