Athletes at the starting line of a previous Comrades Marathon
Image: Comrades Marathon Association Facebook
FOR the first time in the history of the Ultimate Human Race, the Comrades Marathon, there will be two starting times due to safety reasons.
The 98th Comrades Marathon will take place on June 8, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at Durban’s People’s Park.
The 49th down run has attracted 24 000 entrants, the largest contingent ever for a down run.
According to the Comrades Marathon Association this approach aims to enhance the race experience for all participants in the world’s biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon; and ensure a smoother, safer and more efficient event.
There will be separate starts and finishes for the two groups. The first group being the elite runners will start at 5.45am and end at 17.45, while those with a slower qualifying time starting at 6am and having a 6pm cut-off time. The staggered approach will help manage the flow of runners and reduce congestion on the course.
Alain Dalais, CMA general manager, said at the start of the previous down run in 2023 there was a lot of pushing and shoving at the start.
"Safety is our priority. Previously the most in a down run was 16500. But this year, although we have 24 000 entrants by the time it's race day it could be about 22 000. We therefore decided to split the large field into two groups so they could be better managed.
"Runners will have different coloured numbers to differentiate the different groups. Both groups will still have the traditional start and the full 12 hours to complete the race," said Dalais.
He said the change reflects their commitment to continuously improving the safety measures and the overall race experience for participants.
"We believe the two starts will provide a safer, more enjoyable and efficient race day for everyone involved," said Dalais.
Owing to ongoing roadworks, there is a delay in the finalisation of the Comrades route but this will be confirmed timeously in order for athletes to plan properly, added the association in their statement.