This week’s announcement that the Comrades’ Marathon will continue this year after a two-year hiatus is welcome news – not just for the runners, but the general public as well. The Comrades are bigger than just the more than 13,000 runners who make their way from Pietermaritzburg to Durban or vice versa each year. It is a celebration of human triumph. It brings people of all ages, backgrounds, race and gender together for the many hours it takes to reach their destination. Not to mention the spectators, who come in their thousands and cheer from the sidelines. It…
This week’s announcement that the Marathon of Comrades Continues this year after a two-year hiatus is welcome news – not just for the runners, but for the general public as well.
The Comrades is bigger than just the 13,000-plus runners that make their way every year from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, or vice versa.
It is a celebration of human triumph.
It brings people of all ages, backgrounds, race and gender together for the many hours it takes to reach their destination.
Not to mention the spectators, who come in their thousands and cheer from the sidelines. It’s the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race – and it’s part of our history.
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This year it has been given a new look, the “down” run will be held on August 28 – the last in the year in its 101-year history.
Entries are limited to just 15,000 because of Covid-19 restrictions†
On May 24, 1921, 34 starters – mostly ex-soldiers – lined up in front of Maritzburg City Hall to bring the first comrades to Durban.
Only 16 of them, including 26-year-old farmer Bill Rowan, who became the first winner in a time of eight hours 59 minutes, completed the tricky route on unpaved roads.
The pandemic has taught us to enjoy every day on Earth.
The 95th edition of the ultramarathontagged The Return – Sishay’ Ubuya, should be extra special.