Athletes who hope to take part in the Comrades marathon next year and have not entered yet will have to hurry up to avoid disappointment.

Entries for the 90th Comrades Marathon will close at the end of November 2014 or as soon as the cap of 23 000 has been reached. Comrades marathon association (CMA) has announced that more than 14 230 entries have already been received since entries opened on 1 September 2014.

This means that less than 9000 spots are available before registration closes at the end of November or as soon as the cap has been reached. Thereafter, no entries will be accepted. CMA race director Rowyn James recently said the 90th Comrades Marathon is going to be very special for them and the runners. “We therefore urge our runners to be a part of next year’s event on Sunday, 31 May 2015.” Prospective participants can enter in one of these three ways:

* Register online via the Comrades marathon website at www.comrades.com

* By posting the completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg at P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209; or

* By handing in the completed entry form together with payment at the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg: 18 Connaught Road, Scottsville. Runners may register before completing a qualifying marathon (minimum qualifying distance of 42.2km run in under 5 hours) which must be run between 1 August 2014 and 3 May 2015.

Qualifying details must be submitted to the CMA by 5 May 2015. The 90th race of the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon will be an ‘up-run’, starting at the Durban City Hall and ending at the Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. The substitution entry window period will be from 1 – 21 April 2015.