Get ready for The GTR 2016!

Do not put your running shoes away in the cold winter months, but rather get yourself ready for this year’s Greatest Train Race.

On Saturday, August 20 the 30th Rotary Greatest Train Race will take place, where runners will take on the old Middelburg- Witbank road. Entries have opened and the organisers are aiming to raise R1 million for specifically selected charitable organisations in the communities of eMalahleni and Middelburg. Online entries can be done on the GTR website or downloaded for your convenience on www.gtr.co.za. Entry forms are also available at the Middelburg info centre as well as at Highveld Mall in eMalahleni.

As GTR is celebrating 30 years, this event will be bigger and better than before and a number of changes have been made. The long distance runners will start at 06:00 at the train station in eMalahleni, running the official 32km race. The 15km race will start from the Hillside station turn-off near La Rochelle at 06:00. The finish venue will relocate to Kees Taljaard Stadium in Middelburg.

Here are, from left: Stanley Joubert (Glencore), Diane van der Walt (Glencore), Mtho Xulu (MCCI), David Grant (District Governor and Chantal Bekker (GTR Chairperson).

The relay race will start at 07:00 starting and ending at the Kees Taljaard Stadium with one big change over point for all five team members. Participants will run in a 4.9km circle route. There will also be the ever popular 4.9km fun run for young and old, starting and ending at the Kees Taljaard Stadium at 07:15.

Entry fees amount to R400 per team of five adults and/ or R200 per school team of five. Individual runners can enter at R85 per person for the 15km run and R130 per person for the 32km timed race. Unlicensed 15km and 32km individuals must remember to add a temporary licence fee of R25. The 4.9km fun run will only cost R40 for children u.12 years and R80 per adult. Entries are limited so get them in early to avoid disappointment.

“We are so excited about the 30th Train Race as well as the idea that we have added an official race to this already amazing event. Through this, we hope to attract more individual runners”, Chantal Bekker, chairman of the GTR committee said.

Notably, one of the largest charity events of its kind in the country, the Rotary Greatest Train Race annually sets the stage for unlimited sponsorship opportunities and community investments. The organisers are humbled to have Glencore on board once again as main sponsor of this event. There are a number of varied sponsorship opportunities still available for small to large businesses as well as private individuals and organisations.

Interested parties may contact the race organisers by email at admin@gtr.co.za or the race office on 013 243 2253.