Bonitas: Serious about running. Serious about what you need.
Preparations are well underway by those first timers looking to complete this year's 85th annual Comrades Marathon. The internet-based Bonitas Novice Comrades Project, supplemented by the Bonitas-sponsored, live, interactive Seminars held throughout the country, are an imperative step in every novice's preparation schedule.
Every year, runners across the globe are drawn to compete in the Comrades, a grueling 89 km road-running race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, pushing themselves beyond self-imposed mental and physical limits. It is encouraging to see that each year there are greater numbers of first time entrants, injecting new blood and fresh legs to the grand old daddy of marathons.
"At Bonitas we have a proud association with the running world, having for the past 2 years sponsored an Elite team of 6 top-notch South African athletes, giving them the tools necessary to optimize their personal running goals. We take pride in making enormous strides in supporting active lifestyles and long-term health, including those new to the world of the Comrades," said Ray Mkhize, Managing Director of Bonitas Marketing.
Bearing in mind how critical preparation is to an undertaking such as the Comrades, the Bonitas Novice Comrades Project is an initiative funded by Comrades Marathon sponsor Bonitas Medical Fund. Since its launch in early 2009, the initiative, available on the Runners World website www.runnersworld.co.za as well as www.comrades.com, has seen an overwhelming response to its innovative and inspiring approach in preparing first time entrants for this testing ultra-marathon. By providing daily updated training advice from a panel of experts and an additional interactive facility, novice runners have direct access to pearls of wisdom from a panel of experts, including official Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry, a qualified biokineticist, Two Oceans silver medalist and 2:52 marathon runner, who addresses any queries and concerns a `newbie' entrant may have.
Building on the success of this initial platform, and launched to supplement the internet initiative, the Bonitas Comrades Novice Seminars were also inaugurated last year and enthusiastically attended. At these discussion groups, novices are afforded the opportunity to interact face-to-face with live experts and fellow runners, giving attendees the benefit of a more personal, hands-on approach to training than can otherwise be achieved via the internet. Led by Lindsey Parry, and featuring a live panel of highly respected sports science experts and nutritionists, discussions cover an array of topics, from nutrition and training to sports psychology and injury prevention.
`Through the Bonitas Comrades Novice Seminars, we seek to add a personal touch to our programme. It has been said that every South African should run the Comrades at least once in their lifetime - let 2010 be your year," concludes Mkhize.
The 2010 Bonitas Comrades Novice Seminars are brought to you by Bonitas Medical Fund and will be hosted at the following venues across the country:
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 @ 19h00 at the High Performance Centre, Panasonic, Burnett Street, Hatfield, Pretoria
Thursday, 25 February 2010 @ 19h00 at the Alphen Centre, Main Road, Constantia hosted by acsis Varsity Old Boys Athletic Club
Saturday, 27 February 2010 @ 09h00 at Nedbank Head Office, 90 Ordnance Road Durban
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 @ 19h00 at The Auditorium, Eskom Megawatt Park, No1 Maxwell Drive, Sunninghill Sandton hosted by Sunninghill Striders Athletic Club
For more information, contact Thami Vilakazi at the Comrades Marathon Association on 033 8978650.
Ends___________________
Statement released 3 February 2010
Issued by Comrades Marathon Media & Communications, Craig Fry
For further information contact Comrades Marathon on 033 8978650
