2019 Comrades Marathon by the numbers plus interesting stats

THE 2019 Comrades Marathon takes place on Sunday 9 June, and the Highway Printers’ Bongani Peterson Nxumalo (44), will be chasing his green number (10  Comrades finishes), this year.

Comrades fever has gripped KZN and the Highway Mail and we have provided some insight and fun facts on the ultimate human race.

The 2019 Cut-off times for this years up-run:

There are six cut-off points along the 86,83km route
8h10: St Johns Avenue Subway Pinetown: Running time 2:40:00; Km done 18.56km
10h00 Winston Park: Running time 4:30.00; Km done 29,51km
11h40 Drummond (halfway): Running time 6:10.00; Km done 43,05km
13h40 N3 Subway – Cato Ridge: Running time 8:10.00; Km done 56,89km
15h00 Umlaas Road Interchange: Running time 9:30.00; Km done 67,02km
16h40 Top of Polly Shorts; Running time 11:10.00; Km done 79,26km
17h30 Race ends; Running time 12:00.00; Km done 86,83km

Medical, Emergency Services and First Aid:

Netcare 911 will provide the following on the 86.83km route:
14 ambulances equipped with satellite tracking to enable us to accurately position the vehicles and ensure optimal response times to attend to runners in difficulty.
6 rapid response vehicles with advanced life support paramedics and full emergency equipment
6 motorbikes with paramedics.
1 helicopter on standby.

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These will be controlled from the Medical Joint Operations Centre (JOC), based at the finish, where there will be eight computers, a full complement of staff to operate them and record all details; and to dispatch vehicles as and where necessary.

There are eight Netcare medical stations on route manned by qualified professional nurses and paramedical staff as well as eight physio stations on route manned by qualified physios and third-year physio students who will treat minor problems like cramping and strapping injuries.

The Physio and First Aid Stations will be situated together. All calls for medical assistance for runners should be made to the Netcare 911 medical emergency number 082 911. These calls will then be routed directly to the Medical JOC.

The Comrades Marathon organisers have provided us with some interesting statistics on the litres of refreshments that  will be distributed during the race:

Refreshment statistics:
Coke: 30 350 litres                                      Oranges: 4.5 tons
Fanta/crème Soda: 10 650 litres          Energy biscuits: 500kg’s
Coke paper cups (175ml): 430 000    Saliticrax biscuits: 500kg’s
Thirsti Water sachets: 2 million          Racefood energy bars: 20 000
Energy drink sachets: 480 000           Cooked potatoes: 1,5 tons
Mageu Number 1: 32 640 sachets         Bananas: 9 tons

Other interesting statistics are:

Most popular shoe brands are Asics, Nike and New Balance, all with figures of: 9056, 4953 and 3020 respectively.

The most spoken language is English, with 10 525 English speakers by 3 069 isiZulu speakers and the Afrikaans with 2 687 speakers.

The most represented provinces are: Gauteng, with 11 286 entries. The host province, KwaZulu-Natal, with 4 895 entries and the Western Cape with 2 391 entries.

ALSO READ: All you need to know about Comrades 2019

The top three most common surnames are: Dlamini (119) closely followed by Ndlovu (118) and Khumalo (88).

Importantly, the no-mobile seconding rule will be very strictly enforced. No seconds may drive, cycle or run alongside any athlete on the route.

The stand and hand rule anywhere on route will apply, whereby a runner’s seconds may stand and hand refreshments while they remain stationary. No seconds may travel on the route. No pacing will be permitted. Any transgressions will lead to disqualification.

Any athlete being found carried along the route and/or before the finish line will be liable for disqualification. (IAAF Rule 144).

To keep up to date with the Ultimate Human Race on Social media, follow these hashtags:

#Comrades2019

#Sizonqoba

#TogetherWeTriumph

#TheUltimateHumanRace

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