Friday 26 September 2014

4th TinMan Triathlon

Do you have heart?

The Supernova team, as I'm sure you've realised, really believes in a healthy lifestyle. As exercise is part of that, why not take part in this super cool triathlon?



From triathletes-in-the-making, to the serious die-hard kind, the Maxed Elite TinMan Triathlon is designed for everyone who loves to move. It’s a high-speed, exhilarating race with categories for every one of every fitness level.

Maxed Elite TinMan Series director, Damian Bradley is excited to welcome Mr Price Sport and the Maxed Elite brand onboard with the Series. "The brand and the event have a massive crossover appeal and we feel that both the Maxed Elite Brand and the TinMan will work well together in developing the sport and attracting new competitors to participate in something different and cool in Durban."

Mr Price Sport Marketing Executive, Nikki Viljoen agrees: At Mr Price Sport, our philosophy’s about appealing to every athlete: from the beginners to the pros, each with their own accomplishments and goals. It’s about their best, no matter what that ‘best’ might be.  Not only is the upcoming Maxed Elite TinMan Triathlon the perfect platform for every level of athlete to try beat their best, it also ties in with our current ‘What’s Your Best?’ campaign. This is exactly why partnering with TinMan is a perfect fit, and we’re more than excited about being on board!”    

The next Maxed Elite TinMan takes place on the 16th of November 2014, with four events taking place on the day. The first of these kicks off at 7am, all with a captivating view of the Indian Ocean along the Durban beachfront. The triathlon sets up camp on the scenic Suncoast Sundeck, with the start and finish line of each event situated on the grass area.

Triathletes from as young as 8 years old can take part in the day’s races – so if you’re a family that loves everything active, this is a perfect way to spend the morning. For anyone older, today’s the day to ditch the TV, rally your buddies and lace up your racing shoes.

On the day, the swimming phase of each race takes place at Suncoast Beach. The cycle leg takes triathletes onto the cycling circuit around the Durban Country Club and Kings Park swimming pool. For each run, racers are treated to the panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, all the way down to Blue Lagoon and back to the Suncoast Sundeck. 

Here’s a list of all the events on offer:

07h00 START - 10KM BEACHFRONT RUN
If you love an early-morning run, this one’s got your name on it. The 10km run gets going at 7am, and is made up of two 5km laps.

07h00 START -  TINMAN MINI TRIATHLON
This one’s aimed at the little movers as young as 8 years old! Get fresh with a 200m swim, set off for a 6km cycle and get your heart racing with a 2,5km run. Easy-ka-peezy.

07h15 START - TINMAN SPRINT TRIATHLON
If you’re 15 years of age or older, and you’re looking to work up a sweat and get the blood pumping, the TinMan sprint’s for you! This one’s made up of a 600m swim, an 18km cycle and a 5km run! Go get ‘em!

07h30 START -  TINMAN CHALLENGE
Get set to sweat, fitness fanatics! This trying triathlon gives teams the chance to enter in a three-man relay section for the Challenge Triathlon, which includes a 1km swim, a 30km cycle and a 10km run.

Of course, if you’re not taking part in the day’s riveting races, you can always play your part by cheering on and supporting the athletes giving the Maxed Elite TinMan their all.






For more information about the Maxed Elite TinMan, feel free to get in touch through any of these channels:
Online Entry: www.bactiventry.com
Website: www.bactive.com
Twitter: @tinmantri
Phone: 031 764 1885




Thursday 25 September 2014

Are you One Direction's biggest fan?

Prove that you’re One Direction’s biggest fan and you could win one of two double tickets to watch One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, showing for one weekend only at Ster-Kinekor Theatres nationwide. Terms and Conditions apply.

All you have to do is send your name, age and contact details (email and phone number) to competition@bkpublishing.co.za, along with your answer to the following question:

Give the full names of at least two One Direction members.

All the best!





Terms and Conditions for Supernova competitions

1. Competition ends, Friday 3 October 2014 . 2. All entries must include name and surname, age, date of birth and contact details
. 3. Persons entering the competition must be 18 years or under.  4. Competition is open to anyone except the employees  (or members of their immediate families) of Supernova magazine or advertisers or prize sponsors. 5. The closing date specified for the competition is final and no late entries will be allowed. 6. If you win a competition you will be notified via telephone or email.  7. The judges’ decision is final. 8. The prize will not be redeemable for cash and is non-transferable. 9. Supernova magazine is not responsible for delayed or lost entries. 10. Supernova magazine is not responsible for the loss or damage of a prize after it has been sent to the winner. 11. Incorrect entries will be disqualified. 12. Supernova magazine may use the information given in the entry for BK Publishing's internal database. All the information will be kept confidential. 13. If the competition requires the entrant to provide illustrations, photographs or any original artwork by the entrant, the submission of the work will constitute a consensual release and will allow Supernova and the competition organiser to publish your artwork in the magazine and online. 14. If you enter this competition we will assume that you have read trough the Terms and Conditions, and that you understand and agree with them. 

Tuesday 23 September 2014

Calling all One Direction fans...

GET READY FOR THE WHERE WE ARE CONCERT, FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY

Ster-Kinekor brings you this boy band phenomenon in larger-than-life, big screen format


For one unmissable weekend in October, fans of boy-band megastars, One Direction (1D), will be able to catch the band’s latest concert, One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, at their nearest Ster-Kinekor cinema. On 11 and 12 October, for five shows daily, the band’s first-ever concert film will be screened at cinemas across the world, including South Africa, thanks to Ster-Kinekor.

Fans are invited to join the world’s biggest band on stage from the Italian leg of their record-breaking tour. Filmed live at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, this stunning and exclusive 75-minute concert film also features an additional 22-minute special cinema segment filmed with the boys themselves, and cut with exclusive backstage tour footage, which has not been seen before.

Scheduled for release globally in more than 50 countries and with over 10 000 screenings over one special weekend, One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film will give fans the opportunity to join Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis on their sell-out world tour, for a One Direction concert experience.

Recorded during the sell-out Italian leg of their world tour, this one-off cinema event offers the chance to experience the live concert featuring all of One Direction’s biggest hits, from ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ to ‘Story Of My Life’. Before the concert, cinema fans will also get the chance to go ‘behind the scenes’ with the extra tour footage that will be screened.

For South African fans, this global and exclusive One Direction film weekend is a chance to watch the band’s Where We Are tour for the first time, and to get closer to the band than ever before, in true high definition and cinema surround sound. With the band scheduled to perform in Johannesburg and Cape Town in March/April next year as part of their 2015 world tour, the One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film is a great opportunity to see the band ‘live’ in concert on the big screen, before seeing them live in concert on the stage!

Bookings are open, so make sure you book your tickets now to take part in this truly global 1D movie experience! For more information on One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film, and to book your tickets, visit: www.sterkinekor.com or call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437). For news and updates, go to Facebook: Ster-Kinekor Theatres | Follow Ster-Kinekor on Twitter: @sterkinekor, or download the SK App on your Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry smart phone for information, updates and to book from your mobile.


One Direction
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson formed the band in 2010 and have since amassed a loyal fan base and fame across the globe. With three albums to date,
UP ALL NIGHT, TAKE ME HOME and MIDNIGHT MEMORIES, they have impressively sold more than 45 million records worldwide and have achieved a total of 91 number ones. One Direction have taken home 4 BRIT Awards, 2 American Music Awards, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 6 Teen Choice Awards and received a Moonman for Best Song Of The Summer at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. One Direction made their movie debut with their massive hit 3D concert movie and documentary ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US. The film has been a phenomenal success, topping the UK and US box offices and grossing an incredible $69 Million worldwide. The band released their history-making third studio album MIDNIGHT MEMORIES, which includes the worldwide smash hit 'Best Song Ever' and single 'Story Of My Life'. In early 2014, One Direction embarked on their global sell-out WHERE WE ARE 2014 stadium tour, which has sold 3.5 million tickets across Europe, Latin America, Australasia and US. For more info, visit: www.onedirectionmusic.com







Issued by Amplified Communications on behalf of Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

Monday 22 September 2014

TUTANKHAMUN – His Tomb and His Treasures

Discover the spectacular 'TUTANKHAMUN – His Tomb and His Treasures'
exhibition at Silverstar this December

Golden Mask of Tutankhamun
(A.M. v. Sarosdy: SC Exhibitions)
The internationally acclaimed exhibition ‘TUTANKHAMUN – His Tomb and His Treasures’ takes centre stage at Silverstar’s impressive new 2000-square-metre entertainment venue from 2 December 2014, running throughout the festive season and the early part of 2015. A first for South Africa and the continent, this captivating exhibition gives visitors the unique opportunity to experience the treasures of the tomb at their moment of discovery. This amazing adventure begins with a multimedia presentation, illustrating the fascinating story behind the exploration and excavation by British archaeologist, Howard Carter, the history of TUTANKHAMUN, and the culture of ancient Egypt.


Seen by over five million people worldwide, the exhibition has faithfully reconstructed the tomb of TUTANKHAMUN to scale, presenting a realistic impression of the overwhelming opulence of the treasures intended to serve the famous young pharaoh on his magical journey to the Underworld. There are over 1000 exquisitely reconstructed burial treasures produced by the finest Egyptian craftsmen under scientific supervision. These exact replicas, coupled with state-of-the art technology and video material, provide a vivid illustration of the culture and spiritual world of the ancient Egyptians. Visitors will also discover what these magnificent historical finds reveal about the religion, deities, dynasties, and mysterious hieroglyphics of the empire on the Nile.

Tyrone Thöle, managing director of Great World Exhibitions, says “TUTANKHAMUN offers a truly exceptional experience – because of its outstanding quality and breadth of presentation and because it speaks to all of us. Who wouldn’t want to experience what it must have felt like to stumble upon one of the greatest discoveries of all time? Visitors are bound to be mesmerised by the exquisite exhibits, exciting video footage and fascinating revelations at this phenomenal exhibition.”

Portable Shrine with Anubis figure
(A.M. v. Sarosdy: SC Exhibitions)

The fragile and valuable original artefacts cannot be transported, so this exhibition offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the (perfectly replicated) antiquities from King Tut’s tomb - all under one roof. Brought to South Africa through a partnership with Germany’s SC Exhibitions, Great World Exhibitions and Silverstar, the exhibition brings the historic moment and the story of the burial treasure’s discovery to life in a unique way. Visitors are guided through the exploration 'journey' with the help of an audio guide (included in the ticket price) that makes the fascinating experience more enjoyable and fulfilling. There’s even a special children’s audio guide to maximise their experience too.

Ticket prices range from R80 to R160 per person and there is a special discounted family package of four tickets for just R440. Children of five years and younger are admitted free of charge. Furthermore, for added convenience and ease of access to the exhibition, tickets are sold in dedicated time slots. Visitors may choose when to arrive within the time slot they have selected while booking online or at the box office. Purchased tickets are valid for the entirety of the booked day as visitors might arrive before or after the booked ‘time slot’. Once entered the exhibition, visitors are welcome to stay as long as they want within opening hours. The exhibition is open seven days a week, except for Christmas Day. Tickets are now on sale at www.tut-exhibition.co.za and www.silverstarcasino.co.za.


Highlights of the burial chamber: Canopic shrine
(SC Exhibitions)

Hurry, take advantage of the special early bird discounted offer of R20 off ALL ticket prices valid for the exhibition dates from 2 December until 15 December inclusive. Moms and dads who purchase the already discounted family package will enjoy a further R80 off their purchase of four tickets. It takes about two hours to walk through the exhibition, although many visitors stay for longer. There’s a shop, carrying official programmes, mementos made in Egypt and other quality merchandise. The fascinating 'King Tut' family educational entertainment outing at Silverstar is nothing short of spectacular.

A firm favourite with children, students and adults of all ages, ‘TUTANKHAMUN – His Tomb and His Treasures’ has visited numerous cities, ranging from Zurich and Munich, to Madrid, Budapest, Dublin, Brussels, Paris and Seoul. Set to arrive in Africa for the very first time, the exhibition opens at Silverstar in Muldersdrift, Mogale City, from 2 December 2014 to 1 March 2015. Silverstar – one of Tsogo Sun’s premier entertainment destinations – has just undergone a R560 million redevelopment. Exhibition visitors can, therefore, also look forward to spectacular entertainment and dining opportunities at one of the most exciting destinations in Gauteng this summer. Whether you’re fascinated by the wonders of Ancient Egypt, a budding Egyptologist or you simply want to enjoy a fun family outing with a difference, don’t miss ‘TUTANKHAMUN – His Tomb and His Treasures’.


EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Exhibition dates: 2 December 2014 – 12 April 2015 inclusive

Venue:Silverstar
Muldersdrift, Mogale City
Next to R28 Krugersdorp/Pretoria highway

Opening times:Sundays – Thursdays: 09h00 – 19h00
Fridays & Saturdays: 09h00 – 21h00
Public Holidays: 09h00 – 21h00
(Last admission 90 minutes prior to closing)

Estimated time to view the entire exhibition: ± 2 hours

Ticket prices (incl. use of audio guide):Adults: R160
Seniors (60+ years) & Students: R120

Children (6 to 18 years): R100
Children 5 years and under: Free
The golden throne of Tutankhamun
(A.M. v. Sarosdy: SC Exhibitions)

Time-Slot Tickets
You may access the exhibition at any time within the 30-minute time slot you have selected when booking (on line or at the box office).
Once you have entered the exhibition, you are welcome to stay as long as you want within opening hours.

Early Bird Special
R20 off all individual tickets valid for exhibition dates 
from 2 to 15 December 2014 inclusive.
Added save of R80 on a family package.

Family and Group discounts and packages
Tsogo Sun Cardholders, school, group, family, pensioner 
and other special offers are available

Bookings and on-line
for bookings and information.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KingTut_JHB - @kingtut_jhb
Event Hashtag: #KingTut_JHB

Booking Agent



Wednesday 17 September 2014

Caring corporates invest in education of Diepsloot schoolchildren


Tsogo Sun’s flagship entertainment property, Montecasino, in partnership with Servest, Bidvest Prestige, Trango Risk Management, Letlapa First Park, and Da Tasty TakeAways recently handed over an Audio-Visual Mobile Library to the Grade 0 to 3 classes of the Akani Primary School in Diepsloot.

Ryan Nicholas (Operations Manager of Montecasino), Glenn Joseph (General Manager of Montecasino), 
Deidre Jameson (Montecasino Property Manager) and Mama Doreen (Principal of Akani Primary School),
 with the donated Audio-Visual Mobile Library and some of the happy students.

In line with their innovative CSI strategy – which has as one of its main focus areas the education of children in the Diepsloot area, and specifically the students of the Akani Primary School, whom Montecasino staff have adopted as their own – Montecasino is proud to have been the driving force behind the donation of the Mobile Library which includes:

· 32” built-in flat screen television;
· 500 educational and fictional books – with 10% of those in indigenous languages, ensuring that the non-English speaking students see themselves represented in the community;
· A DVD player;
· 25 educational DVDs.

Says Montecasino General Manager Glenn Joseph:  “Education, and along with it community development, is a core element of Montecasino’s strategic plans and a philosophy that is very much a part of the Tsogo Sun Learning Academy ethos. We saw the need for a library resource within Akani Primary School and felt an obligation to fill the gap. Libraries are important elements in child development; through books and other educational resources children learn to share, to be engaged in their communities, to participate in the arts, and to explore their immediate world and the world at large.”

Montecasino staff members pledge their own time and money to the Akani Primary School, and take great pride in raising the funds needed to add to the students’ lives. In addition to the financial funding provided to the school, Montecasino staff members have a calendar in place for the year, aimed at exposing the children to experiences that a more privileged child might enjoy, such as outings to the Montecasino Bird Gardens and tickets to many of the spectacular shows taking to the stage at the Teatro at Montecasino, and a Christmas party for the children.

We want to give these children a better chance at making the most of their lives and give them a strong foundation from which to grow.  If we can make a real difference in the lives of a handful of children, then we will have made a meaningful contribution to society. Our only hope is that the donation of this mobile library can go a long way in ensuring that the children of the Diepsloot Akani Primary School are able to benefit from a facility the school would not otherwise be able to afford,concludes Joseph.

To find out more about Montecasino’s CSI initiatives, visit www.montecasino.co.za.


Issued on behalf of Montecasino by Strategic Public Relations.


Thursday 11 September 2014

Gangs of Ballet nominated as 'wildcard' for the MTV EMA's 'Best African Act' category!




GANGS OF BALLET has been nominated as a 'wildcard' for the MTV EMA’s Best African Act category. The band is the the only rock band in the category and is extremely excited about this opportunity.

The 2014 MTV EMA takes place in Glasgow on 9 November 2014.

For this year’s local awards, they have introduced a pre-nomination phase where viewers will be able to choose one of the nominees in their local region.
Artists can mobilise their fans from 9 September until 14 September to vote via Twitter, using personalised artist hashtags. The winning artist will join the other confirmed nominees for Best African Act, and have the chance to progress to the final stage, representing their region as a nominee for the prestigious Worldwide Act award.


Fans can vote for GANGS OF BALLET in this category on Twitter by tweeting using the hashtags #MTV #NominateGangsOfBallet.
#MTVEMA #NOMINATEGANGSOFBALLET



For more on Gangs of Ballet, read Supernova, the mag for curious kids, vol. 3.5!

Gangs of Ballet online:




Wednesday 10 September 2014

Talented Teens

Abbotts College Pretoria East Annual Art Exhibition

Andrea Vermaak, editor of Supernova, the mag for curious kids, attended her second annual art exhibition at Abbotts College Pretoria East and was once again overwhelmed by the learners’ artistic flair. Grade 10 to 12 learners of the Art and Design Department impressed the judges too, who had a difficult time deciding whom to award for their incredibly hard work.

The following learners received an award for their projects:

 
Candice Smith (Art Teacher) and Erin Davis
Grade 10 Visual Art
1st Erin Davis 
2nd Vhuthu Mafunisa 
3rd Brendon Jardine 

Candice Smith (Art Teacher) and Tiitesto Somo







Grade 11 Visual Art
1st Tiitesto Somo
2nd Tasia Wyrley-Birch
3rd Courtney Catt

Candice Smith (Art Teacher) and Kayla Cunningham






Grade 12 Visual Art
1st Kayla Cunningham
2nd Kendra van der Merwe
3rd Lilleen van den Berg







“Every learner who participated in the exhibition has an incredibly bright future, should they wish to take up the arts,” says Andrea. “If they show as much enthusiasm and dedication to their work in any other subject too, they will excel in anything they endeavour to do. We wish the learners of Abbotts College all the best in their careers and welcome anyone studying design or illustration to do an internship at BK Publishing.”

We can't wait to see what the learners hold in store for next year's exhibition at this unique school which refreshingly offers opportunities for creativity, individuality and self-expression. 


Tuesday 9 September 2014

Melrose Cheese sends maths and science geniuses to NASA

Press release
Melrose logo

Melrose Cheese partnered with the kids and family channel, Nickelodeon (DStv Channel 305), to host the Nickelodeon GENIUS quiz – a fun and interactive campaign designed to get SA kids inspired by maths and science, and to learn more about these fascinating and important educational subjects.

With South Africa ranked second last in mathematics and science worldwide*, addressing this at an early age is critical in order to develop a society that can keep up with the fast-paced technological advances globally.

Melrose and Nickelodeon have taken the initiative to engage our young, bright minds in math and science to improve the state of education in South Africa. This was a wonderful opportunity to encourage school children to show their intellectual ability in a fun and exciting way,” said André Mahoney, Marketing Director, Parmalat SA.

SpongeBob with the winners from Grove Primary and
fellow finalists from Reddam House, Bedfordview

Thousands of primary school children from the Western Cape and Gauteng, between the ages of 9 and 13 years, competed against each other to demonstrate their maths and science knowledge. Nickelodeon undersea hero SpongeBob SquarePants was on hand to help out with the tricky questions and to meet the kids participating in the quiz.

Winners of the Melrose Nickelodeon Genius Quiz
Three smart and talented youngsters, Rameez Chicktay (13), Amin Banderker (13) and Kayur Ranchod (13) from The Grove Primary School in Western Cape, proved they’ve got what it takes after winning the final round of Nickelodeon’s Genius quiz, held at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg recently.

Thanks to Melrose Cheese, the learners from Grove Primary School will be going on all-expenses paid trip to Orlando, Florida to visit the Kennedy Space Centre (NASA) and the Universal Orlando Theme Park, where they will be treated to various rides and experiences including Spiderman, Shrek, Jurassic Park, Minion Mayhem and a tour of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!





Issued for Parmalat SA by Errieda du Toit PR

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Supernova team would like to congratulate the learners from 
Supernova subscriber Grove Primary School on their amazing win! 

Well done, guys! Enjoy your trip and stay curious!


Friday 5 September 2014

Elana Meyer: not just a runner, an inspiration - Part 2

An exclusive interview with South African former long-distance runner and Olympic medalist

Elana Meyer
Elana Meyer, a former long-distance runner and Olympic silver medalist at the 1992 Summer Olympics, as well as current ambassador for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, shares some tips on running a long-distance race in this second part of an exclusive interview. She also chats a bit about the up-coming Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

Interview with Elana Meyer: Part 2
Running a long-distance race

Do you follow a certain strategy while you're running? For instance, do you speed up at certain times and slow down at different stages?

It depends on which race you're running. If you're running an Olympic race, you always have a race strategy. You determine it according to your own strengths and weaknesses. You're also racing against a lot of competitors with strengths and weaknesses, so you will decide on a racing tactic, depending on your own strengths and your competitors' when you're racing.

When you usually run longer distances, the most important thing at the end is that it's a race against yourself. When you can make sure that you can get the best out of yourself for the race, then you'll get a good result.

How do you avoid 'hitting the wall' when you're running?

'Hitting the wall' really is a term used in marathon running. After about 30km, you run out of glycogen, so you have to use different energy systems. Some people 'hit the wall' when they're not trained; when they're not fit enough. It's really a term that they use when they're getting tired.

There are a lot of things you can do to prepare better for an event. The longer the distance you attempt, the more weeks you need to prepare. You can avoid hitting the wall if you're well prepared.

How do you keep your feet on the ground when you've achieved greatness like yourself, winning an Olympic medal and being very well-known? How do you stay humble?

Being a successful athlete is only one component of a person. I believe I have a lot of strengths and weaknesses, and it forces me to look at the whole picture. To be a successful athlete doesn't mean that you're a successful person. It's one component that you can excel in. There are a lot of other areas where you really have to work hard. A lot of people are also better than you. So you always have to look at it holistically. One component of strength doesn't make you a strong person.

How do you deal with disappointment, like when you've lost a race or you didn't make the time you wanted to make?

I think you often learn a lot more through disappointment. I had a career of ten years running in South Africa and another ten years of running internationally. To grow and improve doesn't come in the form of victory after victory after victory. If you look back, you often had disappointments, but the fact that you got through them and that you become stronger through them, makes you successful.

Failure and disappointment are part of the road to success. Often, there are many kids that haven't won, so they give up. You need to be persistent through disappointments and failures to become a successful person.

What are some of the life lessons that you have learnt as a long-distance runner?

Running and sport have been the greatest feature in my life. Even though I have a degree and an Honours degree, sport has been the greatest feature. The lessons I've learnt through running: having a clear goal, being prepared, having a plan to achieve your goals, and going out there and doing the hard work to achieve your goals. You can apply these things in any facet of your life. You can apply it to work and to school. Most of the things I apply in my daily life, I've learnt through sport. 

Tell us more about the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

I'm an ambassador for the event. I'll certainly do one of the events, I'm not sure which one yet, but it will be something like the Mile Run or the 10km. My bigger role is to be part of the event, to get international athletes there, and to get as many locals as possible taking part. I'm definitely going to be part of it in a very big way.

From left to right: Jakes Jacobs (President: Western Province Athletics),
Elana Meyer (Sanlam Cape Town Marathon ambassador),
Yegs Ramiah (Chief Executive: Sanlam Brand)
and Francois Pienaar (Sanlam Cape Town Marathon ambassador)

Is there anything about the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon that makes it stand out from the rest of the marathons, besides it being an event for charity?

In South Africa, we have two great ultra marathons – the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons. The standard marathon distance at the Olympic Games and for all the big city marathons like London, New York, Chicago and Tokyo is 42.2km. Our aim is to build a big city marathon, where people will travel from all over the world to come and do it once in their lives. We want the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon to become one of those 'must run' events on the international calendar.

Is there any long-distance race that stands out for you in your career?

I did my debut marathon in Boston. The Boston Marathon is the oldest city marathon in the world. In 2017, it's turning 120-years-old. It started one year after the modern Olympic marathon. So, it's a historic event. I went back to run it a few times for charity. It's such a great race because of its history.

I've also run New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico and London. All those marathons have something unique. Every time has been a unique and very special experience. That's what really makes a marathon. It's not a race, but an experience. That's why I always say that every person in the world should at least attempt a marathon once in their life.

Are there any special events for children at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon?

Cape Town City Hall
Yes, absolutely. We have a Fun Run. A lot of the kids from the communities will have the opportunity to be part of the big event and run it. It's a 4.2km event. We also have a five-person relay, which is also 4.2km. Then there is the 10km run, which we wouldn't encourage very young children to run, but if you are at least 15, you're welcome to join us.

What advice do you have for children who aspire to be successful long-distance runners?

It's such an awesome way of getting fit and having a good lifestyle. It's really something that you can do from anywhere. You just need a pair of shoes. So you can go out and you don't have to go far. Once around the block – not the one that you can kick underneath your bed - is much better than doing nothing. Even if you run for ten minutes, it's better than nothing. Start by walking and jogging, and then later on move up to running. It's really something that anybody can do.


We would like to thank Elana Meyer for the amazing interview and we wish her all the best with her future endeavours, especially in terms of promoting long-distance running. You are a running legend and inspiration to us all!


For more information on the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, visit http://www.capetownmarathon.com/



Compiled by Andrea Vermaak