NELSON MANDELA BAY TRAIN RACE - 2ND AUGUST 2015

The Nelson Mandela Bay Train Race, a unique biathlon style team relay race comprising corporate, club, social and schools teams of 6 persons against a Metrorail train between Port Elizabeth Uitenhage stations, takes place this Sunday morning as the only event in Nelson Mandela Bay which combines the 3 major towns which make up the Metro and connected communities.

Just under 200 teams are expected to challenge the train over the 38km distance between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage Stations on Sunday morning. The race, comprising of 6 stages, starts at 9am from the Port Elizabeth station with the first stage being a flat 5km road run stretch from the PE station to the Caltex Eastern Cape sponsored transition opposite Sydenham Station. The team baton is then handed over to the 2nd team member who will run through to the Dynamic Express Services transition point opposite New Brighton in Deal Party just 3.5km away. Stage 3 will take the teams along a 4km run to the hand-over point to their MTB cyclist along the river bank in Swartkops. Cyclists will have a fast and flat 10km stretch from Swartkops to the SPAR Eastern Cape sponsored transition at Perseverance, cycling alongside the railway line and through the picturesque village of Redhouse where they will cycle along the towpath. The cyclist hands over to the 5th team member for a 5.5km mix of trail running and road running through Azalea Park and into Despatch for the final team transition alongside the Despatch Station where the final team member will embark on the final 8km stretch through Despatch and Uitenhage to finish at the Uitenhage Station.

The Metrorail train which the teams will be racing against will be carrying around 700 cheering spectators, sponsors representatives and charities that will enjoy an improved race route this year which sees a further 35% of the relay route being visible from the train. The train leaves PE station with the runners at 9am and will have a stop-over break at Redhouse station where refreshments and breakfast is being served by the Redhouse Benevolent Society and the Zwartkops Rowing Club. 

The Train Race, hosted by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, supports the efforts of local NPO, Love Story,  who have the privilege of connecting and building relationships with most of the homeless residents of the inner city. Love Story is currently involved with numerous feeding schemes and daily feed up to 200 homeless men, women and children in front of the City Hall every week night as they've done so for the past three years. Through the Train Race event, organisers are appealing to companies to donate non-perishable food items, particularly rice, or make financial donations towards the efforts of Love Story. 

Wednesday is the final day of registration for the event with all teams required to send a representative to the offices of Love Story in Albany Road to collect the race numbers and final instructions. This registration and pack collection is available between 11am and 3pm on Wednesday only.

For further information and to follow the race on Sunday morning, see www.nmbTrainRace.co.za. The race finish will be at Uitenhage Station from 10.30am on Sunday with prize giving taking place at 1pm. A festival of activities is planned for the station area.