Nearly 2 500 runners have so far entered the Comrades Centenary Hope Challenge. The virtual race will take place on June the 13th.
Only three weeks after entries opened for this year’s event, Gauteng is leading with the most entrants, followed by KwaZulu-Natal.
The world’s oldest and largest ultra-marathon has been held between Durban and Pietermaritzburg since 1921.
Until the global COVID-19 pandemic struck last year, it was only interrupted by the Second World War.
Comrades Marathon Association spokesperson Delaine Cools says, “So far we’ve had 2 500 entrants since we launched on 25 March. Entries have been taken up not only in South Africa but around the world. So far, I can say the entry tally shows that most entrants come from Johannesburg followed by KwaZulu-Natal. We do have few weeks before race day on 13 June, so we do encourage more participants to join us to celebrate 100 since the first race.”
Meanwhile, Cools says runners can run on any route of their choice anywhere in the world and has 24 hours to complete their run on the day.
People can enter for one of five distances – 5 Km; 10Km, a half-marathon, as well as 45 and 90 Km.
Cools says this year’s Comrades theme is inspiring hope amid COVID-19. “Being in COVID-19 times and with so much suffering happening all around us, we decided to focus all of our effort and the theme for this year’s event on hope. Finding hope in the darkest of places. And being hopeful of brighter days and a fresh tomorrow where COVID will leave us alone and bring health and vitality back to our nation and the world.”
