• Home
• | Terms & conditions
• | Contact us
• | RSS

Comrades Marathon 2011 launched

27 August 2010

The organisers of the Comrades Marathon expressed their optimism about the future of the world famous ultra-marathon at the official launch of the 2011 race in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The 85th edition of the event was hugely successful, and interest in the race grew, not only among South Africans, but all over the world. Last year's race featured the second-largest field in the history of the Comrades, surpassed only by the millennium race in 2000.

There were new records for the size of the international entry (5%), women's entry (24%), and novice (29%) entries, while the organisers expect the Comrades Marathon to be officially recognised as the world's biggest ultra-marathon by the Guinness Book of Records.

It is therefore no surprise that the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is upbeat about the future of "The Ultimate Human Race".

The CMA says it is confident that it can repeat the successes of the 2010 Comrades Marathon, and expects a surge in interest from novices from all over the world, but mostly from South African athletes who have rediscovered the lure of the Comrades Marathon as a national icon and one of the "must do" events for sportsmen and women.

Entries

Entries for the 2011 Comrades Marathon, an "up-run" from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, 29 May, open on 1 September for all athletes, novices and former Comrades athletes.

All entries – including online entries at the Comrades Marathon website, entries at Mr Price Home, Sport and Clothing Stores, and manual entries – open at 09:h00.

Athletes can also post their completed entry forms and proof of payment to the Comrades Marathon office in Pietermaritzburg.

In addition, entries can also be hand delivered to the Comrades Marathon House in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms will be obtainable from local running clubs, provincial federations, Sportsman Warehouse outlets and Mr Price outlets or can be requested from the Comrades Marathon office in Pietermaritzburg.

The size of the field will be restricted to 18 000 entries and the CMA has emphasised that entry requirements must be strictly adhered to at all times; they are clearly spelled out on the entry form.

Entries will be taken on a first come, first served basis.

SAinfo reporter