CMA Race Director, Rowyn James has advised that entries have never been taken up at the fast rate that they are currently going for next year’s Down Run. “Runners are really loving the streamlined entry process and our Entries Team are doing a fantastic job of sorting out any queries and getting our athletes entered for the 93rd Comrades Marathon.”

James adds, “We are pleased with the way the entry process has been going so far, especially noting the excitement and enthusiasm of the athletes at the prospect of finishing inside the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium next year.”

James has advised that at the rate the entries are being snapped up, the entry cap will be reached by the end of this month and not in November, as was originally planned.

He says, “With only 19 days into the 2018 Comrades Marathon entry process, more than 16,300 entries have been received. That is more than 80% of the 20,000-entry cap, with entries coming in at a rapid rate.”

The Early Bird entry fee of R460.00 applicable only to South African and Rest of Africa athletes is valid until 30 September 2017. The international entry fee of R3300,00 is applicable to all entrants outside of the African continent. 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: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
•    by handing in their completed entry form together with payment at Comrades House, 18 Connaught Road, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg.  

Qualifying for the 2018 Comrades Marathon is applicable as of 27 August 2017 until 2 May 2018. Runners are advised that the 2017 Comrades Marathon will not be an automatic qualifier for next year’s race. Instead, the qualifying criteria for next year’s Comrades Marathon will be to complete a standard 42.2km marathon in under 5 hours.

CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “We urge our runners to run for a worthy charitable cause and sign up for the CMA’s very own charity running initiative, Race4Charity.”

Fisher adds, “Nobody knows the power of giving better than the Comrades runner. Through the generosity of our athletes, the Comrades Marathon has greatly benefitted social and environmental causes across South Africa to the tune of R30-million over the past ten years, via our charitable endeavours.”

The six official Comrades Amabeadibeadi Charities are:
•    Childhood Cancer Foundation SA (CHOC),
•    Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust (HACT),
•    Hospice South Africa (HPCSA),
•    Community Chest of Pietermaritzburg and Durban,
•    Wildlands Conservation Trust
•    World Vision SA
See www.comrades.com for more information.