Keen runners will soon be taking to the hills in Grahamstown's only half-marathon, the Oak Cottage KwikSpar Mountain Drive 21km, on 6 August. The event is organised by Albany Road Runners and attracts the top runners from the Eastern Cape because it's a league event on the Eastern Province Athletics calendar. Apart from the overall winners' and usual category prizes, this year's event will also award the King and Queen of the Mountain.
This is a cash prize of R300 for the first man and woman to get to the highest point on Mountain Drive, which is on top of the hill just before the descent to the Waainek water works. However, to qualify, the first man through the highest point also needs to finish in the first 10 men's positions, and likewise for the women.
The race leaves from the Albany Sports Club with walkers starting at 7am and runners at 8am. There will be a pasta party on Friday 5 August, the night before the race, where entries will be accepted. Athletes can also enter on the morning of the race from 6am. All finishers making the cut-off time (four hours for walkers and three hours for runners) will each receive a race medal. Refreshments and food will also be on sale throughout the race.
For more information contact Andrew Slaughter at 072 387 8752.
