The SPAR Women’s Challenge series is back with a bang and changes to the rules and prizes in the associated SPAR Grand Prix offer runners massive new financial incentives.
For the first time since 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the SPAR Women’s Challenge races will be open to thousands of women in each of the six cities nationwide. Social runners were able to take part in a SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge, running on their own and sharing their experiences online. The Western Cape edition will take place on Sunday, 23 April at the Green Point Common.
The 2023 SPAR Women’s Challenge will return to its original format and will again be open to thousands of women runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The popular 5 km Fun Run is back and will be staged alongside the classic SPAR Women’s 10 km Challenge, which incorporates the SPAR Grand Prix.
“The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge was a brilliant idea, but there is nothing quite like a real SPAR Women’s Challenge event,” said Kesa Molotsane, former SPAR Grand Prix winner.
Charlene Subbarayan, SPAR Group’s National Sponsorship and Events Manager, is also delighted that the SPAR Women’s Challenges will once again involve thousands of women. “SPAR is all about promoting healthy living and good health means a healthy lifestyle so what better way, than to get everyone out in the open air, training for the SPAR Women’s Challenge series.
“The SPAR Women’s Challenge offers us a way of thanking our customers by providing them with a day of fun and entertainment, with plenty of spot prizes at all the races,” Subbarayan said.
This year’s target is to have 70 000 women enter the race.
James Moloi, President of Athletics South Africa (ASA), said the SPAR Women’s Challenge series is an important part of the South African athletics calendar.
This year, local athletes will win prizes in addition to the overall prize pool. In the six races, the first two South Africans across the finish line will win R10 000 and R5 000 respectively. The prize pool for the overall SPAR Grand Prix has been similarly structured.
The winner will receive R200 000, second place R100 000 and the prizes go down to tenth place. This year there will also be a separate “competition within a competition” for South African athletes, with the five top local runners taking home a total of R185 000 in addition to the money they win in the overall SPAR Grand Prix.
First place will score a handsome R75 000.
. Visit www.sparwomensrace.co.za/www.spar.run for more information and to enter.
