The Legends Marathon organisers yesterday announced some exciting major changes to the 2016 running of the Eastern Cape’s ultra marathon.
The race, scheduled for October 1, will for the first time in its four-year existence, start at the Bhisho Stadium and finish at the Philip Kahts Softball Stadium in Bunkers Hill, East London and not at the Jan Smuts Stadium as was the case in previous years.
Furthermore, the traditional route of Mount Coke Road will also make way for a new route that will include the N2 freeway.
Also, Legends will be partnering with the University of Fort Hare as they celebrate their centenary.
Legends chairman Luthando Bara said the changes were meant to take the race to new heights.
“It could not have been more fitting to partner with the historic university like Fort Hare because ours as Legends is a consistent theme of running for a cause and this year’s cause is this university,” said Bara.
“Not only that but we are going to donate 30% of all entry fees towards the UFH Student Dignity Pack.”
According to Bara, in addition to the 68km ultra, the 21.1km half marathon and the 5km fun run, a 10km race will also be introduced.
“We had requests from runners who said that the jump between the fun run and the half marathon was too big and we heeded their call and decided we must have a 10km.”
The total prize monies for the 10km race will add up to a whopping R40000.
The change of the route was for security reasons, said Bara, because it was impossible to have road closures on the Mount Coke route and that posed a security risk to the athletes.
Bara assured road runners that despite the change of route the Legends Marathon would keep its qualifier status for the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons.
The decision to dump Jan Smuts Stadium as the finish line was as a result of the recurring vandalism to the facility which forced Legends Marathon to be operated via an electric generator due to cable theft that took place on the eve of last year’s event.
But this also minimises unnecessary road closure in the CDB since the finish line is far from the freeway.
Bara said: “Over and above the changes we will be having this year, we are looking forward to a bigger and better Legends Marathon this year as we aim to up our game as we have always done.
“It is imperative that Legends grows every year, in line with the growing popularity of road running.”
Entries for all four races will open on April 15 and interested athletes have been encouraged to visit the Border Athletics offices at Jan Smuts Stadium or Legends Marathon offices or the Provincial Federation offices for entry forms. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
LEGENDS RACE GROWS
The race, scheduled for October 1, will for the first time in its four-year existence, start at the Bhisho Stadium and finish at the Philip Kahts Softball Stadium in Bunkers Hill, East London and not at the Jan Smuts Stadium as was the case in previous years.
Furthermore, the traditional route of Mount Coke Road will also make way for a new route that will include the N2 freeway.
Also, Legends will be partnering with the University of Fort Hare as they celebrate their centenary.
Legends chairman Luthando Bara said the changes were meant to take the race to new heights.
“It could not have been more fitting to partner with the historic university like Fort Hare because ours as Legends is a consistent theme of running for a cause and this year’s cause is this university,” said Bara.
“Not only that but we are going to donate 30% of all entry fees towards the UFH Student Dignity Pack.”
According to Bara, in addition to the 68km ultra, the 21.1km half marathon and the 5km fun run, a 10km race will also be introduced.
“We had requests from runners who said that the jump between the fun run and the half marathon was too big and we heeded their call and decided we must have a 10km.”
The total prize monies for the 10km race will add up to a whopping R40000.
The change of the route was for security reasons, said Bara, because it was impossible to have road closures on the Mount Coke route and that posed a security risk to the athletes.
Bara assured road runners that despite the change of route the Legends Marathon would keep its qualifier status for the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons.
The decision to dump Jan Smuts Stadium as the finish line was as a result of the recurring vandalism to the facility which forced Legends Marathon to be operated via an electric generator due to cable theft that took place on the eve of last year’s event.
But this also minimises unnecessary road closure in the CDB since the finish line is far from the freeway.
Bara said: “Over and above the changes we will be having this year, we are looking forward to a bigger and better Legends Marathon this year as we aim to up our game as we have always done.
“It is imperative that Legends grows every year, in line with the growing popularity of road running.”
Entries for all four races will open on April 15 and interested athletes have been encouraged to visit the Border Athletics offices at Jan Smuts Stadium or Legends Marathon offices or the Provincial Federation offices for entry forms. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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