High spirits help keep runners warm for cool SPAR Challenge
A LIGHT breeze may have been enough to blow Port Elizabeth funny man Gino Fabbri’s apron up, revealing more of his hairy legs, but it did not deter thousands of runners from enjoying the cold and wet SPAR Women’s Challenge at the weekend.
Marine Drive was bursting at the seams on Saturday morning, as the women and girls, and some fabulously dressed men, lined up at the start of the annual event.
The more serious female participants, who took part in the 10km race, got off to a flying start promptly at 7am.
The 5km event, which started an hour later, saw Fabbri – or rather the persona of chef Philippe Phillip – enduring countless catcalls and whistles from the crowd as he entertained them wearing little more than a chef’s hat and apron.
The aim of the event, which takes place in a number of cities across the country every year, is to promote an active, healthy lifestyle. The proceeds are donated to charity.
Flicking his long blonde locks out of his face, Peter Stander, 37, known as Petronella on race day, said this was his third Women’s Challenge – and the biggest challenge for him each year was finding the perfect outfit.
“I mean, you can’t be seen running in the same outfit twice. What would people say!”
This year, he donned a short black dress, blonde wig and fishnet stockings on his hairy legs. His makeup was brilliantly done, thanks to his wife, Dorelle.
“Unfortunately, I could not find heels in a size 10, so I had to go with running takkies.”
Uitenhage resident Tanya Mynhardt, 43, along with her daughters Kayla, 8, and Danielle, 5, said this was her third Women’s Challenge and one of the best ones to date.
“This was the first year my kids came along – and I loved doing it with them,” she said.
Running buddies Michelle Cheetham, 33, and Terez Ellington, 37, saw the 10km race as good training for the upcoming Knysna half-marathon in July.
“The weather conditions were great for running,” Cheetham said.
Ellington said Port Elizabeth needed to organise more events such as this, as the runners’ calendar was a little thin and they had to travel elsewhere for proper road races.