The service, Bruce Fordyce’s Complete Marathons Concierge Service, will provide Comrades Marathon runners will a full range of services during and after the marathon event.
Mark Church, head of sales and marketing at Complete Marathons explained some of the services included in the package.
“The recently launched service will organise accommodation, food, travelling and tours for the runners while they are in Pietermaritzburg for the marathon,” he said.
Church added that the service would include an after party, which would allow runners to recount their experience and meet new people. The service is offered by Complete Marathons which is run by Church, Fordyce, his wife Gill, Gill Sclanders and Richard Webb.
The man behind it, Fordyce also spoke about the service and explained the inspiration behind launching it.
“I came across a foreign runner who fondly recalled his experience of running the marathon but complained of the hospitality after the marathon, so we decided to look into that and offer runners the ultimate experience for the entirety of the race,” he said.
Fordyce explained that while they decided to host a trial run last year, the services were launched for the first time at this year’s marathon and proved to be a resounding success.
Additionally, Complete Marathons took the opportunity to announce the intention to launch a Running Village which will offer disadvantaged runners will a full range of services during the marathon.
“We aim to house and cater for disadvantaged athletes before, during and after key races in shared accommodation… each beneficiary will have access to full ablutions,” he explained.
Fordyce explained that it was the company’s way of giving back to the disadvantaged, and a way to support those who could not afford accommodation during the marathon.
Future plans include expanding the service to other marathons such as the Two Oceans Marathon and going international with the service, Fordyce said. Of his nine Comrades wins, Fordyce wont eight in succession, making him one of the most legendary Comrades winners in history.
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