90th Comrades in 2015

SOUTH AFRICA’s top runners, sporting personalities and stakeholders were present as the 90th Comrades Marathon launch took place.

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) launched its campaign for the 90th Comrades Marathon on Thursday August 14, where the official logo was also unveiled, all part of the celebratory launch of the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon.

The 2015 campaign is centered on the CMA’s vision of an all-inclusive Comrades Marathon, with the slogan: ‘Be Part of It – Bamba Iqhaza’. CMA General Manager Chris Bruwer, who unveiled the campaign, said: “We invite every Comrades runner, stakeholder, volunteer and supporter to be a part of this iconic race in one way or another. There are numerous ways to get involved and participate in the camaraderie, while uniting the nation through this iconic event.”

The 90th edition of the race will be run on Sunday May 31, 2015. The ‘up-run’ will start at the Durban City Hall at 05:30 and end 12 hours later at the Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, covering a distance of 87km.

September 1, 2014 is the opening date for entries into the 2015 Comrades Marathon. The entry period will close on November 23, or as soon as the special entry cap of 23 000 has been reached. Prospective entrants are encouraged to get their entries in early so as to avoid disappointment.

South African runners will be eligible for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R350 if their entry is received before September 30. The regular South African entry fee of R380 will kick in on October 1 until the entry process is closed.

Runners can enter as follows: online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com; by posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209 or by handing in their completed entry form together with payment at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Entry forms will be available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA; and selected qualifying races, which the Comrades Team will be attending from September to November.

Qualifying for the 2015 Comrades Marathon will be applicable from August 1 till 4 May 4, 2015. Runners are advised that the 2014 Comrades Marathon will not be an automatic qualifier for next year’s race.

Race Director Rowyn James said: “The reason for this is two-fold. We want to encourage runners to be fit and healthy for Race Day. Further, we want to support all other road-running races in the country, especially the Comrades Marathon qualifying races, by driving Comrades runners to participate in those running events.”

In a first for South African road-running, R1.5 million is up for grabs to the First Man and Woman respectively who break the current male and female up-run records, making the Comrades Marathon by far the most lucrative race on the local athletics scene. Leonid Shvetsov holds the male up-run record of 5:24:47 for his 2008 win, while Elena Nurgalieva’s 2006 victory in a time of 6:09:24 stands as the female up-run record.

The first man and woman to cross the finish line will receive R375 000 each. The total prize money for the 2015 Comrades Marathon is R2 600 000; in addition to the respective R1.5 million incentives for the man and woman should they break the record.

CMA Chairman Macdonald Chitja said: “We are pleased to unveil our 2015 Comrades Marathon campaign and invite the nation to be a part of it. The 90th edition of this world famous ultra-marathon promises to be the best one yet.”