The world’s fastest-ever time over 15km was also the reason veteran Eastern Cape runner Margie Saunders was missing from the start line of the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Gqeberha last year.

 
Her world record in the 70-plus age category a week prior to the popular 10km, unfortunately, came at the price of a pulled hamstring.
 
“I must have run too fast!” quipped the 72-year-old Nedbank Running Club athlete from Cape St Francis.
 
“So I came to watch and support [the 2024 race] but didn’t actually run.”
 
You cannot keep a good woman down and it didn’t take long for Saunders to hit her world-beating stride again.
 
Over the past 12 months she has broken her own SA record over 10km at the Freedom Run (44:38) and her world record over 15km at the Forest Run (1:08:49), both in the Bay.
 
She also came within five seconds of setting a new global benchmark for the 21.1km in the great grandmaster class at the Madibaz half-marathon.
 
Incidentally, Saunders’ 2:12:45 is also the world’s fastest over 25km.
 
If her recent form is anything to go by, adding the 10km world mark to her resume on September 27 is not far-fetched at all.
 
Although she is “a little way off” – 29 seconds to be precise – of breaching Australian Lavinia Petrie’s 44:09, she believes there is every chance if the weather plays ball.
 
A factor in her favour is the flatter 10km loop introduced last year. Saunders calls it “lovely”.
 
“It’s one of the nicest 10km races in PE. I think if the wind plays along it’s going to be fast. The course has improved a lot [compared to previous years].
 
“It’s virtually flat. It’s an out-and-back and you have a bit of shelter in Brighton Drive.”
 
Those who have tackled the old course in the past but missed out last year will immediately notice the changes.
 
After the gun, entrants head from Pollok Beach along Marine Drive but, instead of turning right into Admiralty Way as they used to, they continue straight until reaching the turnaround point.
 
From there they retrace their steps along the oceanside road, which means they approach Admiralty from the opposite side and therefore a left-turn brings them onto the road that leads towards the university.
 
Runners then turn right, meandering along Brighton Drive through suburban Summerstrand to exit onto Marine via 4th Avenue.
 
Here a left-turn takes them past The Boardwalk precinct towards the next turning point on Beach Road, which brings them all the way back to the race village.
 
The Women’s Challenge, which includes the ever-popular 5km fun run, is known for its community-spirited atmosphere.
 
It presents the ideal opportunity for social and club runners, as well as walkers, to gather for a fun day out.
 
The event also boasts the next leg of the 10km Grand Prix Series for elite runners.
 
Participants in the feature event will head off at 7am with those taking part in the shorter distance coming under starter’s orders 30 minutes later.
 
Enter at www.sparwomenschallenge.co.za/gqeberha/ or ask someone to do so on your behalf and collect your entry at a till point in any SPAR store.