2020 Comrades Marathon to be held virtually in June

FOLLOWING the historic and regrettable cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon and the manifest cancellation or postponement of nearly every mass-participation running event in the world, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced the launch of the officially sanctioned virtual race, Race the Comrades Legends and it will be one with a significant difference.

In a statement, the CMA guaranteed finishers a medal for all those who compete and finish the virtual Race the Comrades Legends. The world’s greatest ultra-marathon is set to stage the world’s greatest virtual event with runners from around the globe invited to participate on Sunday, 14 June, and entry is free to all South African runners who entered the 2020 Comrades Marathon.

“It may seem new age to traditional Comrades Marathon runners, but Race the Comrades Legends is a great option for runners who for months have done training runs in isolation and no longer feel part of a close-knit running community.”

“The Race the Comrades Legends will provide a platform to engage with other runners throughout South Africa and the rest of the world as well as opportunity for family members to participate in the action, all with the reassurance of safety and convenience, while doing so within the constraints of the government’s lockdown regulations,” the statement read.

Local running enthusiast, Thembi Gumede, said although she was not going to run the ultimate human race this year, she still feels robbed of not witnessing the race as she volunteers regularly.

“Running gives me a great sense of purpose. It is my life. I usually part take by volunteering and cheering runners. I get to enjoy the sense of comradery at these events and I am disappointed at the outcome of this year, but I understand why it had to be done, it is just a sad reality that there will be none of that this year,” she said.

She has been running for three years and does 10km runs five days a week and aspires to run the Ultimate Human Race.

“Long distance running requires a lot of discipline if you aspire to part take in it, give yourself time to learn everything there is to know about it to allow yourself, less injury and more enjoyment,” she said.

The CMA’s Race the Comrades Legends is a running concept based on the stories of the greatest Comrades Legends in history.

The Comrades Marathon website includes an online functionality where runners can virtually compete, run with and compare with each other and the likes of Bruce Fordyce, Frith van der Merwe, Samuel Tshabalala and many others, where each participant creates their own personal story and on completion is able to earn a real medal. The CMA effectively created a virtual mass-participation event for everyone to be a part of.

Runners can register online on the Comrades website and select their preferred distance of 5km, 10km, 21km, 45km or 90km. Runners will also have the option of donating to an official Comrades Amabeadibeadi Charity should they so wish.

The cost is R150 for South African runners and $25 for foreign athletes.

Entry is free of charge to all runners who entered the 2020 Comrades Marathon, who are, however, strongly encouraged if it is within their means to make a voluntary donation to the official charity of their choice.

Once registration is complete, runners will receive all vital race information and rules prior to the race.

Athletes will then run their race and capture their finish time using a normal timing device, upload their time manually, after which their results will be calculated and updated automatically.

They will thereafter receive personalised race feedback by e-mail with results analysis and extended results comparison.

The programme will include full integration of all popular fitness apps, including Strava and Endomondo for direct upload, as well as Garmin, Polar and Suunto.

Runners who do not have any of these devices or apps can upload a GPX, TCX or FIT file format from other devices and apps or they can manually enter their time based on any watch.

A projection of a possible Comrades time over the shorter distances will be made, for example: a person entering the 10km race can be motivated to see that they can potentially compete in Comrades in the future.

The race feedback will serve to encourage the participant to stay in the circle for the next participation and if possible, direct the participant to such.

Entrants will have the option of purchasing a commemorative T-shirt on entry, to denote their participation in this event.

“We welcome all athletes to be a part of Race the Comrades Legends. This is one of those innovations that will add to the Comrades spirit on Sunday, 14 June, on what would have been our 95th race day but has obviously had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said CMA chairperson, Cheryl Winn.

“As always, we expect that our athletes will take the necessary precautions and observe the relevant constraints of the national lockdown and adhere to social distancing norms, no matter which country you are in.

“However, this is one race in which we wish to unite South Africa and the world in one amazing virtual event,” she added.

CMA General Manager, Keletso Totlhanyo said, “We have every intention of making  Race The Comrades Legends a memorable event where runners can participate in a virtual race and still receive a medal to remember a special accomplishment achieved within the confines of their homes, gardens and neighbourhoods.”

For more information on Race the Comrades Legends and to enter visit www.comrades.com.

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