Barely four days into the 2016 Comrades Marathon entry process, which opened on 1 September, and already over 4 000 entries had been received.
The entry period will close on 30 November or as soon as the entry cap of 20 000 has been reached. Prospective entrants are encouraged to get their entries in early to avoid disappointment.
South African runners will be eligible for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R380 if their entry is received before 30 September. The regular South African entry fee of R420 will kick in on 1 October until the entry process is closed. Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.
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 (PO Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209); or by handing in their completed entry form together with the original bank deposit slip at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.
Entry forms will be available at local running clubs, provincial sporting federations and the CMA, as well as selected qualifying races which the Comrades team will be attending from September to November.
CMA general manager, Chris Fisher, said, ?“In a first for the Comrades charities, the first three days of the 2016 Comrades entry process has netted over R100 000 in donations for our six official charities. We are humbled by our runners’ benevolence.”
He added, “The camaraderie and extraordinary achievement associated with this great race cannot be overstated. We invite every South African to get involved in one way or another, come 29 May, 2016.”
The 91st Comrades Marathon will be a down-run. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 5.30am and ends 12 hours later at the Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban, covering a distance of around 90km.
CMA Race Director, Rowyn James, said, “Qualifying for the 2016 Comrades Marathon will be applicable from 30 August until 2 May, 2016. Runners are advised that the 2015 Comrades Marathon will not be an automatic qualifier for next year’s race.”
