The annual event is celebrating its 18th year of West Coast marathons. This year promises to be even bigger and better than before. The event consists of a 42.2km full marathon, a 21.1km half marathon, a 10km and a 5km fun run/walk.
The full marathon is a one of a kind race in South Africa with 20 buses taking 1200 athletes early in the morning from Langebaan Country Estate (LCE) all the way around the Langebaan Lagoon to the starting point at Tzaarsbank on the beach at the Atlantic Coast side. The participants run back to Langebaan through the Park and finish at LCE. The beauty of this race is that no cars are allowed during the race inside the West Coast National Park and runners can enjoy the beauty of the West Coast fynbos, the sea and the lagoon while they tackle the undulating route and close to the end the scary Black Mamba Hill before they finish on the green lawn of the golf driving range.
The 21.1km route takes the runners via a beautiful part of Langebaan towards the Park, take a 11km circular route inside the Park and then back via the Black Mamba Hill on their way to LCE.
Both the 10km and 5km routes are within the beautiful Langebaan Country Estate, with all four races finishing on the driving range, where a festive atmosphere will await the finishers with lots of food stalls, beer tent, refreshments, a marquee tent and much, much more. Media sponsor, HeartFM, will be providing the entertainment and broadcasting from the event.
The marathon, half marathon and 10km are pre-entry races only with entries closing on 18 March. All three these races are also Racetec Chip timed and all participants should wear a chip to obtain an official finish time.
To accommodate the thousands of greater Cape Town based runners, registration also takes place at Sportsman’s Warehouse Tyger Valley on Friday 22 March. Registration at Langebaan Country Estate Golf Clubhouse is on Friday 20 April and on Saturday morning up until 15 minutes before the last bus leaves for the marathon start and 30 minutes before the start of each of the other three races.
The marathon starts at 06:45, but all participants should be at the registration area by no later than 05:30, when the last of 20 buses will leave for the starting point at Tzaarsbank inside the Park. The buses have to drive 45km to the start at a speed not exceeding 50km/hr through town and the Park. The half marathon also starts at 06:45, the 10km at 07:00 and the 5km fun run/walk at 08:00.
Prize giving takes place at 09:45 for the 5km & 10km, 11:00 for the half marathon and 12:15 for the marathon. Besides total prize money of R60 000, there will also be lots of lucky draw prizes, which includes running shoes, running gear, restaurant vouchers, exclusive hampers, B & B vouchers and so much more.
A beautiful Dri Fit T-shirt can be ordered at R220 per shirt. A normal and ladies cut are available.
For more information and a link to the online entries: www.weskusmarathon.co.za. For online entries: https://online.entries.co.za/entries/findperson.aspx?eid=4504. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter #LCEWeskusMarathon.