Get ready for the Comrades marathon

With less than a month left in its 2014 entry process, the iconic Comrades Marathon has already amassed nearly 14000 entries. This is according to the Comrades Marathon’s media officer, Ms Delaine Cools. She said that international participants from as far afield as Egypt, China, Canada and India as well as a host of European countries will represent more than 60 nations in The Ultimate Human Race, come Sunday, June 1 2014.

The three-month long entry process for the 89th edition of South Africa’s most famous road-running race opened on September 1 and will close at the end of November 2013 or as soon as the entry cap of 18,000 has been reached. The entry barometer currently stands at 13900 and is steadily rising.

Entry is open to all athletes, be they novices or veteran Comrades Marathon runners. Qualifying for the 2014 Comrades Marathon is applicable as of 2 June 2013 until 5 May 2014. Runners have been urged to take careful note of the entry criteria. For more details, please visit the official Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com

The CMA has urged all aspirant Comrades Marathon runners who have not yet entered the 2014 running of the Comrades Marathon, to enter soon to secure a space in next year’s down-run, starting outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.

CMA Race Director Johan Van Staden said: “The attraction of the Comrades Marathon to ultra-runners across South Africa and all parts of the world has meant that our entries are being taken up very quickly. At the rate at which entries are coming in, we anticipate that the cap of 18000 will be reached well before 30 November. No extensions will be granted.”