COMRADES MARATHON – 2014 Comrades Marathon Entries Open

The 2014 Comrades Marathon entry process is upon us. The 89th edition of the worlds leading ultra-marathon is all set to showcase South Africas and the worlds ultra-runners once again come Sunday, 1 June 2014.

5460 entries have already been received since the entry process opened on 1 September 2013. Being a down-run, the traditional gunfire goes off outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and again 12 hours later at The Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban to signal the end of the 89km road-running challenge.

Prospective entrants have until 30 November 2013 or as soon as the cap of 18000 entries has been reached to get their entries in. Thereafter, no entries will be accepted so runners are urged to enter as soon as possible or risk missing out.

With its 2014 campaign, Hard Is What Makes It Great – the Comrades Marathon Associations (CMA) Race Director, Johan Van Staden has advised runners to train hard and prepare themselves well for next years race. Van Staden says, This past race has been a wake-up call for many runners that the Comrades Marathon is tough and demands adequate training.

Van Staden has further encouraged all South African Comrades runners to enter by 30 September 2013 to be eligible for the early bird entry fee of R320 (the same cost as in 2013).

Van Staden says, It is our South African athletes who have catapulted the Comrades Marathon onto its premier status on the road-running scene and we aim to cater for them accordingly. Hence, the CMA has implemented its early bird entry fee in recent years to show our appreciation to our local runners.

The new increased entry fee of R350 will kick in on 1 October 2013 until the entry process is closed. Runners from the Rest of Africa will be charged an entry fee of R550 and the cost to International athletes is R1800.

The entry requirements, which are clearly indicated on the entry form, must be adhered to at all times or runners risk losing their place at the Start.

Entries may be effected as follows:

online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com
through the post by posting the completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
Comrades Marathon House: by handing in the completed entry form together with payment at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg.

Please note that runners may enter the great race before running a qualifying race (minimum qualifying distance of 42.2km). Qualifying details must be submitted to the CMA by 6 May 2014.

Statement issued by the Comrades Marathon Associations Media officer, Delaine Cools