Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PREPARATIONS for Bulawayo’s inaugural Kings Half Marathon have gathered momentum after the event route was officially mapped and approved by the Bulawayo Athletics Board ahead of the October 31 race.
The race, sponsored by Flash Beverages’ Bux Energy Drink and Budget Cash & Carry Wholesale, will start and finish at Busters Sports Club, with runners setting off at 6am for what organisers hope will become one of Zimbabwe’s premier annual road-running events.
According to the approved route map, participants will leave Busters Sports Club and proceed along key sections of Bulawayo’s road network, passing landmarks that include Hillside Teachers’ College,
Ekusileni Hospital, Leeside Shops and the old Esigodini Road. The course features designated turning points at the 5km, 10km and 21km marks, while water stations will be positioned along the route to support athletes.
Bulawayo Athletics Board chairman Watson Madanyika confirmed that the race has already secured its place on the athletics calendar and has received the necessary approval from local athletics authorities.
Budget Cash & Carry Wholesale proprietor Raeez Lunat said the approval of the route marked another important milestone in preparations for the city’s first-ever Kings Half Marathon.
“We are pleased with the progress being made and the approval of the route by the Bulawayo
Athletics Board gives us confidence that we are on track to deliver a professionally organised event.
We want participants to enjoy favourable running conditions and have a memorable experience at what we hope will become a major annual sporting event,” said Lunat.
He said the marathon was designed to be more than just a sporting contest.
“The Kings Half Marathon is about bringing people together through sport. We are encouraging runners of all abilities to take part and be part of a new chapter in Bulawayo’s sporting history,” he said.
Launched earlier this month, the Kings Half Marathon is expected to attract elite athletes, social running clubs, corporate teams and recreational runners from across Zimbabwe. Organisers believe the event will help promote healthy lifestyles while showcasing Bulawayo’s rich sporting heritage.
The race was introduced in response to growing interest in fitness and road running, with organisers aiming to establish it as a permanent fixture on the national athletics calendar.
Lunat said the long-term vision is to build an event that not only benefits athletes but also
stimulates economic activity in the city through increased demand for accommodation, transport and retail services from visiting competitors and supporters.
With the route now approved and logistical planning intensifying, anticipation is building within local running circles as Bulawayo counts down to its newest road-running spectacle.
