July 13, 2007
By Millicent Kgowedi
WITH just a few days to go before the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk, many participants have been advised to go to their doctors for a check-up before taking on the walking challenge.
A record number of 38 000 walkers will converge on Marks Park Sports Club in Judith Road, Emmarentia, the starting and ending point of the Walk the Talk, on Sunday, 22 July.
If participants don't exercise and are over the age of 65; if they have been diagnosed with heart trouble, are pregnant, have high blood pressure or diabetes; or if they have chest pains, especially when exerting themselves, or they often feel faint or have severe dizzy spells or other medical conditions, they should consult their doctors, says Primedia's public relations officer, Natasha Wadvalla.
Primedia, one of the organisers, owns Talk Radio 702.
She adds that apart from one's health, the main tool for a walker is suitable attire – the right shoes and clothes. "The shoe must be well-fitting, flexible and flat. Walking clothes should be comfortable and loose fitting, to allow you to move."
Organisers warned that in the past people have suffered from dehydration and this year walkers have been encouraged to drink water before, during and after the race.
Participants are advised to go for health check-ups if they have any health concerns
"Avoid caffeinated beverages before your walk; they cause you to lose fluid, making you thirstier as well as making you take inconvenient stops along the way. Have a bit of extra salt with your meal or snack so you will have enough sodium to stay in balance, and carry water with you or plan for water stops along the route, where you will be able to get a full drink of a cup of water every 20 minutes," Wadvalla adds.
Hosted by the City of Johannesburg, the walk allows people to see some of the city's beautiful landmarks as they stroll through the tree-lined streets of Greenside, Parktown, Parkhurst, Parkwood and Parkview.
Among the walkers are radio personalities John Robbie, Jenny Crwys-Williams, Leigh Bennie, Tom London, Bruce Whitfield and Redi Direko. Well-known sportspeople Baby Jake, Daley Thompson, Deshun Deysel, Steve Waugh and Morne du Plessis will also be joining in, together with the SABC's Dali Mpofu and Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe.
A number of Egoli staff members and actors will also be strolling, including Godfrey Ribombo, Jaco Theron, Melande Tonjeni, Mandi du Plooy, Simphiwe Mqolomba, Victor Shokane, Anthony Burgess and Tobie Swanepoel.
Metro police has warned motorists of road closures and possible heavy traffic in the surrounding areas before and after the event. Several roads in and around Emmarentia will be closed to traffic and it will be chaotic if participants don't arrive early, explains Wayne Minnaar, the chief superintendent.
There will be three starting times for the three distances and road closures will start half-an-hour before the start of each race. They will be reopened after everyone has completed that leg of each race.
"Motorists who are going to be affected most are those who use Judith Road, because it will be closed from Beyers Naude Drive to Barry Hertzog Avenue, from 4am to 2pm," Wadvalla says.
Residents of Emmarentia and its surrounding suburbs complained about the amount of litter people left behind after previous Walk the Talks, prompting the organisers to get Pikitup on board to help with cleaning up after the walk.
Visitors can book a hospitality site or bring along picnic baskets and relax on the Marks Park sports field during and after the walk. A comprehensive list of all road closures, as well as a detailed route map, are available on the Talk Radio 702 website.
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