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Unveiling the Spirit of Women: The Cape Town SPAR Women’s Challenge

March 20, 2024

4 mins read

The SPAR Women’s Challenge in Cape Town is a road race exclusively for women that promotes women’s health, empowerment, and raises awareness and funds to end gender-based violence. The event offers a 10 km race and a 5 km fun walk/run and is dedicated to improving women’s lives through donations of sanitary pads and supporting abuse survivors. Over 14,000 women are expected to participate in the race, which is more than just a race but a celebration of community spirit and well-being.

Dynamic group of women celebrate their victory at the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge event — Photo: Boxer Athletics Club (@boxerathleticsclub)

Dynamic scene of a woman participant in the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge race. — Photo: Boxer Athletics Club (@boxerathleticsclub)

What is the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Cape Town?

The SPAR Women’s Challenge is a road race exclusively for women in South Africa that takes place in Cape Town and four other cities. It offers both a 10 km race and a 5 km fun walk/run. The event is more than just a race as it promotes women’s health and empowerment, and raises awareness and funds to end gender-based violence. It is also dedicated to improving women’s lives through donations of sanitary pads and supporting abuse survivors.

The Big Race

Invigorating feminine spirit and fierce resolution will flood Cape Town this Sunday, as the city gears up to kick-start the SPAR Women’s Grand Prix Series season with its first race. A congregation of more than 14,000 dedicated women are set to assemble, bracing themselves to pound the pavements through the emblematic neighbourhoods of Green Point, Mouille Point, and Sea Point. This marks the 35th year of the iconic SPAR Women’s Challenge. Backed by the City of Cape Town, this event surpasses being merely a race – it embodies a jubilant celebration of community spirit, well-being, and the tough battle against gender-based violence.

Group of women in sports uniforms at the SPAR Women's Challenge in Cape Town — Photo: Modern Athlete Magazine (@modernathletemag)

Group of women holding gift boxes at the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge event — Photo: Modern Athlete Magazine (@modernathletemag)

The participants will traverse the most picturesque corners of the city during this much-awaited event. The race course offers two options, a 5 km fun walk/run for those looking for a less exhaustive yet equally fulfilling experience. In contrast to the full route, the shorter one conveniently bypasses the Sea Point loop, making it an appealing choice for novice runners or those seeking a relaxed run or walk.

Built by the Western Province Athletics, the SPAR Women’s Challenge holds the honour of being the most crucial road running race exclusively for women in South Africa. Cape Town, as one of the five hosting cities, is recognised for staging one of the broadest races across the nation. This stands as proof of the city’s steadfast devotion towards the betterment of women’s health and empowerment.

Diverse group of female athletes lined up for the start of the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge race. — Photo: SPAR Grand Prix Series (@spar_grand_prix)

Diverse group of women participating in the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Cape Town marathon event. — Photo: SPAR Grand Prix Series (@spar_grand_prix)

The City’s Commitment

Cape Town, a staunch supporter of this event for a decade, deems the SPAR Women’s Challenge highly valuable. Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, is appreciative of how the event aligns with the city’s missions. The distinctive emphasis on women, the encouragement of a robust lifestyle, and the imperative to eradicate gender-based violence are all elements he commends. He also underscores the event’s contribution to establishing Cape Town as a preferred running location, given its pristine road infrastructure and breathtaking vistas.

Making a Difference Beyond the Race

The celebration extends beyond the confines of the race itself. For each entry received, SPAR commits to donate a pack of sanitary pads. These will be distributed through its Petal Project, in collaboration with several charities nationwide. This generous gesture reflects the retailer’s dedication to improving women’s lives.

Women participating in the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge wearing matching shirts at a park. — Photo: Mukelisiwe Prudence Dambuza (@mukelisiweprudy)

Vibrant scene at Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge 2024 with a sea of orange shirts and diverse crowd. — Photo: Mukelisiwe Prudence Dambuza (@mukelisiweprudy)

Additionally, the race supports SPAR’s End Gender-Based Violence campaign by contributing a donation to the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children. This haven for abuse survivors provides a safe refuge for women and children, and the funds raised will significantly bolster the vital work they do.

Race Day Information

The race day, scheduled for Sunday, 24 March 2024, will inevitably impact the areas of Green Point, Mouille Point, and Sea Point. Road closures will be implemented, and it’s essential for locals to remember that the MyCiTi bus service will be affected. An exhaustive list of affected routes can be accessed on the MyCiTi website.

Group of women and a boy in orange shirts participating in the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge. — Photo: Seymour van Wyk (@seymour_van_wyk)

Group of women at the Cape Town SPAR Women's Challenge 2024 event — Photo: Seymour van Wyk (@seymour_van_wyk)

A Platform for Empowerment

The SPAR Women’s Challenge is far more than a race. It serves as a platform for women to unite in solidarity and resilience, to revel in the joy of running and the splendour of their city, and to champion causes that echo their personal experiences and ambitions. As the city readies itself for this grand event, we look forward to a day brimming with camaraderie, health, and empowerment, an experience that will leave a lasting imprint on the participants and the city that proudly hosts it.

For further details on this event and more, please visit eventsincapetown.com. Cape Town eagerly awaits your arrival, armed with open arms and primed running shoes.

1. What is the SPAR Women’s Challenge in Cape Town?

2. How many participants are expected to participate in the Cape Town race?

Over 14,000 women are expected to participate in the Cape Town SPAR Women’s Challenge.

3. What is the race course like?

The race course traverses the most picturesque corners of Cape Town, including Green Point, Mouille Point, and Sea Point. It offers two options, a 5 km fun walk/run for those looking for a less exhaustive yet equally fulfilling experience.

4. What is the City of Cape Town’s commitment to the event?

The City of Cape Town is a staunch supporter of the event and recognizes its value in promoting women’s health and empowerment, as well as raising awareness about gender-based violence. The city also recognizes the event’s contribution to establishing Cape Town as a preferred running location.

5. How does the event give back to the community beyond the race?

For each entry received, SPAR commits to donate a pack of sanitary pads to its Petal Project in collaboration with several charities nationwide. The race also supports SPAR’s End Gender-Based Violence campaign by contributing a donation to the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children.

6. What is the impact of the race on the city and its residents?

The race day will inevitably impact the areas of Green Point, Mouille Point, and Sea Point, with road closures and changes to MyCiTi bus service routes. However, the event also serves as a platform for women to unite in solidarity and resilience, to champion causes that echo their personal experiences and ambitions, and to celebrate community spirit and well-being.

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Zola Naidoo
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Zola Naidoo is a Cape Town journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting politics and the lived realities behind the headlines. A weekend trail-runner on Table Mountain’s lower contour paths, she still swops stories in her grandmother’s District Six kitchen every Sunday, grounding her reporting in the cadences of the Cape.

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