Comrades withdrawal last chance

RUNNERS who have entered this year's Comrades Marathon but who plan on withdrawing from the race have until this Friday, 27 March to pull out, or forever hold their peace.

This was announced earlier this week by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), who are processing substitution applications so aspiring participants will have another chance to secure their spot.

According to CMA race and operations manager Ann Ashworth, a 15% administration fee will be charged to successfully substituted athletes, who will then be reimbursed 85% of their entry fee.

Entry slots that become available from withdrawing runners will be offered on a first come, first served basis to those wanting to enter, from 1 - 15 April or until the substitution cap has been reached, via the Comrades official website.

Entrants making use of a substituted entry will pay the same fees as those who entered in the initial entry period.

To withdraw your entry, visit www.easyreg.co.za/users/sign_in and follow the prompts.

Comrades 2024

This, the 97th Comrades Marathon will be the shortest one in the event's history, measuring 85.91km - 820m shorter than the last up-run in 2019.

It is worth noting that the last time the race finished at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse five years ago, the race distance was 86.73km; the same year in which reigning Comrades Marathon champion Gerda Steyn set the current best up-run time of 5:58:53 in the women’s race.

Furthermore, when Leonid Shvetsov set the stillstanding men’s best up-run time of 5:24:49 in 2008 at The Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, the distance was 86.94km.

The difference in distances over the years is mainly due to roadworks and varying routes taken on the run out of Durban.

This year's race has had to accommodate ongoing roadworks at the Umlaas Road interchange and will follow a route through the suburbs of Cleland and Pelham, similar to that used in 2013 and 2015.

Contact us comrades

Local clubs are encouraged to submit photos and names of their Comrades participants, particularly those vying for green numbers, novices or any other exceptional feats. Email zulobs@zob.co.za