Blantyre Jogging Club members
* To begin at 05h30 at Kamuzu Stadium’s hockey pitch in Blantyre and there will also be aerobics fitness sessions
* Safety and security remain a priority as the police, medical teams, and first aid agents have been integrated into the programme to ensure a smooth and secure event
By Duncan Mlanjira
With more than 200 participants already registered, Blantyre Jogging Club (BJC) is close to hitting its target of 250 runners for the much-anticipated Family Fun Run scheduled for Saturday, June 6 from 05h30 at Kamuzu Stadium’s hockey pitch in Blantyre.
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BJC media team head, Eric Mataka has expressed satisfaction with the positive public response Family Fun Run, which has been organise to-promote-healthy-and-wellness-livelihood.
He added that the club is delighted with the overwhelming response, saying: “This is not only a call to exercise but also an opportunity for unity.”
“This year’s family run has been designed to be inclusive, offering three categories to suit different fitness levels — a half marathon for seasoned runners, a 10km race for intermediate participants, and a 5km category for beginners and casual joggers.
The routes are:
21.4km half marathon
* Upper Stadium > past Chichiri Shopping Mall > Independence Arch > Maselema > Limbe Cathedral Roundabout > Maone > turn back to Peletia > pass through railway bridge Turn > turn left at Energem service station > past Yiannakis > Kanjedza Roundabout > Police training School > St Columba CCAP Church > Kudya > Kamba > Mahatma Gandhi Road (Mount Pleasant) > Catholic Institute (CI) > along Victoria Avenue > turn right at Magistrate Court crossroads > KFC > Clocktower > Tambala > MUBAS > back to Upper Stadium.
10km
* Upper Stadium > along Masauko Chipembere Highway > Clock Tower > Mount Soche > CI > KUHeS College of Medicine > Ginnery Corner > Upper Stadium.
5km
* Upper Stadium > Chipembere Highway > Ginnery Corner > turn right at Ginnery Mall > Road Traffic Directorate > Fire Department > turn left for National Bank-Chichiri > Kamuzu Stadium > turn right > Chichiri Shopping Mall.
The event last year, spiced by aerobics
Mataka added that in addition to the races, there will also be aerobics fitness sessions and he also emphasised that safety and security remain a priority as the police, medical teams, and first aid agents have been integrated into the programme to ensure a smooth and secure event.
When announcing the event mid last month, the club’s chairperson Gift Mike Gwaza, emphasised that apart promoting fitness and well-being, it also strengthens family and community bonds as well as raising mental health awareness.
“In today’s fast-paced world, many people are occupied with work and business commitments, leaving little or no time for physical exercises,” he said. “However, regular exercises are essential for overall well-being, including mental health. Cases of high blood pressure and stroke are on the rise, prompting the need for an active lifestyle.
Blantyre Jogging Club, which is hosting the family fun run for the second year running was established in April 2022, whose members are fitness enthusiasts united by their passion for health and wellness — founded on the belief that fitness should be fun and accessible to all.
The event last year spiced by aerobics