THE COMRADES MARATHON runners and fans of the sport will have a picnic as they have arranged a Runner’s Picnic to be held at the Botanic Gardens, Durban, on June 15.
This picnic, which will be the first, is organized by DJ Merlon and businessman Siyanda Ntenga, who is a runner who has completed Comrades five times.
Their picnic will be held the day after the Comrades run, which will start in Durban and end in Pietermaritzburg.
Explaining Ntenga, he said that they are looking to attract runners, fans and everyone who will be in Durban for this event.
“Monday will be a holiday because the next day is June 16. For the runners it is a rest holiday and as someone who has run the Comrades, I have seen that the next day we don’t have a place to be happy. Those who have come are still scared, they stay in the hotels until the race. After that they don’t know what to do, that’s why they fill the hotels and the beach and we said let’s have a picnic for them. We try in every way to keep the tourists,” said Ntenga.
He said there will be music, they will massage their swollen muscles and doctors will give them drips so they can recover quickly.
He said weapons, drinks and food are not allowed because they will be available inside. Attendees may bring clothing and camp chairs.
DJ Merlon said the picnic will help the runners get to know each other and look for ways they can help each other.
“We will confirm the entertainers in the coming days, but I am also one of those who will be entertaining. What we are highlighting here is the way the event will be, that there will be delicious food, massage places, drips and so on, not that it is only for musicians and DJs,” said Merlon.
He said he was happy to work with Ntenga in organizing the event and said that others could see it.
“Ntenga came up with the idea of the event, but it wasn’t even two weeks after we examined it and realized that we can do it. It’s a big thing that I think we’re going to do. The thing that holds us back the most as people is not working together.”
He said tickets for the event are now available at Webtickets for R200 but will increase later.