Entries open for 95th Comrades Marathon

Entries for the 95th Comrades Marathon to be held in August will open today, Wednesday, March 23.

This will be the first entry window period, running until March 31. During this window period, only those entrants who had successfully entered the 2020 Comrades Marathon will be able to enter, be they from South Africa, Africa or international.

The entry fee for South African athletes will be discounted from R1200 to R1000 in the first entry window period, as per the CMA’s commitment when the 2020 race was cancelled. Rest of Africa and international entrants in the 2020 Comrades Marathon had their entries deferred to either the 2022 or 2023 race; and will therefore not pay an entry fee.

During the second entry window period, from April 20 to May 16, all other athletes will be allowed to enter.

Entry fees for those who did not enter the 2020 Comrades Marathon are as follows:

• South Africa: R1200.00

• Rest of Africa: R2000.00

• International: R4500.00

Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

The second entry window period (April 20 - May 16) will not apply should the 15 000 entry cap be reached during the first entry window period.

• ASA rules only allow for online entries and will be done via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com

• No hand-delivered or postal entries are acceptable.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James said: “We have exciting plans in place for this year’s

Down Run, which will finish at the internationally acclaimed Moses Mabhida Stadium for the second time. Qualifying for the 2022 Comrades Marathon is applicable as of September 1, 2021 until July 12, 2022. The qualifying criteria for this year’s Comrades Marathon remains unchanged, requiring completion of a standard 42.2km marathon in under four hours and 50 minutes, or a 56km ultra-marathon in under six hours and 45 minutes.”

The substitution process will run over the month of June. More details will be revealed closer to the time. Considering the current national legislation limitation on mass participation events, the entry limit has been capped at 15 000 entries.

The 95th Comrades Marathon will be the 47th Down Run on Sunday August 28, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 5:30am and ending 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, covering a 90.2km distance.