The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced that its official 2016 Comrades marathon substitution process is open as of the beginning of April.

This means that runners who were unable to enter the 2016 Comrades marathon during the official entry period (1 September – 30 November 2015) now have an opportunity to still be part of the world’s most famous ultra-marathon on Sunday, 29 May 2016 via the substitution process.

The process runs for the first three weeks of April (1 – 21 April 2016) and allows for a runner who has not entered to substitute an entrant who has withdrawn, or intends to withdraw from the 2016 edition of The Ultimate Human Race.

Substitutions can only take effect on a like for like basis, meaning South African runners can only substitute for South African entrants, Rest of Africa (ROA) for other ROA runners and international runners for international entrants.

The completed application forms as specified in the substitution rule must reach the CMA office by 21 April 2016.  There will be no extension of this deadline and no postal applications will be accepted.

Athletes still intending to submit substitution application forms are advised to visit the official Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com for the downloadable forms and the comprehensive list of rules and regulations which govern the substitution process. Prospective substitutes are encouraged to do their application online.

“The substitution rule has been part of the Comrades marathon entry rules for the past four years. It has been very well received by our runners and we look forward to seeing many more athletes taking to the start line on Sunday, 29 May,” said Race director Rowyn James.