The 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon shows the best of Amanzimtoti community spirit

 

Since the first official Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon in 2008 with some 600 runners, this early Comrades qualifier has grown to some 2 700 runners in 2023 – and the upward trend continues! For the 2024 edition on Sunday, 27 October 2024, Sapphire Coast Tourism and organisers, Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, are anticipating a number of athletes to take advantage of this scenic race.

 

“Amanzimtoti is an absolute coastal gem and this well-organised race continues to attract competitors who want to experience this beautiful part of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline,” said Lynette Botha of Amanzimtoti Athletics Club. “Another major drawcard is the incredible community spirit shown through this event, from the welcoming residents and encouraging supporters, to the many causes being run for on the day.”

 

Running for a cause

 

One such runner who embodies the heart of Amanzimtoti is Sapphire Coast Tourism’s own Romy Wenzel (40), a community activist and proud resident. Born in Germany, Romy first came to South Africa in 2004 to conduct voluntary work but found her place on the Sapphire Coast where she’s lived since 2005. A decade later, she joined the NPO, Sapphire Coast Tourism which actively markets the region, extending from Athlone Park in the north, to Clansthal in the south, inland up to Umbumbulu.

 

“This truly is the warmest place to be,” she said, commenting on her love for the region. “We have the most stunning beaches along the upper KZN South Coast with coastal suburbs that offer tranquillity away from the busy city.”

 

Her role within the organisation involves engaging with the local communities, government, and private sector to create and advance tourism opportunities. This involves holiday entertainment in the form of the Sapphire Sizzling Summer; tourism node upliftment like the Sapphire Blue Walls; ongoing clean-up campaigns in partnership with the Clean Surf Project; and safety initiatives in line with eThekwini Municipality’s Safer City campaign.

 

Support for Wheels on Waves

 

Supporting the 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon forms part of this, but in addition to competing in the half-marathon (for the 3rd time!) Romy is showing her support for an incredible initiative ‘Wheels on Waves’ that seeks to transform Amanzimtoti Main Beach into an internationally recognised tourism spot for the disabled.

 

Started by the father-and-son team, Wesley (43) and Reece Smith (18), Wheels on Waves provides disabled beach-goers with a specially formulated flotation device that allows them to enjoy the water. Reece, of the YouTube channel Rolling with Reece, is a quadriplegic who has accompanied his father into the water since he was young. However, upon seeing Wesley’s struggle to carry him into the water, Friends of Toti sponsored a water-based chair which Reece immediately donated to Amanzimtoti Main Beach.

 

With the support of the incredible Beach Manager, Jace Govender, Wheels on Waves secured another chair to facilitate, free of charge, this incredible service for disabled visitors to Amanzimtoti Main Beach. However, a decade on, the chairs have served their purpose and the team has managed to secure two Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchairs (manufactured by American-based Angling and Marine Connection) – with more planned. All donations raised by Wheels on Waves goes directly to the purchase of a Sandcruiser.

 

“This is just about giving disabled people access to the water for free. Whether they’re physically disabled, injured, vision impaired, terminally ill - it’s for anyone who wants to get in the water but can’t without assistance,” explained Wesley Smith. “We are raising funds to secure at least one, if not three more Sandcruisers for Toti, so that we can establish this as a tourism hotspot for disabled individuals, and any further funds raised will go towards buying Sandcruisers and providing the necessary training at other beaches.”

 

Romy says she will be running in the 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon to raise awareness about the great work being done by Wheels on Waves, and to raise funds for the purchase of more Sandcruisers, “I am so proud to be representing this incredible initiative at the marathon and hope that, through this, we can achieve their goal of making our beach – and beaches countrywide – accessible for all.”

 

Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon Details

 

There’s still time to enter the 2024 Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon!

Date: Sunday, 27 October 2024

Venue: Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, 1 Riverside Road, Amanzimtoti

Parking: R10

Late Online Entries Close: 20 October 2024

Medals for all finishers.

 

10km Race

Route: https://za.mapometer.com/running/route_5534958.html

Starts: 6am

Late entry fee: R230

Temp licence: R90

 

21.1km Race

Route: https://za.mapometer.com/running/route_5471990.html

Starts: 6am

Late entry fee: R280

Temp licence: R110

 

42.2km Race

Route: https://za.mapometer.com/running/route_5470780.html

Starts: 5.30am

Late entry fee: R400

 

Late Entries and Race Pack Collection Details

 

Venue: Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, 1 Riverside Road, Amanzimtoti

 

Friday, 25 October 2024 | 4pm to 7pm

Saturday, 26 October 2024 | 10am to 4pm

Sunday, 27 October 2024 | From 4.30am

*No entries on race day