Comrades Substitution Process opens in one week
Comrades Marathon runners who were unable to enter the 2017 Comrades Marathon during the official entry period (1 September – 30 November 2016) now have an opportunity to still be part of the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon through the official 2017 Comrades Marathon Substitution process between mid-March and mid-April.
The Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) Substitution Rule allows for a runner who has not entered to substitute an entrant who has withdrawn, or intends to withdraw from the 2017 Comrades Marathon.
Substitutions can only take effect on a like for like basis, meaning SA runners can only substitute for SA entrants, Rest of Africa (ROA) for other ROA runners and International runners for International entrants. The Substitution process officially opens on 14 March and closes on 14 April 2017.
The completed application forms as specified in the Substitution Rule must reach the CMA office by close of business on 14 April 2017. There will be no extension of this deadline and no postal applications will be accepted.
Athletes intending to submit Substitution application forms are advised to visit the official Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com for the comprehensive list of rules and regulations which govern the Substitution process.
The downloadable Substitution application forms will be available on the morning of 14 March 2017. Prospective substitutes are encouraged to do their application online.
Race Director Rowyn James says, ‘The Substitution Rule has been very well received by our runners, with more athletes taking over the entries of those runners who are unable to participate on race day due to illness, injury or non-qualification.”
James adds, “The Substitution Rule has therefore ensured that as many athletes as possible have the opportunity to participate in the Comrades Marathon. We urge our runners to get their applications in as soon as the process opens.’
Toyota to sponsor the 2017 Comrades Marathon race cap
Leading South African auto-manufacturer Toyota has come on board as the sponsor of the official Comrades Marathon headgear this year. Toyota has been a sponsor of The Ultimate Human Race for the past seven years.
The Toyota Comrades race cap has been designed with the Comrades runner in mind. It is manufactured from lightweight material with moisture management properties to ensure the most comfortable, cool headgear on race day – Sunday, 4 June 2017.
CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “We extended an offer to Toyota to sponsor this high visibility element - the Comrades branded keepsake. We felt that for seven years now Toyota had sponsored not only the vehicles but the Last Mile as well, so for us it was the natural extension to their sponsorship rights.”
Fisher adds, “According to the rules, the Toyota Comrades cap is the preferred (but not compulsory) branded headgear permitted on race day. With 20-thousand caps being presented to runners at either of the two registration points in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, this new look cap will definitely make a statement on race day – this year they will be white and red with the Toyota brand on the sides.”
Runners can collect their Toyota Comrades cap and New Balance Comrades race t-shirt together with their Bonitas race numbers, Final Race Instructions, the official Comrades souvenir magazine and goodie bag at the Comrades Expo in Durban or the Pietermaritzburg registration venue between 1 and 3 June 2017, depending on which registration point they had selected on the entry form.
The 2017 Comrades Marathon will be the 47th up-run in Comrades history, starting at the Durban City Hall at 5h30 and ending 12 hours later at the home of the Golden Horse Casino, the Scottsville Racecourse on Sunday, 4 June 2017.
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