On your marks…

THIS Tourism Month Nelson Mandela Bay joins a multitude of international cities which host the popular urbanathlon event when The Herald Urban Run takes place on Sunday September 25 as part of the Mandela Bay Development Agency’s (MBDA) Lifestyle Conference.

The Urban Run is a free running inspired multi-disciplinary foot race which emerged in New York in 2006 and now takes place in over a dozen countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Australia, and Russia. Parkour or free running originated in France and is a non-competitive sport which involves the use of one’s body to traverse mainly urban landscapes.

"This kind of race is new to South Africa but has proved very successful around the world. Active races have become more and more popular over the past few years so we expect a lot of interest in the Urban Run,” said event organiser, Mike Zoetmulder. “We have already had an incredible amount of interest and would urge anyone who wants to take part to register soonest as there is a restriction of 1 000 participants for 2011.”

Hundreds of athletes from around the Eastern Cape are expected to descend on Nelson Mandela Bay to run through the city’s historic CBD areas in a 12km run which starts and finishes at the Donkin Reserve and sees entrants negotiating at least 13 corporate branded urban obstacles including the Corporate Ladder, Down & Dirty, Brawl & Crawl, Electric Avenue, Tyred Out, Storming the Fort and No-Pain No-Gain.

The Herald Urban Run which is powered Kingfisher FM and the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) forms part of MBDA’s Lifestyle Conference weekend and the launch of Route 67 which is a tourism route at the Donkin Reserve and a route which features 67 art pieces from local artists that illustrate Nelson Mandela’s political life and struggle history.

The race is open to anyone 14 years and above and can be run as individuals or teams of three. To register for the event, entrants can visit www.urbanrun.co.za. Registration closes on September 19 with a registration fee for the race of just R100 and includes a race shirt and a drink stub from Glacéau Vitamin Water. As part of the community awareness initiative, participants are also required to raise a minimum of R100 for the events beneficiary which is the Coega Door of Hope with all proceeds going towards the children’s school fees for 2012.