OVERVIEW

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Occasionally an initiative comes that changes an outlook of a community. Run Alex is such an initiative. Started as a running training group with a mission to change the lifestyle of Alexandra

township’s community. It, however, matured into a  formal running club that spearheads reforms in the community, health campaigns, youth, and social development.​

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BACKGROUND

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The growth of running in the Gauteng province inspired the birth of Run Alex.

 

Run Alex's training group was started to introduce and encourage a healthy lifestyle for
Alex's residents and surroundings, In January 2018. This was after realizing how running is a growing sport and a lifestyle choice around the country, yet our townships are not catching onto this activity.

 

The training took place every Saturday and Sunday at KwaBhekilanga Sports Ground from 06H00 where they only offered two distances of 6km for beginners and 12km for regular runners. This group has grown from strength to strength, currently with over 100 regular runners, from the
initial 30 people that turned out on the first day.

The growth of this group then influenced the formation of a formal Running Club that was formally registered with Athletics South Africa in 2020.

 

In 2021 Run Alex launched its Junior Division, to ensure that all the Youth of Alex, get an opportunity to access running opportunities, that are accessible to children growing up anywhere else in the country.

Communities like Alexandra are generally considered last in accessing health information regarding any complicated diseases or conditions. Run Alex has taken a lead in ensuring that the community of Alexandra gets exposed to some hidden health conditions and increases the level of awareness through campaigns and
information distribution. 

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THE CLUB

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In 2020 Run Alex Athletics was registered as a formal club with Athletics South Africa under the auspices of Central Gauteng Athletics, this move has seen Run Alex members qualify to participate in all major local and international races.

 

Although the club was started during a difficult period when the whole world was battling with the Covid-19 pandemic. The club still did well and managed to maintain steady growth and is
currently sitting with 82 registered adult members. The club manages weekly training runs, that are open to every member of the community at no charge with assistance from COJ providing facilities to the club.

 

It is through these training runs that Run Alex can openly provide opportunities to community members to try out running as a lifestyle and later decide to be part of a formal club structure or remain training casually.