Comrades Marathon runners will have a slightly shorter race distance this year

The official distance for this year's race will be 89.885km, which is 299m shorter than the last down run in 2018, the Comrades Marathon Association announced on Monday

The Comrades Marathon will be held on August 28. File Picture: Supplied by the Comrades Marathon Association

Published Aug 1, 2022

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Durban - There was some good news for runners participating in the 2022 Comrades Marathon down run as it was confirmed on Monday that the official distance of this year's race would be 89.885km, which is 299m shorter than the last down run in 2018.

The marathon, which is making a return after it was last held in 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place on August 28.

The race will start at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and will finish at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) said that after the official route course measurement conducted by its Route Portfolio, Road Traffic Inspectorate, Msunduzi Traffic and the Department of Transport, race director Rowyn James had confirmed that the official race distance of this year’s Comrades Marathon Down Run was 89.885km.

“This means that Comrades runners will effectively run 299m shorter than they did in the 2018 Down Run, mainly as a result of the current roadworks.”

The CMA also confirmed the six cut-off points and times for this year’s race.

The cut-off times for this years Comrades Marathon.

James said that people travelling to the start of the Comrades Marathon from Durban would have to leave much earlier than normal due to roadworks.

“Due to the massive roadworks on the N3 for the first 30km of the race from Pietermaritzburg to Cato Ridge, if you are travelling to the start from Durban on the morning of the race you are advised to leave extra early (by latest 3am), perhaps an hour earlier than you would normally do, as the sheer volume of traffic will definitely lead to congestion and a substantially longer travelling time.

“Without any accidents or vehicle breakdowns, you can factor in the journey taking you one hour and thirty minutes.”

THE MERCURY

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