THE 2015 Comrades Marathon entry process is in full swing with more than 25 per cent of the 23 000 entry cap already taken up since the entry process opened on 1 September.
The entry barometer currently stands at 6137 for the 90th edition of ‘The Ultimate Human Race’, which will be on Sunday, 31 May 2015. Being an ‘up-run’, the traditional starters gun goes off outside the Durban City Hall at 5.30am and again 12 hours later at the Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg to signal the end of the 87km ultra-marathon.
Prospective entrants have until 30 November or as soon as the cap of 23 000 entries has been reached to get their entries in. Thereafter, no entries will be accepted so runners are urged to enter as soon as possible or risk missing out.
With its 2015 campaign, ‘Be Part of It – Bamba Iqhaza’ – the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) race director, Rowyn James has asked every South African to be part of next year’s 90th anniversary festivities in one way or another.
James has further encouraged all South African Comrades Marathon runners to enter by 30 September 2014 to be eligible for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R350.
The increased entry fee of R380 will come into effect on 1 October 2014 until the entry process is closed. Runners from the Rest of Africa will be charged an entry fee of R600 and the cost to international athletes is R2000.
The entry requirements, which are stated on the entry form, must be adhered to at all times.
Entries may be made online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com, by posting the completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg: PO Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209; or by handing in the completed entry form together with payment at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.
Runners may enter the race before running a qualifying race (minimum qualifying distance of 42.2km in under five hours).
The 2014 Comrades Marathon will not be a qualifier for the 2015 race. Qualifying races must be run between 1 August 2014 and 4 May 2015.
The substitution window period will be from 1 to 21 April 2015.
