6 November 2013
With less than a month left in its 2014 entry process, the iconic Comrades Marathon has already amassed nearly 14 000 entries.
International participants from as far afield as Egypt, China, Canada and India, along with a host of European countries will represent more than 60 nations in “The Ultimate Human Race” come Sunday, 1 June 2014.
Entry process
The three-month long entry process for the 89th edition of South Africa’s most famous road-running race opened on 1 September and will close at the end of November or as soon as the entry cap of 18 000 has been reached. The entry barometer reportedly stood at 13 900 on Monday and was steadily rising.
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has urged all aspirant Comrades Marathon runners who have not yet entered to do so soon to secure a space in next year’s “down-run”, which starts outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
‘Enter as soon as possible’
CMA race director Johan Van Staden said in a statement: “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 18 000 will be reached well before 30 November. No extensions will be granted.”
He added: “We warmly welcome all of our international participants but greatly value our local Comrades Marathon runners who have made the race the epic event that it is today.
“With little more than 4 000 spaces left before the close of the entry process, we urge our regular runners to enter as soon as possible so as not to be left disappointed,” Van Staden said.
Entry is open to all athletes, be they novices or veteran Comrades Marathon runners. Qualifying for the 2014 Comrades Marathon is applicable from 2 June 2013 until 5 May 2014.
The entry criteria are available on the official Comrades Marathon website.
SAinfo reporter
