Long-distance coach Lindsey Parry welcomes the return of City-to-City ultra-marathon

Parry, also esteemed as the coach for Comrades Marathon, expressed to SABC Sport his anticipation for the return of this event, emphasizing the opportunities it presents for athletes to sustain themselves professionally.

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Situated amidst the Two Oceans 56km ultra-marathon in Cape Town in April and the 87km Up-Run Comrades Marathon in Durban in June, the City-to-City race will span from Centurion Rugby Club at 6 am and finish at the Wanderers Sports Club in Johannesburg on March 31, covering 50km.

A substantial prize awaits the first male and female finishers, each set to claim R200 000, with the runner-up taking R100 000 each, and the third-placed finishers pocketing R50 000 apiece.

With the last edition of the race dating back to 2015, Parry commended organizers for their initiative in resurrecting this esteemed event.

“Making a sustainable living as a runner in South Africa is challenging due to limited prize money. However, introducing another prestigious ultra-marathon is a welcome development for athletes. Not only does the ultra contribute to the runners ‘physical well-being, but it also offers substantial rewards for the top three finishers,” Parry explained to SABC Sport.

The organizers have allocated R1.2 million for the event, yet Parry expresses a preference for such sponsorship to be directed towards shorter-distance races.

He believes that despite the abundance of talent in the country, shorter races often provide limited earning opportunities for runners.

 "Please listen to me attentively and understand my perspective clearly. I'm genuinely thrilled about the comeback of this ultra-event. However, I believe it would be beneficial if the event's focus shifted away from ultra-marathons and placed more emphasis on shorter distance races like the 10km, 21km, and the SA Nationals senior track and field championships.

We require greater sponsorship support for these shorter-distance events. Currently, there's an overwhelming emphasis on ultra-marathons in South Africa, overshadowing the importance of shorter distance races," he conveyed to the national broadcaster.

Parry emphasized the importance of runners not participating in all three events (Two Oceans, Comrades, and City-to-City ultras). Instead, he encouraged them to select two.

“While runners may be tempted to tackle all three, it’s not advisable. It’s crucial to prioritize and consider which race the body can handle, the timing of the City-to-City marathon, sandwiched between the Two Oceans and Comrades, is ideal. However, runners should opt for just two and forego one,” Parry remarked.