Professional and amateur runners will now be able to participate in the iconic Comrades Marathon, with a few changes.
The organisers of one of the world’s greatest ultra-marathons will on Sunday host the world’s largest virtual marathon, Race The Comrades Legends.
Runners of all levels will be able to challenge the times and race against Comrades legends including Bruce Fordyce, Frith van der Merwe and Samuel
Tshabalala.
Spokesperson Mellisa Verhave said Race The Comrades Legends was an attempt by the organisation to bring to life a globally recognised sporting event that had to be cancelled in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Although expected, the cancellation of the physical ultra-marathon was a massive blow to the sporting calendar,” she said.
ICONIC: Comrades Marathon
Verhave said participants, who had already begun to prepare for the marathon, now had the chance to participate in the race.
“Runners can look forward to participating in a marathon, joined by thousands of other runners across the country and some overseas who are also set to
participate in the virtual event.”
Upon registration, participants will be able to choose their own route and distance from a variety of categories, and participants can choose to run either outdoors, indoors or on a treadmill.
Among the runners will be last year’s two champions Gerda Steyn and Edward Mothibi, who have confirmed their registration.
Steyn said she was looking
forward to competing.
“Edward and I will both be
running the 21km distance on Sunday and we look forward to representing and encouraging more runners to participate,” said Steyn.