“Get going … walk if you have to, but finish the race.” – Ron Hill
More than 10 000 participants in 56 countries will be lacing up their running shoes for the Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge virtual event this weekend.
The Comrades Marathon virtual event, being only the second of its kind owing to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic more than a year ago, will be an all-day affair on June 13. Runners will be able to participate from any time between 00:01 and 23:59 on the actual challenge date, within their local time zone globally.
Runners worldwide have signed up to be a part of the challenge, with many taking to social media to share their enthusiasm about being part of the virtual event, in lieu of two editions of the traditional Comrades Marathon being cancelled; and also to reflect on the campaign theme for the Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge, which is all about Hope.
The country breakdown is as follows:
• Argentina: 1
• Australia: 86
• Austria: 5
• Belgium: 4
• Bolivia: 1
• Botswana: 35
• Brazil: 311
• Canada: 33
• Chile: 1
• Colombia: 4
• Cyprus: 1
• Denmark: 1
• Eswatini: 6
• Finland: 2
• France: 3
• Germany: 51
• Hong Kong: 3
• Hungary: 1
• India: 37
• Indonesia: 2
• Ireland: 33
• Israel: 7
• Japan: 17
• Kenya: 12
• Malawi: 1
• Malaysia: 2
• Mauritius: 3
• Mozambique: 4
• Nairobi: 1
• Namibia: 10
• Netherlands: 10
• New Zealand: 22
• Norway: 1
• Philippines: 1
• Poland: 1
• Portugal: 4
• Russia: 1
• Saint Martin: 1
• Singapore: 5
• South Africa: 8 313
• Spain: 1
• St Martin: 1
• Swaziland: 2
• Sweden: 2
• Switzerland: 18
• Taiwan: 3
• Trinidad and Tobago: 1
• Turkey: 1
• UAE: 71
• Uganda: 8
• UK: 173
• USA: 106
• Vietnam: 4
• Wales: 1
• Zambia: 80
• Zimbabwe: 90
The Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge comprises five distances, being a 5km, 10km, 21,1km, 45km and 90km which will all be run virtually, meaning that athletes get to run their own race, along their chosen route anywhere in the world.
All that participants need to do is go to the official Comrades Marathon website; register for the Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge; select their distance; support their Comrades Marathon Official Charity if they so wish; and make payment.
The #ComradesCentenaryHopeChallenge follows the hosting of the CMA’s inaugural virtual event #RaceTheComradesLegends last year which saw 43 778 entrants from 102 nations participating in one of the world’s biggest and most successful virtual races.
For more information on the Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge and to enter, visit www.comrades.com.
