SPAR My Jozi Challenge 2026

Be Her Be the woman with the audacity to be herself

The courage to stand up for what you believe in. The integrity to never compromise what you stand for.

That is the heartbeat behind everything SPAR does when we say #CelebrateHer, and it is what brings thousands of women together on the streets of Jozi every October.

For me, #CelebrateHer is not a campaign. It is a conviction. It is the belief that every woman deserves to be seen, celebrated, and supported, not only on Challenge Day, but every single day. When I look out at this incredible field of women, I don’t only see a race. I see resilience. I see courage. I see community.

You may have spotted something new at your local SPAR, our beautifully designed range of SPAR juices, adorned with affirmations like “You are Strong”, “You are Brave”, and “You are Enough”. Because empowerment should meet you on an ordinary Tuesday morning, reminding you of exactly who you are.

The SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi is also proud to support causes that speak directly to the realities women face. Through this race, we stand alongside the fight to End Gender-Based Violence and the movement to End Period Poverty. We are equally honoured to continue our long-standing partnership with Reach for Recovery, a cause

that sits especially close to our hearts. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this Challenge is our collective tribute to survivors, fighters, and the loved ones who walk every step of that journey with them.

And if that were not reason enough to run, one lucky participant will drive away in a brand new Hyundai Exter valued at R280 000. Your best Challenge could be the start of your next great adventure.

So, come. Be bold. Be strong. Be her. We are honoured to celebrate you.

With love and strength,

Maxine D’Amico Inland Promotions & Advertising Manager, SPAR South Africa

The SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi takes place in October — Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Together, we run for the women who inspire us, the causes that matter, and the future we are building, one step at a time.

WHAT’S NEW AT SPAR

Our SPAR This + That takes the guesswork out of mealtimes. From quick lunches and easy family dinners to the perfect braai, we bring together complementary products to create complete meal solutions that inspire and simplify shopping.

Through eye-catching in-store displays, delicious imagery, clear pricing, and engaging social media content, we help customers discover new meal ideas, build their baskets with confidence, and enjoy a more convenient shopping experience.

The result? Great meals made easy, every day.

Be Challenge Ready... Be Challenge Ready

How to enter

OPTION 1 - ONLINE:

VVisit sparwomenschallenge.co.za to register and complete your entry details. Limited online entries are available.

OPTION 2 - IN-STORE:

Head to your nearest participating SPAR store to purchase your Challenge Pack. Once you have your pack, scan the QR code on your race number and follow the steps to complete your online registration.

REMINDER: You must register online to qualify for the Wina-Car competition and all other Challenge Day prize draws. Purchasing a pack without registering does not enter you into any competitions.

T-shirt sizes are selected at the time of in-store purchase. Sizes are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis — the earlier you enter, the better your chances of getting the fit you want.

YOUR CHALLENGE PACK JUST GOT BETTER

A R500 Trenton voucher, included for every entrant

This year, every SPAR Women’s Challenge entrant receives a R500 Trenton voucher as part of their Challenge pack. Trenton is a South African footwear retailer with a portfolio spanning fitness and lifestyle brands — the perfect partner for women who love to move. Use your voucher in-store or online, nationwide. Simply scan the QR code in your magazine to shop the Trenton online store and redeem your voucher from wherever you are. Because Challenge Day is only the beginning — and you deserve to be celebrated every step of the way.

WIN R5 000 TO SPEND AT SPAR!

SCAN, SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE SPAR BRANDS PRODUCT, AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN.

SCAN, SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE SPAR BRANDS PRODUCT, AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN.

We know you fuel your runs — and your life — with the good stuff. Now it’s time to tell us what’s in your basket!

Scan the QR code in this magazine, tell us why your favourite SPAR branded product is your absolute go-to, and you could walk away with a R5 000 SPAR voucher to spend however you like.

TO ENTER:

1. Scan the QR code on this page.

2. Tell us which SPAR brand product you can’t live without.

3. Tell us why you love it — and why it deserves a spot in every woman’s life.

IT’S THAT SIMPLE.

Whether it’s the “I Am Strong” juice that gets you through a tough morning, or a SPAR pantry staple that never lets you down — we want to hear your story. The most compelling entry wins.

One lucky winner. R5 000. Yours to spend at SPAR. Competition closes 16 October 2026. Open to South African residents only. Terms and conditions apply.

All the latest Challenge Day updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and lead-up competitions live on our social media pages. Follow us, turn on your notifications, and keep an eye out for #CelebrateHer giveaways in the weeks leading up to the event.

Your official race playlist

HOT 102.7FM, our official 2026 media partner, has put together the ultimate Challenge Day playlist to keep you moving through your training runs. Scan the QR code to access it on Spotify.

SAFETY NOTE: Please do not listen to music through headphones while walking or running on public roads. This playlist is for training in safe, controlled environments. On Challenge Day, keep your ears open and stay aware of your surroundings.

TIK TOK : @SPARWomensJozi

Share your Challenge Day experience using

Reach out to us on sparwomenschallengejozi@spar.co.za WWW.SPARWOMENSJOZI.CO.ZA

Scan to join the official SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi WhatsApp Channel for real-time updates, Challenge Day logistics, and everything #CelebrateHer.

demands, expenses, legal costs (on an attorney and own client basis), medical costs or other costs however arising out of, based upon, or in connection with (directly or indirectly) with your participation in the event. POPIA Consent By entering this event, you consent to The SPAR Group Limited and its authorised event partners collecting, processing, and where necessary sharing your personal information for purposes of event registration, administration, timing, medical care, results, and related event promotion. Your personal information will be processed in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and will not be used for any purpose beyond those stated above. Provision of your personal information is voluntary; however, failure to do so may result in your entry not being processed. You have the right to access, correct, or object to the processing of your personal information at any time by contacting us at sparwomenschallengejozi@ spar.co.za. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator at complaints.IR@justice.gov.za. Withdrawal Policy Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will entry fees be REFUNDED.

PUBLISHER Free Radical Media info@freeradicalmedia.co.za

MANAGING EDITOR Kim Smit editor@freeradicalmedia.co.za

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Aneska Meintjes +27 82 851 1441 aneska@freeradicalmedia.co.za

PHOTOGRAPHY

Reg Caldecott, Delarey Ferreira, Johan Rynners

ADVERTISING SALES info@freeradicalmedia.co.za

CONTRIBUTORS

Cornel Steyn, Kim Smit, Natasja Martens, Hoka, Martinah Mgidi, Namola Safety App, Trenton, Hyundai, Reach for Recovery South Africa, Garnier, HOT FM, René Kalmer, Patricia Mahlaba, Willie le Roux, Riempies Claasen, Nkoketseng Rangaka, Hanerie Nortje, Sunday Shuffle, Hein Terblanche, Mo Hwande, Ellis Park, Ian Laxton, Maxine D’Amico My

Win a

Hyundai Exter

This year, one woman will leave the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi with the keys to a brand new Hyundai Exter. And the entry requirement couldn’t be simpler; scan in, show up, and stay to celebrate.

The competition is open to every woman with a valid driver’s license who registers for the 2026 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi. Purchase your Challenge pack, scan the QR code on your race number to complete your registration, and make sure you’re at the official prize-giving after the event. That’s it. Your name goes into the draw automatically.

No additional entry form. No social media hoops. Only you, your registered number, and a reason to stick around when the finish line celebrations begin.

To enter:

Purchase your 2026 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi Challenge pack.

Scan the QR code on your Challenge number and register for the Challenge! Winners will be drawn from registered participants only!

Attend the official prize-giving after the event.

Listen out - your name might be the one called.

Terms & Conditions:

The Hyundai Exter will be awarded at the prize giving on Challenge Day, 4 October 2026 at Marks Park, Emmerentia. Participants must be present at the stage to claim the prize. The winner must be a woman and in possession of a valid South African driver’s license or learners license and be able to obtain a valid South African drivers license within six months of winning.

Looks Like What Thriving Thriving Looks Like

The 2025 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi was more than a race — it was a declaration. Under the banner of #Twenty20Thrive, thousands of women took to the streets of Jozi not only to run or walk, but to show up for themselves and for each other. From first-timers crossing a finish line for the very first time to seasoned runners chasing personal bests, every woman brought her own version of strength to the road. These photographs don’t only capture a moment — they capture a movement. Lace up, look back, and feel proud. This is what thriving looks like.

Challenge Day

EVENT AT A GLANCE

Date: Sunday, 4 October 2026

Venue:

Marks Park Sports Club, Emmarentia, Johannesburg

Start time: 8h00

(arrive early to secure parking)

GPS coordinates:

26.1648° S, 28.0041° E

Entry limit:

15 000 participants

What Routes are available?

The event offers two distances:

• 10 km Challenge (timed) — open to female runners aged 14 and older

• 5 km Fun Run (not timed) — open to female participants aged 9 and older

What do I get when I enter?

Every entrant receives:

• A race number

• A T-shirt (limited sizes available)

• A copy of the My Jozi Challenge magazine

Can I transfer or get a refund on my entry?

No. In line with standard running industry practice, all entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Race numbers may not be passed on to another person — doing so may result in disqualification for both parties.

Can men participate?

Men are welcome to participate, but will not be eligible for any prizes. They will receive a goodie bag.

Where and when do I collect my Challenge pack FOR ONLINE ENTRIES?

Challenge packs can be collected at Marks Park Sports Club from Friday, 2 October, to Saturday, 3 October, between 10h00 and 18h00. No collections on Challenge Day. Important: If you entered online, bring your proof of payment. Do NOT collect from SPAR stores if you entered online.

How do I register my race number FOR IN-STORE ENTRIES?

Once you have your Challenge pack, scan the unique QR code on your race number and complete your registration details. You must register your race number to be eligible for any prizes.

What time does the Challenge start?

The race starts at 08h00. Please arrive early to allow time for parking and to settle in before the start.

What is the cut-off time?

The cut-off time for both the 10 km Challenge and the 5 km Fun Run is 120 minutes from the start.

Will there be water points on the route?

Yes:

• 10 km route: Two refreshment stations

• 5 km route: One refreshment station

Where do I get my medal and goodie bag?

Medals are handed out at the finish line once you have crossed. Goodie bags are distributed in clearly marked, designated areas on the field after the race.

Where can I find the race results?

Results will be available at results.finishtime.co.za and on sparwomenschallenge.co.za after the race.

Is there parking available?

Yes, ample parking is available in designated areas. Look out for official SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi parking officers wearing bright yellow SPAR bibs. Only follow directions from

official parking officers — not from any unofficial parking attendants.

Is there medical support on the day?

Yes, a medical tent staffed by two qualified doctors will be set up on the field. Emergency medical teams and ambulances will be stationed at the finish line and at water points along both routes.

Can I store my tog bag?

Yes, tog bag facilities are available at Marks Park Sports Club. Look out for the signage on the day. Please do not leave valuables in your bag.

Is there something for kids?

Yes! The Kidz Zone is a free, secure entertainment area with jumping castles, face painting, and fun characters. Parents remain responsible for supervising their children at all times.

Can I bring my pram?

Yes, prams are welcome. However, all participants with prams must start at the back of the field to avoid injury to themselves, their child, and other runners.

Can I bring my pet?

Regrettably, no. Pets are not permitted at the event.

Will there be food and drinks?

Yes, food and beverages will be on sale on Challenge Day. Please note: No gas braai equipment, glass, alcohol, cool drink cans or tins are permitted inside Marks Park Sports Club. Plastic containers only. No selling of goods by third parties is permitted on Challenge Day.

What are the age requirements?

• 10 km Challenge: Female runners aged 14 and older

• 5 km Fun Run: Female participants aged 9 and older

What must I wear as a licensed athlete?

Registered athletes must be members of a club affiliated to Athletics South Africa (ASA) and must wear their club colours along with their 2026 provincial licence

numbers on the front and back of their vest. Athletes not belonging to a club must wear the issued temporary licence number on the back and the issued race number on the front. Age category ID tags must be worn on the front and back for those competing for age category prizes.

Are music devices allowed?

No. iPods, AirPods, and other personal music devices are not permitted during the race.

Are wheelchairs or mechanical devices permitted?

Mechanically operated devices, blades, cycles, and wheelchairs are not permitted without special prior permission from the organisers.

How do I lodge an objection?

Objections must be submitted in writing to the chief referee within 30 minutes of prize-giving, accompanied by a R500 deposit. The deposit is refundable if the appeal is upheld.

What rules govern the race?

The race is held under the rules of ASA and Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA).

Which charities does the race support?

This year’s Challenge charities are:

• Reach for Recovery

• End Period Poverty Initiatives

• End Gender-Based Violence Initiatives

By entering, you are helping young girls and women.

sparwomenschallengejozi@spar.co.za

sparwomenschallenge.co.za/jozi

Your Challenge Day Checklist Checklist

Fuel up with SPAR Honey & Almond Muesli.

Celebrate the day in your official race T-shirt.

Every great race starts long before the starting gun. It begins with the little rituals — laying out your kit, packing your bag, and planning your race-day fuel. We’ve rounded up the essentials to help you arrive feeling prepared, energised, and ready to cross the finish line with confidence, comfort, and a smile.

Start sweet with SPAR Milk Tart Flavoured Rusks.

Protect your skin with SPAR Sola Sun Protection Range

Grab a boost with SPAR Honey Snack Bar.

Refresh with SPAR Green Tea Citrus & Ginger Flavoured.

Power up with SPAR Smooth Peanut Butter.

Pause with Powerade

Stay comfortable with SPAR Multipack Petals.

Wear your race number with pride.

Freshen up with Care by SPAR Beauty Soap.

Move freely in HOKA 4” Glide Short.

Recover fast with REHIDRATE RELOAD Lemon & Lime Hydration Powder. Treat yourself to SPAR Wine Gums.

Top up with SPAR Squillos Banana Flavoured Drink. Your challenge day goodies delivered to your doorstep with SPAR2U.

Indulge in SPAR Strawberry Flavoured Wafers.

Feel fresh with Care by SPAR.

Go the distance in HOKA Women’s Bondi 9.

Celebrate with SPAR Cheese Flavoured Potato Chips.

No Girl Left Behind

A sanitary pad should never stand between a girl and her future. Yet, for millions of young girls and women across the country, this is a daily reality. SPAR has made it their mission to ensure that it never does.

In Orange Farm this past May, the Ubuntu Social and Community Development Club hosted their Girls Talk 2026 session; a menstrual health and reproductive health awareness session that covered everything from self-care to confidence-building. Seventy girls and seven women gathered in a safe space to discuss issues affecting them, debunk myths and build confidence – an important conversation made possible by the donation of SPAR products.

In his thank-you letter to SPAR, Ubuntu’s Chairperson Itireleng Sepula wrote: “The sanitary pads donated by SPAR brought dignity, comfort, and relief to many of the attendees… Your contribution showed the girls that their well-being matters and that organisations such as SPAR are committed to supporting and uplifting young women within our communities.”

It is one letter, but it represents millions of stories.

The numbers around period poverty in South Africa are staggering — and they demand to be heard. According to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, 83% of girl learners in South Africa lack consistent access to menstrual hygiene products at home and at school. One in four girls misses school every month as a direct result. With a school year of roughly 200 days, that translates to up to 90 days of lost learning per year — days that compound into failed grades, abandoned ambitions, and futures that never fully unfold.

Across South Africa, an estimated seven million girls do not have access to or cannot afford sanitary products. In the absence of these basics, girls resort to old rags, newspapers, and cloth — materials that carry health risks alongside the indignity. The consequences reach far beyond the classroom. Girls who fall behind academically are more likely to drop out of school, less likely to enter the workforce on equal footing, and more vulnerable to cycles of financial dependence that last a lifetime. Period poverty is not a hygiene issue. It is an education issue. An economic issue. A human rights issue.

Many young girls are forced to miss school or participate less fully in their communities because they lack access to basic menstrual hygiene products. Through this initiative, we are working to change that reality in a practical and meaningful way.

- Mpudi Maubane, Group PR, Communications & Sponsorships Manager, SPAR South Africa

SPAR’s response to this crisis has been deliberate, sustained, and growing. In 2019, SPAR launched the SPAR Petals range of affordable sanitary pads, tampons, and pantyliners — designed specifically to make menstrual hygiene accessible to women and girls who cannot afford commercial alternatives. That same year, SPAR launched a national drive encouraging customers to purchase and donate Petals products instore. Since then, over 14 million packs have been donated and distributed to charities across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Eswatini.

The SPAR Women’s Challenge has become one of the most powerful engines of this movement. Each year, over one million boxes of Petals sanitary products are donated through the Challenge events in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Gqeberha, Tshwane, and Mbombela. When you enter the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi this October, you are not only running for yourself — you are running for every girl in Orange Farm, in Etwatwa, in Soweto, in communities across this country, who deserves to be in class instead of sitting at home.

Critically, SPAR’s commitment goes beyond the product. Every donation

is paired with education — because a sanitary pad alone does not break the cycle. It is the conversation in the room in Orange Farm, led by a nurse and mothers and social workers, that gives a girl the language to understand her own body, the confidence to ask questions, and the knowledge to make informed choices about her health. It is that combination of dignity and education that creates the conditions for a girl to truly rise.

SPAR’s goal is unambiguous; by 2030, no girl in South Africa should miss school because of period poverty. It is an audacious target. It is also the only acceptable one, because behind every statistic is a girl with a dream that a missing sanitary pad should never be allowed to take away.

This October, join the movement and help us cross the finish line for every girl in need – one stride at a time.

Support the cause: Purchase SPAR Petals products in-store and donate them at the collection point on 4 October 2026 at the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi or visit sparwomenschallenge.co.za to learn more about the #SPAREndPeriodPoverty campaign.

A Second Chance to

A Second Chance to

Two women. Two diagnoses. One extraordinary organisation that reaches into the darkest moments and pulls women back towards the light. Bessie Tselapedi and Thokozile Mazibuko — both breast cancer survivors, both Reach for Recovery volunteers — share the stories they once kept hidden, and the second chances they refused to waste.

Nobody expects to hear the words ‘breast cancer’. Not on an ordinary Tuesday in May 2005 after a visit to the doctor. Not after a routine annual mammogram when the scan reveals something that was never supposed to be there. And yet, for Bessie Tselapedi and Thokozile Mazibuko, that is exactly how their stories began — not with a fanfare, but with a quiet, devastating sentence that changed everything. What happened next, for both women, is a story not of defeat but of determination. Of fear faced headon. Of a sisterhood that showed up when it mattered most. And of two lives redirected — not despite breast cancer, but because of everything they chose to do with what came after.

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED

For Bessie, Joburg Group Chairperson for Reach for Recovery, the diagnosis arrived in May 2005. “I knew about breast cancer,” she says, “but I never expected it to happen to me. I thought it was for older women, and not something in our community.” The news was difficult to share. Her family — her late father, her mother, her siblings, her partner — became her anchor. But fear was never far behind. “At some point in those early days, I thought: If I don’t make it, that’s okay — because I felt like I was making everyone suffer.”

Thokozile’s beginning was different but no less disorienting. A lump was found during an annual mammogram. A doctor’s careful suggestion. And then, a diagnosis she chose, at first, not to believe. “There is no history of cancer in my family,” she says. “I continued to ignore it, hoping it would just go away.” When the pain became impossible to ignore, her gynaecologist offered the words that changed her perspective: “It is better to know your opponent — because it is easier to fight what you know.”

REACHING IN

It was in the days just after her own treatment that Bessie received a visit from two Reach for Recovery volunteers — two retired women who had

survived breast cancer themselves. “They came to see me, and it made it easier to understand,” she recalls. “Having a person who has walked the journey gives you someone to talk to when you feel overwhelmed.” That moment planted a seed. Years later, Bessie became one of those women herself — and it was through her brother that Thokozile found her way to Bessie’s door.

Thokozile was not ready for company. “I never wanted anyone in my space. I just wanted to be alone and wallow in my pity.” But Bessie was patient. She checked in regularly. She did not push; she simply showed up. “A sister from another mother was what I needed,” says Thokozile. “The kindness she showed me made me into a kinder person as well. I am now able to put myself in another person’s shoes and walk the journey with them — the same way it was done for me.”

LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE

Both women speak of survivorship not as an ending but as a beginning. For Bessie, it brought confidence she did not have before. “I have gained more confidence than I ever had, because now I know how to talk to women about what they should know about their breasts.” Her celebration is quiet but real — “When I receive a thank-you note from a patient who tells me I helped her understand her anxiety, that is when I celebrate myself.”

For Thokozile, the turning point came when healing began to feel like rediscovery. “I was excited about the new lease on life and started seeing life in a different form.” She no longer fears the unknown; she researches it. She meditates. She guards her joy fiercely. “I never let anything bring me down, and I am now very vocal about anything that disturbs my peace.” She found yoga during recovery and with it, a new understanding of her own body — something cancer had tried to take from her.

THE WOMEN WHO REACH BACK

Today, both Bessie and Thokozile give back through the same organisation that once reached out to them. Bessie leads the Joburg Group, conducting patient visits and support work for newly diagnosed women. Thokozile volunteers and advocates, sitting with patients, sharing what she has learned, and doing for others what Bessie once did for her.

“My relationship with Reach for Recovery evolved in ways I never thought it would,” she says. “I enrolled as a volunteer and now do patient visits and talks.”

Thokozile is clear on why survivors must speak openly — even when it is difficult. “It is important to educate and elevate others about the silent, faceless enemy that comes out of nowhere. The most important thing is making others aware that they are not alone — and that help and support are available.” In a country where stigma can delay diagnosis by years, that message is not simply motivational. It is lifesaving.

CELEBRATING HER — 4 OCTOBER, MARKS PARK

For Bessie, the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi is personal. She has taken part every year since becoming a Reach for Recovery member. “It is fulfilling,” she says, “and it demonstrates the spirit of togetherness — that we can do this as survivors, alongside our supporters, our friends, our families, our colleagues. It feels good to cross the finish line.” When she crosses it on 4 October, she says, she will be thinking of the women who could not. “I cross the line on their behalf.”

Thokozile describes the feeling of being celebrated at an event of this scale as humbling. “It gives me great pleasure. I am humbled and very appreciative to be a beneficiary — to be given such an

honour is a very rewarding experience.” Her message to the thousands of women who will walk and run alongside them on Challenge Day is simple and joyful: “The day is a celebration of survivorship and womanhood. It should be cherished. It proves that when we come together, there is so much we can conquer.”

ABOUT REACH FOR RECOVERY SA

Reach for Recovery South Africa is a volunteer-driven organisation that supports women diagnosed with breast cancer. All volunteers are survivors themselves, providing peer support, practical information, and hope to women at every stage of their journey — from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Reach for Recovery is an official charity of the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi 2026.

She Said It

Meet the women who showed up, suited up, and said something worth remembering.

THE SPACE BEHIND THE SPREAD

Tucked beneath a canopy of trees in the pretty suburb of Modderfontein, Muse Bakery & Patisserie is exactly the kind of Joburg hidden gem you wish you’d discovered sooner. Founded by Cara — a culinary arts graduate who turned a home kitchen into a thriving café — Muse is known for its distinctly pink aesthetic, customised celebration cakes, and the kind of warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels made for women who love to gather and celebrate. We are incredibly grateful to Cara and the Muse team for opening their doors for our photo shoot. We think you’ll agree — it was the perfect setting.

Find them @muse_b_p WhatsApp: 078 274 2361

Front Cover star Front Cover star

Mo Hwande

It’s easy to feel inadequate or “not enough” especially with the exposure to how other people are living or the highlights they share. There’s always a small voice wondering “Am I doing enough, am I enough?” in different areas of our lives. But it’s important to remember we are enough and worthy in every season of our lives.

Lindokuhle Ngobeni

Keep going – Your story will be inspiring to someone else one day.

Bonnie Moloto

I am fearless not because I have never been afraid, but because I have learned that fear, failure, and the opinions of others do not define me. I have been afraid of speaking up, being wrong, not being liked, and being laughed at, but through growth and experience, I discovered that courage is not the absence of fear, it’s choosing to move forward despite it.

Janemary Ndlovu

A Force is not about movement; it’s about influence—the weight of what it pushes and the impact it leaves.

Terese Ontong

Grand Prix Legacy Grand Prix Legacy

For years I carried the quiet belief that I was not enough. Yet when I finally embraced my worth and chose to see myself through a lens of grace rather than doubt, everything began to change. I moved differently, dreamed more boldly, and welcomed the goodness that had always been waiting for me.

To every woman: you are enough, not because of what you achieve, how you look, or what you do for others, but simply because of who you are. Your voice, your strength, and your journey matter.

Never shrink yourself to fit into spaces that fail to see your worth. You are enough, exactly as you are, and you always will be.

You are not defined by your challenges, but by your strength. You are someone’s inspiration, someone’s joy, and you are loved.

CELEBRATE YOUR WIN

Go to your local SPAR, choose the SWC Juice that speaks to you, snap a pic, tag us and tell us why? Win a SPAR brands hamper #SPARWomensJozi #MyJoziMySPAR #CelebrateHer

Vivian Mafukama

A strong woman stands for herself, but a stronger woman stands for everyone else.

René Kalmer

AND WON! SHE BET ON SHE BET ON AND WON!

Fit mom, career consultant, cake baker, and now the face of the 2026 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi magazine, Motshidisi ‘Mo’ Hwande is living proof that betting on yourself is always worth it.

There is a moment in Mo’s story that stays with you. She is at her office desk, halfway through a cup of coffee and a list of student leads for an upcoming Open Day. Lana Del Rey is playing. She reaches for her phone — half out of habit, half to check the time — and a notification pops up on the screen. She puts the coffee down. Her mouth drops open. She looks around to see if any of her colleagues are watching.

They are not. So she quietly opens Instagram, reads the message in full, types back a breathless ‘Oh my goodness, thank you so much,’ and then, in the hush of that ordinary Tuesday morning, she whispers something to herself. “God, thank you. I see you in this moment.”

That is how Motshidisi — Mo to her family and friends — found out she had won the #JoziCoverStar2026 competition for the 2026 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi. And this year, when thousands of women collect their Challenge magazines at their local SPAR, hers will be the face looking back at them.

A Life in Motion

Mo grew up in Vredefort, a small Free State town, and now lives on the East Rand with her two toddlers. She is a qualified fitness trainer, a career consultant guiding young people through their tertiary study choices, a Toastmasters-trained public speaker, and — at the weekends, when the kids are finally asleep — a creator of what she describes as ‘beautiful and mouthwatering custom cakes and cupcakes’.

A typical day starts with prayer and a 2 km to 3 km run before the school drop-off. Then, strength training and stretching before work. After work, there are cartoons, meal prep, walks around the complex after dinner, bath time, bedtime — and then, in the quiet that follows, planning content and documenting the parts of her life she wants to share; fitness, motherhood, and the particular experience of being a woman navigating all of it at once. She is, in other words, a lot. And she knows it. Ask her friends to describe her in three words, and they land on strong, independent, and ambitious — though Mo has grown more complicated feelings about the first two. “I have realised how people

confuse those words for self-reliance and as a result don’t know how to hold space for you — because ‘you can handle it’.” It is the kind of observation that only comes from paying attention to your own life. Mo does a lot of that.

Her Mother’s Daughter

When asked which woman has shaped who she is, Mo does not hesitate long — even though, she says, many names come to mind. She gives it to her mother. A single parent who worked as a housekeeper out of town, her mother was often absent in the physical sense. Mo held that against her for years.

She does not anymore. Looking back, she sees the things she missed at the time; the strategic way her mother handled money, the goals she set and the relentless way she pursued them, the resilience she modelled without ever making a performance of it. The strength without the self-reliance. The blueprint Mo is still working from.

Running for Something Bigg er

Mo’s relationship with running started in high school — or rather, it started with the idea of running, chasing a ‘skinny and flat tummy’ the way many teenage girls chase things they have been told to want. But the sport found her properly at university, when she ran her first race in aid of breast cancer. After that, it stayed.

Running wove itself through different chapters of her life, including two rounds of new motherhood. But it was last year that something shifted for good. Mo challenged herself to run 90 km in 30 days to raise funds for sanitary pads for young girls who needed them. It was the first time she had used running for something beyond herself — and it was the moment, she says, that cemented her love for it. “I believe movement is life.

Running is a sign of life and fitness. It is freedom and a celebration of what my body can do.”

She ran her first SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi last year, drawn in by the chance to do something she loved with like-minded people. What she found was more than that. The Challenge became an instant community — women urging each other on, encouraging each other across the line. She made connections that day, including Sandra Harris, the woman who both motivated her to keep going and convinced her to enter the photobooth for the Be on the Cover competition. Mo is quick to say she owes Sandra a lot.

On Challenge Day, Mo’s head starts quiet. She is not a morning person, she admits freely, so the first part of a run is mostly just waking up in motion — feeling the breeze, hearing the rhythm of her feet, letting her heartbeat climb. Then the mental noise starts; the to-do list, the delayed dreams, the things the kids need. And that is when the affirmations kick in, looping on repeat like a song she knows by heart. “The blessing of God on my life empowers me to prosper. I am well, and everything is working out for my good. I am capable and able. I am blessed to move my body.”

It manages the clutter, she says. It carries her to the finish.

The Moment She Said Yes to Herself

Mo had always loved modelling. She had always loved fitness. The Be on the Cover competition was the two of them together, and she knew she wanted to enter. What slowed her down, she admits with a laugh, was the prospect of the photobooth queue. Once her turn came, though, she had so much fun she forgot why she had been nervous.

Her entry was three photos — a flipping transition sequence — chosen to show the joy she felt in that moment. What she hoped they communicated was simpler; audacity. The willingness to back herself. She had posted in January and, by the time the months rolled by without news, had quietly convinced herself she had not made the cut.

Then came the notification on the ordinary Tuesday, and the whispered prayer, and the message to her friend —

and the rest of that workday spent walking around with a smile she was trying, not entirely successfully, to keep to herself.

What She Wants You to Know

Thousands of women will pick up this magazine on Challenge Day. Mo knows that. She has thought about it. It feels surreal, she says — but more than that, it feels like being seen. Not just her, but every woman she represents; the ones betting on themselves, the ones in the middle of a quiet rebuild, the ones who are trying to be great mothers and ambitious humans at the same time and wondering if they have to choose. “Life is seasonal. Some seasons are for joy and celebration. Some are for private healing, quiet rebuilds and redefining yourself. Whatever season you are in, you are worthy.”

She dedicates the win to herself first, for saying yes, for taking the chance. Then to her children. Then to every woman choosing to show up in her life, for her family, and in her community. Her message to every woman reading this before the Challenge is characteristically direct; run your own race, pace yourself, give your body grace. Fitness is not about perfection. It is about being intentional about showing up, even if what you have on a given day is 70%.

And after 4 October? Mo is completing her first 21 km this year — something that excites and terrifies her in equal measure. Beyond the Challenge, she wants to build a fitness business for women at every stage of motherhood. She wants to grow her speaking career. She has things she is building, quietly, in the season she is in.

Delusional faith, she calls it. Believing in something against all odds, even when you cannot see how it will work out. It is how she trained. It is how she entered. It is, it turns out, how cover stars are made.

Community Momentum

HOT 102.7FM isn’t just your Challenge Day soundtrack. We’re a station built on community, and proud to stand alongside every woman on the start line this October.

There is something extraordinary about a start line. Thousands of women –of different ages, different speeds, and different stories – standing together before the gun goes off. Some are chasing a personal best. Some are doing this for the first time. Some are doing it in memory of someone they loved. All of them, for a few hours on a Sunday morning in Jozi, are part of something that is bigger than any one of them. That is exactly the kind of moment HOT 102.7FM was built for.

Jozi’s station. Your station.

HOT 102.7FM is Jozi’s home for the very best Old Skool and R&B music that moves you, presented by some of the most beloved voices in South African radio. We are a station built on warmth, familiarity, and the kind of DJ who feels like a friend. Whether you are stuck in peak-hour traffic on the N1 or lacing up your trainers at 5h00 in the morning, HOT is the voice in your ear that makes it all a little more bearable. A little more joyful.

In 2025, HOT 102.7FM was named Commercial Station of the Year at the Telkom Radio Awards; recognition that belongs, first and foremost, to our listeners. It’s your loyalty that turned our station into a genuine force in South African radio, and it is your community that gives everything we do its meaning.

We are also proud to be ranked number one in the South Africa’s Growth Champion’s Telecommunications

category for two consecutive years. Under the leadership of Managing Director Lloyd Madurai, HOT 102.7FM has continued to redefine what South African radio can sound like; consistent, world-class, purpose-driven, proudly local, and deeply connected to its audience.

In May 2026, HOT 102.7FM delivered a historic result on the global stage, taking home seven wins at the New York Festivals Radio Awards (three Tower Awards and four Finalist Diplomas). It marked the station’s fourth consecutive year of recognition at the festival, with wins spanning news, on-air talent, and programming underlining the depth of excellence across the team.

So, when the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi came knocking once again, the answer was never in doubt. As the official media partner for the 2026 SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi, HOT 102.7FM is proud to power Challenge Day, from the warm-up to the finish line and every kilometre in between.

Built to give back

A radio station is only as good as the community it serves. This is a belief that

HOT 102.7FM Team celebrate the 2025 Teddython

we put into practice every day through HOT Cares; our registered non-profit company and public benefit organisation.

HOT Cares works to make a real, meaningful difference in our communities across the pillars of Humanitarian and Welfare, Healthcare and Medical, Education, and Animal Welfare. We help put food on tables. We open doors to education. We provide life-changing medical support. We care for animals who have no one else. And we do all of this because our listeners, generous, community-minded people like you, make it possible.

The heart of HOT Cares beats loudest during our annual Teddython; a fundraising event that has grown into something remarkable. In 2025, the Teddython raised a massive R31,5 million in cash, kind, and services. Every cent of that goes back into the community. Every rand is a story of hope. A child with textbooks. A family with food. A patient who didn’t have to face illness alone.

Why this partnership feels like home

The SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi has welcomed more than a million women to its start lines over the past three decades. It supports organisations and initiatives such as Reach for Recovery and End Period Poverty; charities that work every day to uplift women and young people across South Africa. It is a Challenge. It is a movement. It is everything HOT Cares has always stood for.

Both HOT Cares and the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi believe that when women come together to run, to

raise money, to cheer each other on, to simply show up, communities change. One small step at a time. A once-off donation can turn into a passion for volunteering. Supporting a friend from the sidelines one year can lead to running to support a charity the next. It’s the ripple effect of people deciding to care. That is what moves the world forward. Not grand gestures. Just ordinary people doing something extraordinary together.

At HOT 102.7FM, we’re here because we genuinely believe in what this event represents. Determination, community and, simply, a fun day out.

To the women on the start line

Whether you’ve run this race 10 times or you are doing it for the first time this year, HOT 102.7FM is with you every step of the way. We’ll be there on Challenge Day, live and loud, bringing the energy, music, and good vibes you have come to expect from us.

You’re not just a runner. You’re part of a community that uplifts, that gives, that refuses to leave anyone behind. Every entry fee you pay sends support to women facing breast cancer, to girls who need menstrual health dignity, to young people who need a chance. You are already doing something meaningful before you even reach the start line.

So, trust your training, trust your playlist, and trust the women running beside you. This city, and your favourite station, is cheering for you.

#CelebrateHer — because she showed up, she gave back, and she never stopped moving forward.

About

HOT 102.7FM

HOT 102.7FM is Jozi’s home of The Radio of Legends, bringing you the biggest names, the greatest music, and feel-good radio you can listen to all day. From Old Skool and R&B to the classics you never skip, it’s a station built for people who love great radio and even better company. If you’ve been missing radio that feels like radio, you’ve just found it. Tune in to HOT 102.7FM.

HOT 102.7FM Presenters - Simon Parkinson, Simon Hill and Dylan Rogers

HOT 102.7FM MD, Lloyd Madurai announcing R31,5m raised at 2025 Teddython

The Shuffle

Inside the community movement that's changing the way Jozi moves.

AOn Sunday mornings across Jozi, something extraordinary happens. People who have never met lace up their shoes, show up, run together — and then stay. Long after the last kilometre has been logged, the music plays on, the coffee keeps coming, and strangers become friends. That is Sunday Shuffle.

s most great ideas do, it started with a shared belief that something was missing. Kyle, Asad and Akshay — the three co-founders of Sunday Shuffle — looked at the running and wellness landscape in Jozi and saw an opportunity. There were serious running clubs, yes. There were events for the competitive and the committed. But where was the space for everyone else? Where was the run that felt less like a performance and more like a party? Where could someone who had never run a race in their life show up, feel welcome, and keep coming back?

“We wanted to create something that removed that barrier,” says Kyle. “A place where movement could feel fun, social, and accessible, while still offering something meaningful to more experienced runners too.” From that vision, Sunday Shuffle was born; a

community-led wellness movement built around three simple words: Run. Connect. Grow. “What makes Sunday Shuffle unique is that it doesn’t end when the run ends. The run is just a part of the experience.”

And that, in a sentence, is the secret. Sunday Shuffle events are designed so that what happens after the finish line is as meaningful as the kilometres covered before it. Local DJs, music, coffee, dancing, and conversation fill the time long after the last runner has crossed. “It’s not uncommon for people to stay long after the run has finished,” Asad explains, “because the social side has become just as meaningful.”

Over the past year and a half, Sunday Shuffle has hosted more than 30 partnered runs across Jozi, collaborating with a wide range of brands, venues, and community spaces. Highlights

have included an indoor run at Mall of Africa — a standout event that Kyle describes as a showcase of “movement, innovation, community, and energy in a way that felt unforgettable” — and countless Sunday mornings in different parts of the city, each one shaped by the belief that no two Shuffles should ever feel exactly the same.

The community that has grown around Sunday Shuffle is, by all accounts, its greatest achievement. A loyal core of regulars has formed over time — people who have become part of the DNA of the movement — while every event continues to welcome new faces. “That balance is really important to us,” says Akshay. “It shows we’re building something sustainable — something people return to, but that also continues to feel welcoming to newcomers.”

A Partnership Built on Community

When Sunday Shuffle and SPAR found each other, the alignment was, in Asad’s words, immediate and natural. “Both brands are fundamentally community-led,” he says. “SPAR has long been part of everyday South African life — neighbourhood stores, family shopping, convenience, familiarity, trust. Sunday Shuffle is also built around bringing people together consistently and creating spaces where people feel welcome. That alignment makes the partnership feel very natural.”

For Sunday Shuffle, the practical benefit is scale — the ability to grow the movement and offer bigger, richer community experiences. For SPAR, it is a connection to a vibrant, modern wellness audience that shares its values. And for the people who show up on Sunday mornings, it is simply a better experience. “Partnerships should always feel authentic,” Asad says. “This one does. This definitely feels like the beginning. There’s a huge opportunity to continue creating impactful communityled wellness experiences together.”

Just Come Once

If there is one message Kyle, Asad and Akshay want to leave with every reader, it is this; you do not need to be ready. You do not need to be fast. You do not need to know anyone or own the right kit. Sunday Shuffle’s invitation is as simple and as generous as it gets.

“You don’t need to be fit enough. You don’t need to know anyone. You don’t need fancy gear. Just show up as you are, and let’s connect and grow together. That first Sunday usually explains everything.”

The road ahead looks exciting. New formats, new collaborations, and new locations are in development — and Kyle, Asad and Akshay are clear that Sunday Shuffle is only just getting started. “We’d love to see Sunday Shuffle become one of South Africa’s most recognised wellness and community platforms,” says Kyle. “Not just as a run club, but as a culture-led movement.” Whether that means new cities, new concepts, or new ways of bringing people together, one thing is certain; the Shuffle is far from done.

For the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi community — the thousands of women preparing to take on Marks Park on 4 October 2026 — Sunday Shuffle is an invitation to arrive at Challenge Day already part of something. A community that runs together, celebrates together, and grows together.

All you have to do is show up.

Sunday Shuffle events keep on coming — find your nearest SPAR store host and show up for great vibes, healthy movement, and all the coffee and SPAR treats you’ve earned.

Follow Sunday Shuffle

WEBSITE: www.sundayshuffle.co.za

INSTAGRAM: @sundayshuffle_

TIKTOK : @sunday.shuffle

Health, Close to Home

Inside the pharmacy brand quietly changing how South African women access healthcare — one conversation, one screening, and one community at a time.

There is a particular kind of trust that builds slowly. It is earned in small moments — the pharmacist who remembers your name, the team that explains your prescription in plain language, the familiar pharmacy you know you can return to when you need support. At Pharmacy at SPAR, that trust is not an accident. It is the entire point.

With more than 140 independently owned pharmacies across South Africa, Pharmacy at SPAR has grown into one of the country’s most accessible community healthcare networks. But what makes it different is not the footprint; it is the philosophy. Healthcare, the brand believes, should fit into your life. Not the other way around.

BEYOND THE DISPENSARY

Ask Hein Terblanche — Retail Operations Specialist and Special Projects lead for Pharmacy at SPAR — what the brand actually does, and the answer goes well beyond dispensing medication. Blood pressure monitoring. Glucose testing. Cholesterol checks. BMI screening. Immunisations. Wound care. Mother and child clinic services. Family planning. And through the newly launched Wellness Within range, a curated selection of trusted health and supplement brands — including Metagenics, Natroceutics, PrimeSelf, and Beauty Gen — supported by professional pharmacy guidance.

“Customers are not only receiving

Leigh Schmid

medicine,” says Hein. “They are receiving education, support, and practical guidance to better understand and manage their health.” For customers living with chronic conditions — diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease — the pharmacy team becomes a consistent and trusted healthcare touchpoint. Somewhere to ask a question. Somewhere to monitor progress. Somewhere that feels human.

The integration with the SPAR retail environment is deliberate and powerful. A customer managing high blood pressure can collect her medication, speak to the pharmacist, and then make more informed choices at the food aisle — all in a single visit. A mother can seek family health advice while completing her weekly shopping. A runner can ask about hydration and recovery products as part of her regular routine. “Medication, nutrition, lifestyle, prevention, and convenience are not treated as separate parts of life,” Hein explains. “They work together.”

A NETWORK BUILT ON COMMUNITY

The Pharmacy at SPAR model is not a corporate chain. Each pharmacy is independently owned and operated — which means that each one carries the personality, commitment, and energy of the person running it. What draws those individuals to the brand is often the same thing; a belief that a pharmacy can be something more than transactional.

Leigh Schmid has been part of her Boksburg community for 23 years through Pharmacy at SPAR Med-Leigh. She describes a store that serves an oldage home across the road, two schools nearby, and everyone in between. “This makes every day fun and interesting as we meet people from so many different walks of life,” she says. “We love knowing that we can possibly change that person’s day — just that little bit — for the better.”

The pharmacy was established when the SPAR centre around it was being rebuilt after years of dereliction. Leigh saw the opportunity to bring professional healthcare to a community that genuinely needed it. “I have loved the journey so far,” she says. “And I love making a difference.”

Her stories are the kind that stay with you. A 10-year-old boy who came in after a school visit to the doctor. Pale. Trembling. His blood glucose, when tested at the pharmacy, read 24 — already in diabetic ketoacidosis; a life-threatening

emergency. “We told his shocked parents he had to be rushed to the hospital immediately,” Leigh recalls. “Knowing that we saved that young boy’s life — even though it was indefinitely altered — made me so humbled and grateful.” Her team still follows his journey and supports his family.

WOMEN’S HEALTH: SHOWING UP FOR YOURSELF

For the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi community, Pharmacy at SPAR has a particular relevance. Hein is clear that women’s health is not a single issue — it spans reproductive health, pregnancy, family planning, hormonal changes, menopause, chronic disease management, and everyday well-being. These needs shift across life stages, and a pharmacy is often the most accessible first port of call. “Women should not only care for everyone else,” Hein says simply. “Their own health deserves attention too.”

At Pharmacy at SPAR Birchgate in Kempton Park, pharmacist Yolandi du Toit and her team have built their entire offering around accessible, personal care. Extended trading hours until 19h00 on weekdays — the only pharmacy in the area open that late — make it possible for working women to collect prescriptions, seek advice, and access health support after hours. The team guides active women and runners on hydration, supplementation, injury prevention, and recovery. Before Challenge Day, they recommend basics; glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, and iron tests. “A couple of ladies at the event had really high blood pressure and were unaware of it,” says Yolandi, who ran screenings at the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi last year. “So we could offer advice and ask them to please see their GP on Monday.”

HEALTHCARE CLOSE TO HOME

What unites the Pharmacy at SPAR network — from Hein’s vision at the top to Leigh in Boksburg and Yolandi in Birchgate — is a conviction that access to quality healthcare should not be complicated, distant or intimidating. In South Africa, where that access remains uneven, the model has real stakes.

“Where there is a SPAR serving a community with limited access to professional healthcare, a Pharmacy at SPAR alongside that retail environment can be genuinely impactful,” Hein says. “We recognise that responsibility and take it seriously.”

The future, he believes, is not only about more pharmacies. It is about better, stronger, more relevant pharmacies — wellness destinations where screenings, education, and clinic services sit alongside dispensing. Where prevention is as important as cure. Where the pharmacist is someone you know by name.

As Leigh puts it: “Nothing makes me happier than when the customer you have had for 23 years calls to congratulate us on a new staff member who assisted them so nicely. That is all about personal interaction and care.”

FIND YOUR NEAREST PHARMACY AT SPAR

With more than 140 locations nationwide, professional pharmacy care is closer than you think. Visit your local Pharmacy at SPAR before Challenge Day for a health screening, wellness advice, and support for your training journey — and look out for the Pharmacy at SPAR stand at the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi on 4 October 2026.

Yolandi du Toit

Run Your Way Back to You

Run Your Way Back to You

Run Your Way Back to You

The alarm goes off at 5h47. Before she’s even opened her eyes, she’s already running through the list. Lunchboxes. The 9h00 meeting. The permission slip she forgot to sign. Her mother’s doctor’s appointment. The presentation she’s half-finished. By the time her feet hit the floor, she’s already tired. Most women know this feeling. The load doesn’t start at work — it starts the moment you wake up. We’ve become remarkably good at carrying it all. What we’re less good at is putting it down.

Mental health among women in South Africa is something we’re only just beginning to talk about honestly. The anxiety. The low-grade burnout that is mistaken for just being busy. The quiet, creeping sense that everyone else is managing fine and you’re the one stitching it together with willpower and black coffee. We don’t always name it. We just keep going, because stopping feels like a luxury we can’t afford. But here is what #CelebrateHer really asks of us this year — not just to

show up for the Challenge, but to show up for ourselves. To take the version of celebration that is usually directed outwards, towards other people, and turn some of it inwards. To treat our own mental health as something worth tending, not just managing.

Here’s what a growing body of research — and a lot of women who run — will tell you; movement helps. Not as a cure. Not as a prescription. As something unexpectedly, genuinely restorative.

What happens when you run

When you run, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins — chemicals that directly affect mood, stress response, and a general sense of okayness. That part isn’t news.

What’s more interesting is what happens psychologically, not just chemically. Running often becomes one of the few times in a day that belongs entirely to you. No one is asking for anything. There are no messages to respond to. The only task is to keep moving. For women who spend most of their waking hours attending to other people’s needs, that single, undemanding focus can feel like coming up for air.

Research into how the body and brain regulate stress suggests that rhythmic physical movement — walking, running, cycling — sends the nervous system a signal that things are okay. You are not in danger. The world has not ended. You are, in fact, fine. For women carrying chronic low-level stress, that signal alone is worth something.

There’s also something that happens at around the 20-minute mark of a run that’s more difficult to explain clinically but very easy to recognise. The mental chatter quietens. The list stops scrolling. Something settles. Women who run regularly describe it as the closest thing to a reset that daily life offers. Not a solution to anything, but a clearing of the space in which you think.

The particular weight women carry

Women in South Africa carry a specific kind of mental load. Worker, carer, partner, daughter, community member — often simultaneously, often without acknowledgement. Studies consistently show that women experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than men, partly because of structural pressures and partly because they are far less likely to ask for help until things are serious.

There is also the particular exhaustion of performing wellness. Of being the person who keeps things together, who doesn’t crack, who smiles in the school car park when she’s running on four hours of sleep. The expectation that

women should manage their emotional lives quietly, without inconveniencing anyone, sits heavily. And it costs more than most of us admit.

Running doesn’t fix those pressures. It would be dishonest to suggest it does. But it changes how you meet them.

There is something about finishing a run — even a short one, even a slow one — that quietly recalibrates your sense of yourself. You went out. You came back. You did the thing when you didn’t feel like doing the thing. That small, daily proof of your own capability matters more than it sounds.

Women who run regularly tend to describe it in emotional rather than physical terms. ‘It’s where I process things.’ ‘It’s the only time I feel like myself.’ ‘I come back different — not fixed, but steadier.’ That last one says it well. Running doesn’t solve your life. It just makes you a bit more solid when you walk back into it.

Celebrating her means celebrating all of her

The #CelebrateHer theme isn’t just about the finish line. It’s about recognising the fullness of women’s lives — the strength, yes, but also the struggle. The resilience, but also the tiredness underneath it. Real celebration doesn’t airbrush the difficult parts. It sees the whole woman and says: This. All of this. You.

That means the woman who shows up to the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi having had a rough few months. The one who signed up partly because she needed something to work towards, something that was just hers. The one for whom training runs have been the only quiet in a noisy season. She deserves to cross that finish line not just as a runner, but as someone who chose herself, repeatedly, over the months leading up to Challenge Day. That choice is worth celebrating.

You don’t have to run fast. You just have to run.

One of the most persistent barriers to movement for women is the belief that it has to look a certain way to count. That you need a programme, a pace, a playlist. That, unless you’re pushing yourself, you’re wasting your time.

The SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi has always been built on a different truth; that movement, at any speed, for any woman, is worth celebrating. Walkers cross the same finish line as runners. The woman doing her first 5 km alongside the woman doing her fifteenth have more in common than they might think. Both chose to show up. Both go home carrying something lighter than they arrived with.

There’s a reason women come back year after year. It’s not the medal, though the medal is good. It’s how it feels to move through the city with thousands of other women — to be surrounded by proof that you are not alone in any of it. That collective energy, women running together through Jozi, is its own kind of medicine.

Where to start

If you’re not yet running — or if you’ve stepped away from it — you don’t need to return with ambition. Start with what you actually have.

A 15-minute walk before the school run. A quiet loop of the park on a Saturday morning. One evening a week that you protect, just for movement. The benefits aren’t reserved for women logging serious kilometres. They begin the moment you lace up and go.

And if you’re already running, pay attention to what it’s doing beyond the physical. Notice the version of yourself that shows up after a long run. She’s worth knowing. She’s probably the truest version of you there is — the one with no one to perform for, no list to manage, nothing to prove.

The mental health conversation in South Africa is opening up, slowly and meaningfully. Women are starting to say, out loud, that they are tired. That they need more than they’ve been asking for. That rest and restoration are not luxuries.

Running won’t fix the system. But it will remind you, again and again, that your body is capable, that your mind is more resilient than you give it credit for, and that you are allowed an hour that belongs to no one but you.

#CelebrateHer isn’t just a hashtag for Challenge Day. It’s a practice. One stride at a time.

FROM WITHIN

Garnier’s Green Science Revolution and the Power of Vitamin C

Brought to you by Garnier South Africa

For generations, Garnier has been a household name globally and, in South Africa, trusted for delivering highquality, accessible, and naturally derived beauty solutions. Grounded in “Green Sciences”, Garnier combines the raw potency of nature with advanced dermatological actives to create skincare that works beautifully, respects your skin, and cares for our planet. As you prepare to take on the energy of the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi, there is one ultimate skincare superstar you need in your daily routine; Vitamin C.

The Magic of Garnier’s Vitamin C Range

Whether you are clocking kilometres on the road or navigating busy daily life, environmental factors such as pollution and intense UV exposure can lead to oxidative stress, resulting in dullness, uneven skin tone, and dark spots. Garnier’s Vitamin C range is specifically engineered to combat these challenges, delivering a brighter, more radiant complexion.

1. Garnier Vitamin C Cleansing Gel Wash

The Benefit: Gently purifies, removes dirt, and instantly brightens. It is the perfect daily starting point to prep your skin for maximum active absorption.

2. Garnier Vitamin C Booster Serum (3,5% Vitamin C + Niacinamide +

Salicylic Acid)

The Benefit: Our ultimate cult favourite. This highly concentrated formula has been clinically proven to reduce the visibility of dark spots and even out skin tone in a mere six days! It absorbs incredibly fast without leaving a sticky residue, making it ideal for active lifestyles.

3. Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Fluid (SPF 50+)

The Benefit: Combining very high sun protection with a glow-boosting Vitamin C fluid. It shields your skin from harmful UVB/UVA rays during outdoor runs while actively working to prevent and correct sun-induced dark spots.

Garnier’s Key Wins: Leading with Purpose and Performance

Garnier’s commitment to excellence has earned it incredible milestones locally and globally. When you choose Garnier, you are choosing a brand that wins on all fronts:

• Approved by Cruelty-Free International: Garnier has officially been approved under the Leaping Bunny Programme; the leading organisation working to end animal testing worldwide.

• Green Beauty Commitment: We are actively reducing our ecological

footprint. By using more recycled and recyclable plastic packaging and sourcing ingredients sustainably, we ensure that looking good also feels good.

• A South African Favourite: Garnier’s Vitamin C Booster Serum has officially taken the local market by storm, ranking as one of the No. 1 selling serums in South Africa, celebrated by dermatologists and beauty enthusiasts alike for its rapid efficacy and accessible price point.

Still Standing, Still Believing

There is a particular feeling visitors describe walking through the gates at Ellis Park — a sense that something significant has happened here, and is happening still. It is a feeling more than a century in the making.

Ellis Park’s story begins in the early 1900s, when a rapidly growing Johannesburg set about building proper public recreational spaces for its residents. Around 1908, the Johannesburg Town Council acquired land in New Doornfontein, shaping open ground into a sports precinct named after J.D. Ellis; a municipal figure who helped secure the site. By the 1920s, the area had grown into a multi-sport venue — swimming baths alongside sports grounds — with rugby steadily becoming its beating heart. In 1928, the first Ellis Park stadium was built, the start of its life as one of Johannesburg’s most important landmarks.

Doornfontein was a social crossroads of early Johannesburg, home to workers, migrants, traders, religious communities, and civic institutions, carrying the contradictions of its era; class divisions and segregation alongside genuine civic ambition. Ellis Park gave the city a shared gathering place, a sign of a Johannesburg that saw itself as modern and community-minded. What’s often forgotten is that it was never meant to be only a rugby ground; it began as a civic vision before a sporting one, and that spirit never quite left.

More than Rugby — A Stage for the Nation

The stadium has been rebuilt once in a major structural sense and renovated significantly at least twice more, tracking Johannesburg’s growth and rugby’s rising popularity. Its most legendary night had nothing to do with rugby. On 12 January 1985, Brenda Fassie performed at Ellis Park as part of the Concert in the Park — one of the largest multiracial music events of its time, still cited as a milestone in South African pop history. Long before it became shorthand for sporting unity, Ellis Park was already bringing people together across the lines apartheid tried to draw.

A Precinct Transformed

Similar to the city around it, Ellis Park has had to remake itself, shedding a rigid identity to become a genuinely diverse, multipurpose precinct. In 2005, the Golden Lions Rugby Union handed management to a consortium, and today the stadium operates as a public–private partnership with 51% black ownership shared between the Orlando Pirates Football Club, Interza Lesego, and the Golden Lions Rugby Union. It has hosted 2010 FIFA World Cup matches and stages premier netball tournaments, including the Telkom Netball League, at the Ellis Park Arena. Transformation here hasn’t only been about ownership — it’s been about who the precinct is for. Unemployment and its knock-on effects remain real challenges nearby, and Ellis Park works with urban renewal partners to keep it safe and accessible, holding its ground and holding the door open.

Why it Still Matters

Ask what makes Ellis Park special today, and the answer keeps circling back to rugby’s power to unite. Every time the Lions or Springboks play here, something happens — patriotism, passion, togetherness, conjured in a way few other places can manage. Rugby continues to be a nation-builder, with Ellis Park being where that happens most visibly.

That unifying power increasingly extends beyond rugby. The Ellis Park Arena has become home to elite women’s sport, hosting the SPAR Challenge International Test Series between the SPAR Proteas and England’s Vitality Roses, which brought world-class netball to Johannesburg. The Telkom Netball League calls it home

too, while the Golden Lions Women’s team play there as curtain-raisers. Women’s sport at Ellis Park is no longer a footnote; it is a visible, growing part of its identity.

Ellis Park and My Jozi My SPAR walk hand-in-hand by celebrating and supporting their communities. Every October, thousands of women converge on Johannesburg to celebrate health, resilience, and community — values this precinct has spent a century embodying. For anyone stepping in for the first time, this is a place where South Africans celebrate achievement, and by supporting, they become part of its story — proof that sport has always been about more than competition. It’s about courage, connection, and above all, opportunity.

At every match, people can expect a welcoming experience, multiple safe parking options, as well as public transport solutions to make it even easier to get there and back home. Great atmosphere with music, markets, food vendors and entertainment for the kids. Goosebump moments in the stadium and camaraderie echoing through every passage and inch of the stadium.

A Beacon for the Future

Ask what Ellis Park could become, and the answers turn hopeful. A fully activated precinct, 10 years from now, is a place accessible to all, where people feel safe and that they belong, offering real economic opportunity — the entertainment hub of the inner city, a place for everyone. There’s real conviction that Ellis Park could catalyse the revival of Johannesburg’s inner city, a trailblazer for major international events, building on decades of proven ability to host the world’s biggest sporting moments. Realising that future will take buy-in from stakeholders citywide, but the model is proven elsewhere; multi-use precincts alive seven days a week generate economic activity and jobs.

None of this means forgetting where Ellis Park has come from. History can never be unwritten — it stands as a reminder of what came before, the good and the difficult alike. Preserving the facility is how that significance survives, with people working daily to protect its status as a heritage site even as it modernises around them.

Where History was Made

What gives Ellis Park its staying power isn’t really the stadium or the matches played within it. It’s a quality close to defiance — a “never say die” approach mirrored in the hustle of the city itself, a fire kept alive by a place where dreams are still being made. There is nothing this area cannot overcome — such is its resilience.

If Ellis Park could speak, it would simply say that Johannesburg is alive with possibility and that it’s time the city believed in its inner heart once more. Every time someone walks through those gates — for a Test match, a netball final, or thousands of people participating in iconic running events — that belief becomes a little more difficult to ignore. Grab your family, neighbours and friends and come and experience a great day out at Ellis Park at the match, do it for our city.

When Life Gives You Lemons…

Cook Something Worth Celebrating

Lemon Meringue Pizza Recipe

Food is part of how we celebrate. It's the tea before an early training run, the marinade prepped the night before a big braai, the pudding that is made on a Sunday afternoon just because. The recipes on these pages are built around exactly that kind of cooking — simple, satisfying, and made with ingredients you'll find at your nearest SPAR. Whether you're fuelling up before Challenge Day or gathering the people you love around a table afterwards, these are the flavours that belong to the occasion. Because #CelebrateHer doesn't stop at the finish line. 8 people Serves 20 min Prep time: 25 min Cook time:

Ingredients :

• 240 g SPAR Cake Flour (500 ml)

• 125 g SPAR Full Fat Margarine

• 75 ml SPAR Icing Sugar

• 3 large SPAR Eggs, separated

• 10 ml vanilla essence

• Finely grated zest of a SPAR Freshline Lemon

• 25 ml cold water

• 500 g jar lemon curd

• 125 ml SPAR Castor Sugar

• 15 ml cornflour

• 5 ml SPAR White Vinegar

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 °C. Lightly grease a 30 cm–33 cm diameter pizza pan.

2. In a food processor with the mixing blade in position, mix the flour, margarine, and icing sugar together thoroughly. Add the egg yolks, essence, SPAR Freshline Lemon zest, and water through the chute while mixing to achieve a firm ball of dough that forms away from the sides of the bowl.

3. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pizza pan.

4. Spread the lemon curd across the entire base.

5. Rinse and dry out the processor bowl and insert the whisking attachment into the processor.

6. Whisk the egg whites until they begin forming stiff peaks.

Gradually add the sugar, beating well between each addition. When glossy firm white peaks are achieved, beat in the cornflour and vinegar.

7. Drop amounts of this meringue across the lemon curd layer and using small dragging strokes with a fork, spread the meringue to cover the entire surface, but be careful not to lift the curd and spoil the appearance.

8. Bake for 25 minutes. Set aside. Serve at room temperature.

9. Slice into pizza-like wedges for serving and lift them out gently using a broad egg lifter.

Hints & Tips

• Do not slice until completely cool to prevent the meringue from shrinking away from the cuts.

• Without a food processor, rub the margarine into the flour using your hands and proceed with adding the other ingredients by hand too. Bring together to a ball of dough. Whisk the meringue with an electric hand-held beater in a bowl.

Lemon Ginger and Honey Tea Recipe

2 people Serves 5 min Prep time: Easy Difficulty

Ingredients :

• 2 small SPAR Freshline Lemons

• 2 cm piece of SPAR Freshline Fresh Ginger, sliced

• SPAR Honey to taste

Method:

1. Pour boiling water into 2 mugs.

2. Halve the lemon and slice one half thinly and pop it into the water with the ginger.

3. Squeeze the juice of the other lemon into the cups and sweeten with honey.

Greek Style Marinade Recipe

Makes 50 ml Serves 15 min Prep time: 1-2 hours marinating time Cook time: Easy Difficulty

Ingredients :

• 2 SPAR Freshline Lemons

• ¼ cup of SPAR Olive Oil

• 4 cloves of SPAR Freshline Garlic, crushed

• 2 sprigs of SPAR Freshline Rosemary

• Big pinch each of SPAR Sea Salt and SPAR Ground Black Pepper

• Big pinch of dried red chilli flakes (optional)

• 1 fresh bay leaf, crushed (optional)

Method:

1. Zest the SPAR Freshline Lemons and squeeze out all the juice into a bowl.

2. Mix in the oil, garlic, seasoning, herbs, and chilli flakes.

3. Arrange your option of meat in a glass or ceramic container and pour the marinade over.

4. Leave to marinate for up to 2 hours before braaiing over hot coals until done to your liking.

History Running Her into

The SPAR Grand Prix’s role in the development of elite South African female distance runners

By Ian Laxton

As we look forward to the final event of the 2026 SPAR Grand Prix in Jozi, we are reminded that the Jozi Challenge has, for many years, been the culmination of an amazing series of races, where tens of thousands of ladies of all athletic abilities, from elite performers to social runners and walkers, have participated, all for their own specific reasons, in 10 km and 5 km road races and fun runs specifically tailored to the varied needs of the women of the city.

This is, therefore, a fine time to look back and reflect on the role SPAR has played for so many years, in particular how the SPAR Grand Prix has been a key component in the transition of many young, talented female runners into athletes who have proudly taken their places on the local and international stages.

What happened over those years?

The SPAR Women’s Challenge road race series, which started in Durban in 1991, has grown into the single most important road running series in South Africa, particularly considering the platform it has presented to young talented runners to become national champions, record holders and, ultimately, internationally recognised athletes participating successfully on the world stage.

In terms of the elite performance side of the series, it is necessary to take into account two distinct phases; the so-called Super Squad in the early years and, in 2007, the introduction of the SPAR Grand Prix.

The SPAR Super Squad

In the early years, SPAR management understood the need for talented

runners to compete in 10 km races that were specifically designed to produce fast times. At that time, the professional running club system was still in its infancy and runners often could not afford to travel to distant races. SPAR then invited a select group of elite runners to attend the races, all expenses paid. This became loosely known as the Super Squad and included runners who are now part of the pantheon of brilliant South African track and road athletes. Included are Grace de Oliveira, Sonja Laxton, Nicole Fuller, Janene Carey, Ronel Thomas, Gwen van Lingen and Blanche Moila. All of these runners made a significant contribution to the sport in South Africa and some are still competitive today.

Introduction of the SPAR Grand Prix

Everything changed in 2007 when the SPAR Grand Prix was conceived and launched. After 16 years of SPAR Women’s Challenge races already completed, with as many as a 100 000 participants participating each year, SPAR decided to make a quantum leap in incentivising the top runners to race for an entirely new category of prize money, one that would be linked to a season-long competition across all the

Challenges. This prize purse was in addition to individual race prizes.

The Grand Prix formula was simple; runners scored points in each race based on their finishing position and these points accumulated across the series. Position points in the open category (all runners were included here) went from 20 for the winner down to 1 for position 20.

Later, bonus points were awarded in addition to position points if a runner achieved a certain target time, set at a particularly challenging level and varying according to the difficulty of the route and its altitude.

To spread the incentive, age group categories were included, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60+ years, and juniors. In these categories, positions 1, 2 and 3 scored points and time bonus points were also on offer.

Another hotly contested competition that arrived with the Grand Prix was between the clubs. At the end of the series each year, a running club’s points were calculated, based on the total points scored by all their member runners. Over the years, this added

another level of excitement and tension across the series.

The impact of the Grand Prix on the development of champion runners

When considering the impact that the SPAR Grand Prix had on the transformation of a young, talented runner into an athlete of international status, it is important to note that such a transition depends on many factors; personal coaching, supportive family and clubs, careful selection of races, avoiding transitioning to longer distances too early, motivational support, medical support to avoid injuries and, of course, personal strengths such as commitment, hard work, and effective goal setting.

Having said that, there is no doubt that the SPAR Grand Prix played a significant role, together with the above factors, in turning promising juniors into international stars.

Why is this?

• It is the only grand prix format in South African road running. Race dates are known in advance and

seasonal planning can be done; courses, especially at sea level, are superfast, races are superbly organised and ideal for the setting up of quick times.

• ‘Everyone goes because everyone goes’ – this means that there is a constant high level of competition, honing the tactical skills of the runners and contributing to fast times.

• These are ‘women only’ races. This is a key factor as the entire focus of the race – on the road and in the media – is focused on the ladies, with no men out there on the route to dilute the focus and potentially negatively impact the participants’ tactics and performances.

• The prize money on offer has been a significant incentive for top runners to participate and do well. In a fully professional sport where the elite performers earn relatively little compared with other sports, this is important. The 2026 SPAR Grand Prix on its own offers a total of R940 000 across the age categories. Over and above this, prizes at the various races total about another R1 million. This means that elite athletes are racing for a total of close to R2 million over the five-event SPAR Grand Prix.

• Unlike virtually all other races in South Africa, the Grand Prix only skipped one year – the Covid year of 2020 – and took place again in 2021, albeit in a limited way with only about 100 specially invited runners in each race. This kept the runners’ motivation high.

The professional running clubs and media coverage

Extensive media coverage by SPAR made a significant difference to elite runners for two reasons:

1. It motivated the professional clubs to fund the top runners to all the races.

2. Coverage of the runners in the various media, including regular television highlights programmes and livestream of races, raised their profiles, made them household names, and added their value to sponsors.

The role played by international competitors

Starting in about 2015, when topclass Zimbabwean athletes started to participate in the Grand Prix, the increasing participation of world class runners from across Africa, specifically Zimbabwe, Namibia, Ethiopia, Lesotho and Kenya, had a major impact on local up-and-coming athletes. Suddenly there was a entire new level of competition, and the local runners had to adapt or be left behind. In the end, many local athletes quickly learned how to train harder, plan better, and adapt their race tactics to cope with the foreign invasion. This resulted in several of them setting new national records and making their mark internationally.

What was the result?

The above factors combined to make a perfect storm of opportunity for local runners to become more competitive in races, setting faster personal best times over the 10 km distance, on occasions

breaking national records, setting internationally competitive times, and improving their world rankings.

Many of them qualified for international competitions – continental championships, the Olympics and World Championships – where their experience in the SPAR races against world class competition was valuable.

The addition of the junior category in the SPAR Grand Prix was pivotal in this process as runners who were still teenagers learned how to cope with senior competitors.

Examples

of SPAR Grand Prix ‘graduates’ – proof that the Grand Prix really made a difference

There are numerous examples of runners who participated in the Grand Prix and went on to have successful running careers, at the provincial, national and international levels. Many won titles and set records up to the national level, while some moved on to become administrators and coaches.

The list of such athletes is large, but the following examples illustrate the point well. For simplicity, only Grand Prix winners have been included:

• Rene Kalmer, a proud Olympian, won the Grand Prix in 2007, 2008 and 2012. She is one of South Africa’s most celebrated athletes, with a career at the top of the sport that lasted for 25 years and included numerous international representations.

• Irvette van Zyl won in 2010, 2011 and 2016. Represented South Africa at the highest level, qualified for four consecutive Olympic Games, and ultimately set a women’s 50 km ultramarathon world record of 3:04:24 in May 2021.

• Glenrose Xaba won in 2018, 2024 and

2025, and is a multiple South African champion over various distances on the track, road and cross country, and represented South Africa on numerous occasions internationally. Her 2:22:22 is the current national marathon record.

• The Phalula twins. Diana-Lebo won the SPAR Grand Prix in 2014 and Lebogang in 2015. Starting as juniors, the twins have been a permanent fixture in South African distance running for decades, collecting numerous South African titles along the way. Diana-Lebo attended the 2016 Olympics and Lebogang competed for South Africa in both the World Cross Country Championships and World Half Marathon.

• Kesa Molotsane won in 2017 and made her mark as an elite athlete, academic and administrator, and was elected Chairperson of the Athletes Commission on the Athletics South Africa board.

The future commitment of SPAR

It is clear from the above brief analysis that the SPAR Grand Prix has been a key component in the development of a generation of elite South African female distance runners, in addition to giving millions of women the chance to participate as runners and walkers, in iconic 5 km and 10 km races. Looking beyond 2026, there are runners with vast potential focusing on the SPAR Grand Prix. These include Glenrose Xaba, at the height of her powers, and emerging talents such as Tayla Kavanagh and Kyla Jacobs. No one knows who the next Rene, Irvette or Kesa will be, but lovers of the sport can definitely look forward to more success stories as SPAR continues to consolidate its Grand Prix as a truly world-class race series.

From the Start Line to the – And Back Again Finish Line

How René Kalmer became the heartbeat of the SPAR Women’s Challenge — and why her greatest race is still being run.

There are athletes who win races, and then there are athletes who become part of the race itself. René Kalmer belongs firmly in the second category. For more than two decades, her name has been synonymous with the SPAR Women’s Challenge — woven into its history not only as a champion, but as its conscience, its continuity, and the greatest champion of what the series stands for.

René first started running crosscountry as a schoolgirl and quickly found that the road was where she belonged. She went on to become a two-time Olympian — representing South Africa at the 2008 Beijing Games in the 1 500 m, and again at the 2012 London Olympics in the marathon. In 2011, she made history as the first South African woman in 14 years to break the 2:30 marathon barrier, clocking an extraordinary 2:29:59

in Yokohama. She became the fourth-fastest South African female marathon runner ever recorded.

But it is her relationship with SPAR that tells the fuller story. René has won more SPAR Grand Prix races than any other athlete in the series’ history, and is the first athlete — and one of only four — to claim the SPAR Grand Prix title three times, triumphing in 2007, 2009, and 2012. She finished in the top 10 of the Grand Prix for its entire first decade of existence. She has been running in the SPAR Women’s Challenge for more than half her life.

The SPAR Women’s Challenge has been part of my life for so long. Now that I am a working mom, I feel even closer to the thousands of women who take part. Many women get the running bug after taking part in a SPAR Women’s Challenge — and that is something truly special.

- René Kalmer, three-time SPAR Grand Prix Champion & SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi Ambassador

What sets René apart, however, is not simply what she has achieved — it is what she has chosen to do with those achievements. Today, as a mom, a teacher, and a coach, she pours her passion for running into the next generation, working with young athletes and fostering a love for the sport from the ground up. Crosscountry running — the very discipline that first set her feet moving — is now central to how she shapes young runners, instilling in them the same discipline, resilience, and joy that carried her all the way to two Olympic Games.

Her commitment to giving back has always extended to the SPAR series itself. When the Grand Prix introduced its junior mentorship programme, René was among the first to embrace it with characteristic warmth. “The juniors will travel to the SPAR Grand Prix with us,” she said at the time, “so we will be able to advise them and help them with training programmes and race tactics. I think we will be like a helpline for the juniors. It is all part of building for the future.”

Mom. Runner. Teacher. Olympian. Record-breaker. Mentor. South African running royalty. René has worn every one of these titles with quiet grace. As the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi takes to the streets of Jozi this October, her spirit runs with every woman who steps up to that start line — proof that the greatest legacy is not the trophies you collect, but the runners you inspire.

It’s 5h30 and the streets are still quiet. You lace up your running shoes, slip your phone into your armband, and head out the door. There’s a chill in the air and a familiar knot in your stomach, because in South Africa, heading out for a solo training run means thinking about more than only your pace. But today, something is different. Namola is active on your phone. Your family can see exactly where you are and if anything goes wrong, help is one button press away.

A SMARTER WAY TO STAY SAFE

Namola is South Africa’s most trusted personal safety app, and it’s far more than an emergency button. Built right here at home, Namola is a complete safety companion that keeps you and the people you care about connected and protected every single day. The app combines real-time family location tracking, smart safety alerts, and instant access to private emergency response all in one place.

Here’s how it works in practice: Namola lets you see where your family members are in real time, so that your partner, kids or parents always know you’re safe on your route without you needing to call or text. The app sends smart safety alerts when you or a loved one enters an area with a higher risk, so that you can adjust your route or stay aware. And if something does go wrong, press the SOS button and a trained operator calls you back immediately, dispatches the closest private armed response or medical team to your exact GPS location, and stays on the line until

you’re safe. You don’t even need to speak. Someone in your family can also trigger a panic on your behalf if they see you’re in trouble, so you’re never truly on your own.

For women who run, this changes everything. Whether you’re training alone before dawn, tackling an unfamiliar route, or making your way to your car after a race, Namola gives you something no playlist or running buddy can; real protection that travels with you. It’s not tied to your home address like a traditional alarm company. It goes wherever you go, and it keeps your people in the loop while you move.

That’s why we’re proud to be an official partner of the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi 2026, taking place at Marks Park Sports Club, Emmarentia, on 4 October 2026. This partnership is about more than Challenge Day; it’s about a shared commitment to making women safer in South Africa every single day. Registered SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi runners and their families can sign

up for Namola Plus at exclusive rates, available right now, no need to wait for Challenge Day. Individual plans start at only R29 per month, couples at R49 per month, and families of up to five members at R89 per month. That’s private emergency response, family tracking, safety alerts, and post-incident trauma counselling – all from one app for less than the cost of a coffee run.

Safety isn’t only about what happens in an emergency. It’s about feeling confident every time you step out the door, knowing where your family is, knowing they can see you, and knowing that if you ever need help, it arrives in minutes, not hours. Scan the QR code to subscribe at your partner rate, download Namola on the App Store, and carry a complete safety companion in your pocket from today.

My Run My Heartland,

Four remarkable runs. Four SPAR communities. One unforgettable call to the outdoors.

Somewhere in the Free State, the North-West, and the Northern Cape, the sun comes up over open fields and familiar faces — and on a chosen Saturday or Sunday each year, those same fields and streets fill with runners. This is South Africa’s Heartland; the Free State, the Northern Cape, the North-West. Strong, grounded, and full of heart. And at the centre of each of these communities, as always, is a SPAR or SaveMor store that knows your name.

Trail and community running are among the fastest-growing ways South Africans move together, and for women in particular, these events offer something a city road race sometimes cannot; wide open space, a sense of homecoming, and a community built not on pace charts but on shared experience. The SPAR Women’s Challenge has always celebrated women who move — in every form, at every pace, for every reason. This year,

we are going further into the Heartland. Here are four runs, each backed by a SPAR or SaveMor family store, that deserve a place on your calendar — wherever you are, your Heartland has a run waiting for you.

Where the Rock Meets the Sky

Titanic Challenge Trail Run

| Presented by SaveMor Horeb / Clarens

As many great things do, it began with a small group of people who believed they could. When the Clarens Village Conservancy (CVC) launched its own trail running event in 2022, they had no blueprint — only enthusiasm, a borrowed calendar slot, and routes mapped through the mountains of the Clarens Nature Reserve, all passing behind the dramatic sandstone outcrop that gave the event its name; the Titanic Rock.

The first edition drew 560 entries. By 2025, it had sold out at 1 700 runners. In 2026, with a brand-new 5 km Clarens Fun Run added to the programme, the organisers are aiming for 1 800. All routes set off from the Clarens Village Square and quickly enter the conservancy, where rugged sandstone formations, seasonal spruits, singletrack paths, and sweeping mountain views define the experience. Expect runnable contour trails balanced with rocky sections — and at every turn, the Red and Maluti Mountains rising in the distance.

The event’s community impact runs deep. Funds support the CVC’s conservation work, and since 2022, the organisation has employed two additional rangers, built the Free State’s only wheelchair-friendly trail, and helped two local runners — one now a semielite athlete — pursue racing careers. Race day itself is a spectacle; a festive village, the Eagles Rugby Club serving as marshals, and approximately 4 000 visitors flooding the guesthouses and restaurants of Clarens for the weekend.

Couldn’t make this year’s event?

The Titanic Challenge Trail Run takes place annually in September, so keep an eye out for next year’s dates and start planning your trip to Clarens.

FACTS

Challenge Trail

Clarens, Free State 5 5 September 2026 5km (new) │ 10 km │21 km | 35 km │ 50 km

The Legend on the Mountain Harrismith Mountain Race | Presented by SPAR Harrismith

If South Africa’s trail running calendar were a book, the Harrismith Mountain Race would be its first chapter — and its most dog-eared page. First run in 1922, it holds the extraordinary distinction of being the oldest registered trail run in the country. In 2023, the race was staged for the 100th time — a century of runners, a century of stories, and a century of that notorious climb up One Man’s Pass, the section Runner’s World once dubbed the ‘Toughest Climb’ in the country.

Never again. It’s the toughest obstacle in the whole world.

- Wally Hayward, on the Harrismith Mountain Race

The route’s elevation gain is a formidable 635 m, rated 5th on the national difficulty scale, with notoriously unpredictable weather adding to the challenge. The golden rule for firsttimers is deceptively simple; follow

the white stones. SPAR Harrismith has backed the event since 2018 — contributing a significant cash sponsorship, over 250 goodie bags, and a dedicated water station on course, with store staff running alongside the community each year.

For 2026, the race takes place on 18 October, with three distance options; the classic 15 km, the 30 km Mountain Trail Run (726 m elevation gain, topping out at 2 351 m), and the 10 km Mini Mountain Trail through the Platberg foothills. A pro tip: Only the first 200 entries receive the legendary goodie bags. This is not a race to leave on the maybe list.

Missed this year’s date? The Harrismith Mountain Race returns to Harrismith around the same time each October — so mark your calendar and start training for next year’s climb.

RACE FACTS

Harrismith Mountain Race

SA’s oldest registered trail run, est. 1922

www.harrismithmarathonclub.co.za

Harrismith, Free State

18 18 October 2026

10 km │ 15 km │ 30 km

@harrismithmountainrace1 071 895 5562

harrismithmk@gmail.com

A Green Oasis in the Northern Cape SPAR

Douglas SWC Virtual Run | Presented by SPAR Douglas

There are 80 women in Douglas who can tell you exactly what it feels like to run through a pecan tree orchard as the sun comes up over the Northern Cape. SPAR Douglas — celebrating its 20th anniversary this year — has been the heartbeat of this tight-knit agricultural town since 2006, and since 2022, it has brought the SPAR Women’s Challenge energy home through its own community virtual run.

The event has grown steadily from 60 participants in its first year to 80 in 2025, with runners joining from Kimberley, Griekwastad, and Hopetown alongside the Douglas locals. In 2025, the run moved to a farm 10 km outside of town — and it was a revelation. ‘The runners and walkers absolutely loved it,’ says organiser Hanerie Nortje. ‘The pecan trees, the fresh air, the quietness that comes with a farm.’ Kanaan Koffie set up a coffee wagon in the orchard afterwards, and the community simply stayed, talked, and breathed it all in.

If I can do it, so can you. Set your own pace for your race and finish on your time.

- Hanerie Nortje, SPAR Douglas

The virtual format suits Douglas’ geography perfectly — farmers’ wives on outlying properties can run from home on the day and still be part of something. Distances are 5 km and 10 km, open to all ages, including walkers. Registration is in-store. ‘The pressure on this day is slightly less than the bigger cities,’ Hanerie says. ‘Participating in Douglas brings a warm welcome and no pressure.’ Sometimes the most extraordinary thing about a small-town community event is precisely that it is small.

The SPAR Douglas SWC Virtual Run is held annually around October, in step with the SPAR Women’s Challenge season — so if this year’s date has already passed by the time you read this, register your interest in-store for next year.

RACE FACTS

SPAR Douglas

SWC Virtual Run

Open to all ages and abilities; family-friendly.

Douglas, Northern Cape 18 October 2026 (exact date TBC) 5 km │ 10 km (walk or run)

Douglas Spar & Tops Register in-store: 053 298 4203

Where Community Comes First

Foro Fun Run | Presented by SUPERSPAR Foro

In Tlhabane, Rustenburg, a fun run is rarely just a fun run. It is a homecoming and a love letter to a community, run on foot. SUPERSPAR Foro has been part of the fabric of Tlhabane since 1987, when Godfrey and Kinni Rangaka opened its doors — the only store in the area to offer a full department range of bakery, butchery, fresh produce, and home meal replacement to this day.

The idea for a community fun run grew out of something personal: Mr Rangaka’s own love of running and his experience taking part in events such as the SPAR Women’s Challenge and the 702 Walk the Talk. Three years after launching, the Foro Fun Run was adopted into the Athletics North-West calendar, turning a community gathering into an accredited 10 km race.

It serves as a reminder of the state of our community as you run through it. It brings awareness and aims to inspire action to improve our community.

- Foro Fun Run organisers, SUPERSPAR Foro

The route winds through Tlhabane itself, taking in Bester, Foxlake, and Ou Kasi for a fully immersive tour of the community. Between 350 and 400 runners typically take part each year — a mix of locals, regional running club members, and a growing contingent of masters runners known as the Vets. Every cent raised is handed to a local NGO.

First-timers are part of the magic. ‘It is the most encouraging to see new faces at the race,’ say the organisers. ‘This means SPAR is front and centre in people’s hearts and minds.’ To anyone considering the start line for the first

time, the invitation is simple: ‘Come and learn and see a different community to yours. Come and make a friend.’

Runners can fuel up and recover without leaving the SUPERSPAR Foro car park — energy drinks and fresh fruit before the gun, coffee, breakfast rolls, muffins and pastries for finishers, and a braai once the medals are handed out. ‘You earned it,’ the team says.

The 2026 Foro Fun Run takes place in Tlhabane, Rustenburg, on 8 August over the established 10 km distance. Look out for the next edition around the same time each year.

RACE FACTS

Foro Fun Run

350–400 runners annually - locals, club runners and Vets

Tlhabane, Rustenburg

8 8 August 2026

10 km

My SPAR Foro Registration in-store

Proceeds donated to a local NGO

ONLINE ENTRIES ARE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED.

To register scan the unique QR code on your SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi race number and complete your details. This QR code is linked to your unique race number.