Lace up for the South Coast marathon
This is the 25th year the marathon takes place.
Athletes can look forward to the scenic Goss and Balfe South Coast Marathon on Sunday, 19 October, the only KZN marathon to offer an enjoyable train ride to all competitors before the race gets underway.
Hosted by Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, this is the 25th year the marathon takes place and the 10th year it is sponsored by Goss and Balfe. To commemorate this milestone, all participants will receive a Goss and Balfe sponsored medal – the first 10 gold, then 50 silver and remaining bronze – as well as a shirt on completion of the race.
Toti AC chairman, Des van der Merwe said competitors could opt for either the 42.2km run or the 21.1km run or walk.
Those completing the full marathon will receive a long-sleeved shirt, while those doing the half-marathon receive a T-shirt.
The 42.2km marathon is a Comrades and Two Oceans qualifier.
“Athletes board one of two trains at Toti station at 5am and are dropped at Ilfracombe station for the 21.1km, and Scottburgh for the 42.2km, with the finish for all races at Hutchison Park.
This race’s biggest attraction is the train journey – we are the only club in KZN to offer a free train trip to the start – and running along the coastline looking at the Indian Ocean. This really makes it so special.”
“Sapphire Coast Toti Tourism (SCTT) is excited to be involved, once again, in this growing event,”” said SCTT chairman, Jacques van Schalkwyk. “It will bring hundreds of people to our area, showing off our wonderful coastline and warm hospitality from our community.
We wish Desmond and his team all the best and we are confident about the success of this event. We look forward to growing from strength to strength together.”
The race is pre-entry online only and the closing date for entry is Thursday 9 October. Interested athletes are urged to book early, as the race is limited to 2,000 entrants this year.
There will be water and coke stations every 3km for the athletes.
“We are also providing a rescue bus should any of our athletes not complete the race. Along the route, Rescue Care will provide an ambulance with qualified medics and, at the finish, we will have medics and a massage therapist provided by Kingsway Hospital.”
The entrance fee is R110 for the half-marathon and R150 for the marathon.
To enter online visit www.eventtiming.co.za/gossbalfe. For more information, visit www.totiac.co.za.
