85th Comrades Marathon Entries Pouring In

Entries from previous runners for the 85th Comrades Marathon have been pouring in and reached the 15,000 cut off mark four days before the first qualifying round was due to end on 31st October 2009. Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) CEO Gary Boshoff commented that the overwhelming response from loyal Comrades runners highlights "the special place the Comrades Marathon occupies in the local as well as global sport arena.”. The anniversary marathon will be a down run covering 89.17-kilometres from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Some participants and spectators from abroad make the Comrades an annual South Africa marathon holiday and this year is drawing many previous runners.

The 2010 marathon is expected to have the second largest number of entrants after the record was set for the 75th anniversary race where 23,961 runners participated. Postal entries postmarked up to and including 27 October will also be accepted by the CMA in the first round of entries. The second phase of entries will open for novice runners on 1 November and will close when the number of entries reaches 5,000 or the cut off date of 30 November (whichever is reached first). For the special anniversary race a new medal will be awarded to all entrants who complete the marathon within the 12-hour time limit.

Interest in this year’s anniversary marathon has been further boosted by publicity surrounding the Football World Cup. Some runners are planning to combine a South Africa marathon holiday with the opportunity to enjoy the football too.

2 by 2 Holidays are specialists in South Africa marathon holidays.
 

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