Comrades Marathon 2025 | Page 52

RACE INFO

For the Supporters

The Comrades Marathon is a true spectacle, and the route is always lined by thousands upon thousands of spectators and supporters, including family, friends, clubmates, volunteers, sponsors, media, and other curious onlookers. Here’ s some vital info for those of you who will be supporting on the day.

1 WARNING: EXPECT TRAFFIC

Supporters and spectators who are planning to go out on the route to watch the race and support their friends and family should take note that the Comrades route traditionally attracts a lot of traffic, sometimes leading to long delays. You will not be allowed onto the route at any point, so you will need to study the maps of the areas that the race passes through and plan your route carefully, leap-frogging the route by travelling parallel to it on open roads in order to get ahead of your runners( if you plan on meeting them at sepfic points on the route). Also take note that you may not be able to get close to the route, due to the traffic and demand for parking, so you may need to park a distance away from the route and walk the rets of the way.

Please be watchful of traffic officials directing traffic, and take note of the no parking signs that will be placed in areas where stop and parking are not allowed, for safety reasons. You don’ t want your 2025 Comrades Marathon experience ruined by a hefty traffic fine, or worse, your car being towed away!

2 OFFICIAL SPECTATOR POINTS

We know that the energy and support from our spectators are a massive part of what makes the Comrades Marathon so special. While there are countless spots along the route where you can cheer on the runners, we’ ve made it even easier for you to be a part of the action with three awesome official Spectator Points! These locations are designed to give you the best viewing experience:

• Spectators point 1: Doornug Road area in Cato Ridge

• Spectators point 2: Amazondi Store in Inchanga

• Spectators point 3: Drummond area – close to the railway area, before the halfway activation

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3 TOILETS ON ROUTE

To make your day even more comfortable, we’ re providing 300 portable toilets along the route, strategically placed for easy access at Hillcrest, Drummond, Amazondi Store, Inchanga Caravan Park, Camperdown, Umlaas Road, and Ashburton. You’ ll also be pleased to hear that there’ s ample parking space available at all three of our official spectator points mentioned above. So, gather your friends and family, pack your cheers, and get ready to be part of the Comrades Marathon magic!

4 AMBUSH MARKETING

Spectators are warned against any and all forms of ambush marketing. Only official CMA sponsors and official CMA refreshment stations are permitted to set up any form of corporate( i. e. non-club) branding along the route. Clubs affiliated to ASA are permitted to set up a maximum of three support stations for their athletes along the course, but unless the prior written consent of the CMA has been obtained, these club tents may be no bigger than 3m x 3m in size. Any person or club who fails to comply with these guidelines will be asked to remove their tents and branding from the route.

5 ROAD CLOSURES

Family, friends and clubmates who are planning to go out on the route to support their runners should take careful note of all the road closures on the route, and make sure that you get to your designated meeting points as early as possible. If you intend moving along the route to meet up with your runners two or more times during the race, it is best to plan your route carefully and give yourself plenty of time to get to the meeting point.

Please note: Only vehicles with official Comrades Marathon route access stickers, including motorbikes and bicycles, will be allowed to access and move along the route, to ensure the safety of the runners and the free-flow of the race. Even crossing the route with a vehicle will not be allowed, except where a bridge or underpass / overpass road allows it.

Spectators are urged to study the road closure list – see next page – before planning their day out on the route.

Images: Paul Henman, Richard Dobbin