Cape Town, 24 August 2017 – The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Africa’s must-run iconic city marathon, has won both local and international praise for its world-class management and social benefits. Through its purposeful Run4Change legacy programme, participants, supporters and the public at large are given the opportunity to better their health, whether it’s through active recreation, physical education, exercise or good nutrition.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon weekend festival, which takes place between 14 and 17 September in the beautiful Mother City, provides a wealth of information and support through its training programmes and assistance from top experts. “The marathon is a great way to make the shift towards positive change in living a healthier life,” says Elana van Zyl-Meyer, ambassador for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and former Olympic silver medallist.

The races for this year's action-packed road-running spectacle include the 12km and 22km Sanlam Cape Town Peace Trail Runs, the Sanlam Cape Town 10km Peace Run, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 42.2km race, and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Peace Fun Run. “No matter your fitness level, or what your goals are, there is a race to fit your needs,” says Van Zyl-Meyer.  

Dr Jann Killops, representing Mediclinic and Er24, says that there many benefits to incorporating exercise in your daily routine, including weight loss, strengthening of bones and muscles, and lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease. “Running stimulates key enzymes that remove fatty acids from the blood and limit the further formation of fatty acids, which in turn lowers your cholesterol and risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes,” she explains.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which acquired Gold Label Status from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) this year, has comprehensive training programmes available on its website, put together by leading coaches with international experience. “We’ve worked hard to ensure that all the information that you may need is available through our website, including running programmes, nutritional tips and medical advice,” says Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race director Janet Welham.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon aims to encourage people to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle as part of their daily lives. “You’ll soon discover a different version of yourself as you get fitter. You’ll start feeling energised from running, and as you manage to cover longer distances, your confidence will improve,” says Van Zyl-Meyer.  

“Adopting and managing a healthy lifestyle through physical activity, such as running and walking, and healthy eating, including healthy cooking methods, are important lifestyle actions to prevent, reduce and better self-manage common chronic diseases” says Dr Frederick Marais from the WoW! (Western Cape on Wellness) healthy lifestyle initiative of the Western Cape Government: Health and its valued partners, including Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. “The WoW! partnership is about enabling people to live healthier lifestyles through knowledge sharing, healthy nutrition and regular physical activity - for health, wellness and fun!  WoW! is encouraging all of us to Co-Create a Culture of Wellness in the Western Cape!“ explains Marais.

Andrea du Plessis, Vital Health Foods nutritional expert and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon runner, says that getting the most out of your diet is essential to optimise your training. Keeping your energy levels up and giving your muscles enough fuel to endure longer distances is vital. Du Plessis suggests whey protein and a magnesium supplementation to help maximise your recovery after a training

session, while adding beetroot, rocket and seeds to your diet will help prevent muscle fatigue, as they are all rich in nitrates and B-vitamins, both integral ingredients in building fatigue resistance.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, now in its fourth year, also encourages all participants to take the pledge to say no to doping. This initiative is supported by the South African Institute for Drug-free Sport (SAIDS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). “Living a healthier lifestyle means that educating yourself on what medications are allowed when competing is another aspect to consider,” says Welham. 

“The reward is not only the medal or sense of achievement when you cross the finish line to complete the marathon but also in the journey itself,” says van Zyl Meyer.

Africa is my home, this is my race. It's Cape Town, must run it!

Entries for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon are open. To find out more, go to www.sanlamcapetownmarathon.com

#Run4Change
#Run4aCause
#RunGreen
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#ChallengeYourself
#ChallengeYourFriend
#CaptainsChallenge
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For media enquiries please contact
CRAIG DUMMETT
PR for Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
021-418-2466
082-072-4103
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About the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Awarded IAAF Gold Label status earlier this year, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is an exhilarating festival of running that brings together runners, elite athletes, social joggers and surrounding communities to enjoy a Spring weekend of running through Africa’s spectacularly beautiful Mother City.

The classic Olympian 42.2km marathon takes centre stage on the Sunday, which follows a 10km Peace Run in the morning, and two Peace Trail Runs (22km and 12km) and a 4.2km Fun Run/ Walk on the Saturday.As Africa’s “must run” iconic city marathon, it aims to facilitate and leverage change at a national level through its Run4Change Legacy Programme, comprising five pillars:

• To focus on HEALTH and WELLNESS
• To become one of the biggest FUNDRAISING sporting events in South Africa
• To promote PEACE and SPORT
• To be a SUSTAINABLE event
• To DEVELOP and EMPOWER South African Athletes

Managed by a joint partnership through Western Province Athletics (WPA), ASEM Running and the City of Cape Town, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, to be held in September, is endorsed by Elana Meyer and Francois Pienaar.

The four-day festival starts with the AIMS Africa Conference and the opening day of the Expo on September 14, and will come to a close with the road running contests over various distances on September 17.

It offers a competitive yet beautiful route, providing runners with a unique experience that highlights the city’s natural splendour and top cultural attractions. The field is inclusive of the world’s elite athletes, club and non-club runners, casual joggers, social runners and walkers. Athletes and spectators can enjoy Cape Town’s unique festive atmosphere at safe, fun supporter zones along the route, and at the finish at Green Point A Track.

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon website
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Facebook

Twitter and Instagram:  @CTMarathon and ctmarathon

#ChallengeYourself
#ChallengeYourFriend
#CaptainsChallenge
#ctmarathon
#ctmarathon2017

About the Sanlam Group
Sanlam is a leading financial services group listed on the Johannesburg and Namibian Stock Exchanges. Established in 1918 as a life insurance company, the South Africa-based Sanlam Group has transformed into a diversified Pan-African financial services business.

Through its business clusters – Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investments, Santam and the newly established Sanlam Corporate - the Group provides comprehensive and tailored financial solutions to individual and institutional clients across all market segments. The Group’s areas of expertise include insurance (life and general), financial planning, retirement, investments and wealth.

The Group has a direct stake in operations based in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Mauritius, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Malaysia and the United Kingdom and has business interests in the USA, Australia, Burundi, Lesotho and the Philippines. Through a strategic stake in the Saham Finances Group, it has exposure to insurance operations in Morocco, Angola, Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. For further information, visit www.sanlam.com or follow us @sanlam.