The Comrades Marathon returns to normality this morning following two years of being run virtually due to the Covid pandemic — and the organisers are delighted at having attracted as many as 16,000 runners for the race.
The numbers are nowhere near the 25,000 that competed in the last normal edition back in 2019 when Gerda Steyn smashed the women’s up run record to smithereens and Edward Mothibi stopped Bongmusa Mthembu from completing a hat-trick of victories.
But it is a good start given that the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) had come under attack for not only increasing the entrance fee from R600 to R1,000 but also for reducing prize money for the winners to R260,000 — a move that has seen the 2015 champion Gift Kelehe pull out in protest.
That they managed to get so many numbers, especially locally — 14,371 of the registered 15,991 runners are South African — following complaints by many is a testament to the race’s popularity.
Among the squabbles before the race was the decision to move it from its normal winter slot in June to August, a factor that could well lead to slower times and probably a big number of runners not completing the race in time today.
With the three months prior to race month usually the most important for runners, having the Comrades in August meant that athletes were training in the heart of winter though they were to run under much warmer conditions.
Mothibi, speaking at the pre-race conference on Friday, said he did not foresee this affecting the elite runners but he did acknowledge that it would be hard for the back-runners who take the entire allotted 12 hours to complete the race.
It would be devastating for those whose race could be affected by failure to acclimatise to the warmer conditions based on their having trained in the cold.
As it is, there has been a huge call among the running community for the CMA to return the race back to its “normal” June date.
Indications are, however, that the 102-year-old race will again be staged in August next year.
Intriguingly, while the Comrades celebrated its centenary year last year — having first been run in 1921 — today’s edition will be the 95th run and the 47th down run (from Pietermaritzburg to Durban).
What happened to the other years?
It is generally agreed that this year’s race is the most open following the two-year hiatus
Apart from the last two years when the lockdown ensured there was no formal race, there was also World War 2 in the 1940s that disrupted The Ultimate Human Race. From 1941 to 1945 there was no running of the now world popular ultra-marathon.
Meanwhile, CMA chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo couldn’t hide his excitement at the race’s return. “You’ll appreciate that the absence of a normal Comrades in the last two years affected not only the athletes but the tourism sector in this region too,” he said.
This return is sure to boost the economy of this region, particularly the two cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. We had to face the recent devastating floods which affected the communities here and this race will bring about social cohesion and contribute to the improvement of the economy.
“Over the years, a study by the University of the North-West indicated the Comrades’ economic impact on the city of Durban alone is about R355m and Maritzburg in the region of R70m.”
Its economic and social impact notwithstanding, the Comrades Marathon is a highly competitive sports event that captures the imagination of all and sundry, non-running enthusiasts included.
It is generally agreed that this year’s race is the most open following the two-year hiatus.
The women’s title is up for grabs given the absence of Steyn. The potential contenders are defending down run champion Ann Ashworth who was victorious in 2018. American Camille Herron who won in 2017 is back to try and add the down run title to that up one.
Novice Adele Broodryk is spoken of very highly following her record-breaking victory in the 50km Om Die Dam while her Murray & Roberts teammates, veterans Charne Bosman and Durbanite Jenna Challenor, cannot be overlooked.
Fikile Mbuthuma of Nedbank Running Club is always a potential gold medalist while Russian Alexandra Morozova has it in her to be victorious should she win her court battle to race.
In the men’s section, Mothibi and Mthembu are the frontrunners. But they will face stiff opposition from the likes of down run record holder David Gatebe, Two Oceans Marathon winner Edndale Belachew and his runner-up Nkosikhona Mhlakwana.
The likes of Joseph Manyedi, Gordon Lesetedi, Siya Mqambeli, Musawenkosi Mthalane and Marko Mambo will be there and thereabouts.
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