It came as a great disappointment for many ultra-marathon athletes, as well as spectators, when the 2020 Comrades Marathon was cancelled last week.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Aleck Skhosana said: “Cancelling what would have been the 95th edition of the Comrades Marathon was a long and arduous decision to make. With the race’s rich history, its powerful nation-building attributes and contribution towards social cohesion, as well as its immense economic impact, it would have been premature to rush into an outright cancellation sooner. However, we believe we have jointly arrived at the correct decision to protect the health and safety of all concerned, as well as the lives of our fellow South Africans.” This event normally marks a day in front of the television for most South African citizens in support of those athletes who prepared throughout the year for this extreme marathon of 90 kilometres. Not only is this an event of endurance, but also an emotional one for runners and their support systems prior and on the day of the race.
Some local runners shared their views and frustrations about the cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon.
“Very wise decision. Life is more important than an event.” – Hein Potgieter
“It would have been a great and wonderful year. It would have been my second year running the Comrades and it would have been an honour to have been able to get my back-to-back medal, but guess it’s not in our hands. Now to look to next year to be able to better my time and better prepare for the 2021 Comrades. I would like to say to anyone who is new or would like to start running – VAC club is an amazing group of runners that will help anyone with info on how to become a runner.” – Leeroy Holmes
“Toe die realiteit van die Corona Virus my tref, en Wimbledon en die Olimpiese Spele afgestel word, het ek besef dit is onmoontlik vir Comrades om plaas te vind. Dit sou my eerste Comrades gewees het, so ja ek was teleurgesteld en hartseer. Maar dit is wat dit is, en daar is niks wat ek aan dit kan doen nie. Met alles wat op die oomblik aangaan, besef ek hoe aanpasbaar ons as mens is. Ek leer ook weer om opnuut dankbaar te wees vir dinge wat ek altyd vanselfsprekend geneem het. Soos om buite te gaan draf net wanneer ek wil. Mag ons almal groei gedurende hierdie onsekere tyd, en volgende jaar die Comrades, meer dapper as ooit aanpak!” – Jeanine Theron
“Die besluit wat CMA geneem het is reg vir die atlete en almal betrokke se gesondheid maar onregverdig teenoor SA atlete in verband met inskrywingsfooi wat nie oorgedra word na 2021/2022 soos die keuse wat internationale atlete het nie. Inplaas daarvan word ons vertroos met ‘n goody bag, flash, badge en ‘n Mr Price-hemp (Nie eens die Muzino-borg nie) wat in elk geval elke jaar aan ons gegee word. Dis regtig onaanvaarbaar.” – Melissa Scheepers
“As a past runner… my opinion: I can’t believe that the CMA is not going to defer this year’s entry fees to next year. I think it’s disgraceful…. I wonder how many runners struggled to pay their entry fee and are now told that next year they have to pay again, even though they did not run this year. But apparently overseas runners’ fees will be deferred. This is not the spirit of Comrades… very disappointing. Oh, each entrant will get a T-shirt and a goody bag. Big deal… and I wonder how the CMA intends on getting the T-shirt to runners all over the country… and overseas too?” – Georgie Tasseron
“My heart is burning. I was very prepared for this year. But I’ll get back up and I’ll be stronger next year.” – these are the words of the club’s star athlete, Bongani Msimango
Vryheid Athletics Club captain Marlene Beän said that most runners qualified for the Comrades and they were all on a strict programme in preparation for the event. Some of these runners include first-time participants who qualified as well. This puts a huge strain on finances for a lot of the athletes, since accommodation was paid for in full. But despite the cancellation, this gives the athletes more time to prepare for next year and to better their times.
According to a media statement from the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), every South African entrant will not be refunded their entry fee, but will instead receive their #Comrades2020 Mr Price Sport runners T-shirt and goody bag, as well as a Comrades badge and flash.
With regards to the Back-to-Back Medals, the runners who completed their first Comrades Marathon on the 2019 Up Run to Pietermaritzburg will qualify for the Back-to-Back Medal upon completion of the 2021 Comrades Marathon Down Run.
#Comrades2021 will now be the 95th edition of The Ultimate Human Race, starting from the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 5.30am and finishing 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It will be the 47th Down Run, which will also celebrate the Centenary of the Comrades Marathon Association, which was founded on May 24, 1921.

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