Scores of thrill seekers took part in the adrenaline-fuelled Stadium Dash over the weekend, which included conquering inflated water slides, wooden water bridges, concrete walls, weights, poles and step ladders, covering over 6kms.
The high-octane obstacle course took place on Saturday, 3 August, in and around the Emirates Park stadium precinct in Bertrams. It was hosted by the City’s department of sport and recreation in Region F, in partnership with Shift Concepts.
On the day, speed and skills determined the fitness levels of each participant and how far they could go. Swimming skills came as an advantage, as this was one of the toughest parts of the course.
Running on the makeshift water bridge was the easy part, but those who stopped on it fell into the water. It was quite an adventure, but the City’s lifesavers stood guard to prevent any fatalities.
The obstacle course allowed for the enjoyment of urban landscapes, designed for athletes of all fitness levels.
One of the participants, Mmabatho Tofile displayed her bravery and described the experience as great. “I have always been scared of heights but on Saturday, when I climbed a three-metre long stepladder, I conquered that fear.”
Bravery, perseverance and willingness to explore the unknown added to the mystery of the adventure, as did the creativity of participants.
Nonhlanhla Maboe, the Assistant Director for Sport and Recreation in the City’s Region F said 50 pupils from Murray Park participated in the games. “We wanted to expose them to different kinds of sporting activities. We intend to go bigger and bring new activities at our sport and recreation facilities across the region,” Maboe said.
She was adamant that through working with different stakeholders, the municipality would bring excitement in the Inner City.
The daredevil event featured no less than 28 built obstacles, all of which crisscrossed the Standard Bank Arena, the Ellis Park Swimming Pool and the Emirates Park Stadium. During the contest, organisers were glued on the more than 1 200 participants to certify that no one cheats.
The event was designed to promote sport, healthy lifestyles and bring entertainment in the Inner City suburbia.
