Sport

Comrades Marathon set for big entry

Brad Morgan

28 October 2009

South Africa's famous ultra-marathon, the Comrades, celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2010, and a bumper entry is on the cards. In anticipation of big interest in the race, thanks in part to the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, next year's race will again be a down run, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

The first phase for entry and qualifying was scheduled to end on 31 October or before that if 15 000 entries were received from previous Comrades runners. The 15 000 mark was reached on 27 October.

'Ecstatic'

"I am ecstatic at the positive response from the loyal Comrades runners, in reaching the 15 000 threshold with four days to spare," Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) CEO Gary Boshoff said in a statement this week.

"This is indicative of the strength of the Comrades brand and the special place the Comrades Marathon occupies in the local as well as global sport arena.

"We are, however, mindful of the thousands of disappointed runners that have missed the cut-off," Boshoff said. "However, they can take heart from the fact that the Comrades Marathon is here to stay and that there will be many more opportunities to run The Ultimate Human Race."

More entries

The numbers from the first phase of entries is set to climb above 15 000, as any postal entries that were postmarked up to and including 27 October will also be accepted by the CMA.

The second phase of entries is focused on novice runners. They open at 09:00 on Sunday, 1 November and close on 30 November. However, if 5 000 entries are received before that time the cutoff will be when that number is reached.

The largest ever field for the Comrades Marathon was achieved in 2000, on the 75th anniversary of the race, when 23 961 runners took part. It appears likely, based on the strong response so far, that the 2010 race will feature the second largest field in the history of the world famous event.

Medals

To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon, a new medal will be introduced, and it will be the largest medal yet awarded for the race. Measuring 50mm, compared to the usual 30mm, the medal will be awarded to all runners who complete the 89.17-kilometre distance within the 12-hour time limit.

Six other medals are awarded in the Comrades Marathon:

The first 10 men and first 10 women receive gold medals.

Silver medals go to those runners who finish in times between six hours and under seven-and-a-half hours.

Bill Rowan medals, named after the winner of the first Comrades Marathon, are awarded to those runners who finish in a time between seven-and-a-half hours and under nine hours.

Bronze medals are given to runners who finish in times ranging from nine hours to sub-11 hours.

The Vic Clapham medal, named after the founder of the race, goes to those runners who complete the distance in a time from 11 hours to 12 hours.

In addition, Wally Hayward medals – named after the five-time winner and oldest ever finisher in the race at the age of 80 – are awarded to those runners that fail to finish in the top 10, but record a time of under six hours.



	Run between the capital of Kwazulu-Natal province, Pietermaritzburg, and the coastal city of Durban, the 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon is arguably the world's greatest ultra-marathon (Photo by Stephen Pryke, copyright South African Tourism)

Wally Hayward, moments after completing his last Comrades Marathon at the age of 80, becoming the oldest finisher in the history of the race. The number two on Hayward's shirt is the same number he wore when he first won the race, almost six decades before, in 1930 (Photo: Wally Hayward Marathon)

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