THIS year’s milestone fifth anniversary running of the Deloitte Challenge promises to cement the event’s reputation as KwaZulu-Natal’s most scenic marathon, the perfect opportunity to run a personal best time and a world-class lifestyle event for the entire family.
That’s according to the professional services firm’s KZN Office Managing Partner Ruwayda Redfearn, who added that the event had become “an integral part of our purpose at Deloitte, which is to make an ‘impact that matters’, not only in our personal lives but in our communities and with the people within our communities. It is also a way for us to showcase and experience our beautiful coastline.
“To this end, the fifth anniversary 2019 Deloitte Challenge on 17 March will be bigger and better than ever, both in terms of the number of participants and in its anticipated contribution to our designated charity, LIV Village,” Redfearn said.
Run between Ballito and Durban, the Challenge comprises a Marathon, Half Marathon, Ten-K, 5km fun run and 40km cycle event. A record 8500 people participated in the 2018 Challenge, more than double the 4000 that entered the inaugural 2015 race. This year’s event has a bumper prize pool of R96 000.
The race is a Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans qualifier, great news, said Redfearn, for runners looking to add a scenic, relatively flat coastal course to their training, offering an ideal opportunity for achieving an excellent time.
All Challenge participants are encouraged to donate to the chosen beneficiary, LIV Village, an organisation that provides holistic residential care for orphaned and vulnerable children. These children are placed into a family environment with a trained foster mother to love them.
LIV Village comprises 150 homes for 1000 children on 83 acres. It includes an early childhood development centre, a primary and a secondary school, a health care centre, social service and homes management departments, a farming initiative and LIV factories that provide crucial skills training.
“We also believe that we can impact our community by encouraging ordinary people to live a healthy and more balanced lifestyle, and for this reason the Deloitte Challenge offers something for the entire family, irrespective of age and fitness levels,” Redfearn said.
She added that the balmy March weather and stunning ocean views along the route made this one of the many events contributing to the growing popularity of sports-related tourism in Durban.
The finish is once again at the Amphitheatre on the Durban Promenade, ensuring participants end the race with close-up views of the ocean. This proximity to the beach, combined with the lively market atmosphere with plenty of food, beverage and sports merchandise stalls, make the Challenge a perfect outing for the entire family, she said.
The first 7000 entrants across the Marathon, Half Marathon and Cycle Race events (but not the Ten K and Fun Run) will receive stylish moisture management race shirts and vests.
“Our aim with the Deloitte Challenge has always to be the best race to run, one where you challenge yourself to run your very best time, where you challenge each other as friends, family and colleagues. This fifth anniversary Challenge will take this to a new level,” Redfearn said.
She urged those interested in participating in one of the race events to challenge colleagues, relatives, classmates and friends to take part, either by approaching them in person or on social media using the #DeloitteChallengeKZN or the #ChallengingYouSince2015 hashtags.
Entries close on 6 March 2019 at midnight and no late entries will be accepted, apart from 5km runners who may enter on the day.
Runners and cyclists can enter online at www.Deloittechallenge.co.za. For more information about the Deloitte Challenge, prospective entrants should call 080 011 1759 or email deloittechallenge@deloitte.co.za.