Comrades Supplement Comrades Training and Info Guide, 2017 | Page 12
Race Info
Entries, Qualifiers and
Everything Else
It takes a first big step to enter the Comrades Marathon. It then takes many more steps to train for the Ultimate
Human Race… and there are quite a few things you need to know up front, including entry deadlines,
qualifying criteria, chip timing and more. Here’s a handy guide to the most important info that you need now.
WHERE, WHEN, WHAT…
The race will be run on Sunday 4 June 2017, starting
at 5:30am in front of the Durban City Hall and
finishing at 5:30pm at the Scottsville Racecourse in
Pietermaritzburg. This will be an ‘Up Run’ and the race
is run from ‘gun to gun,’ so runners will have 11 hours
59 minutes 59 seconds from the starting signal to
complete the race. The race distance is approximately
88km – the actual distance is subject to change and
will be confirmed in the final race instructions.
GET YOUR ENTRY IN!
Entries for the 2017 Comrades Marathon are limited to
a maximum of 20,000 and there will be no extensions.
Entries opened on 1 September 2016 and will close
on 30 November 2016, or once the quota of 20,000
has been reached. Athletes must be 20 years or older
on the day of the race (ASA Rule 11), and please
note that this also applies to the day of running your
qualifying marathon or ultra.
the Comrades Marathon Association. Postal entries
must be postmarked by the Post Office no later than
the closing date of entries. The CMA’s bank details
are: Nedbank, Branch Code: 130526, Account No.
1305846559, and the original deposit slip must be
attached to your entry form.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP IS A MUST
The Comrades Marathon is restricted to registered
runners only, so all South African entrants must be
2017 licensed members of a club affiliated to Athletics
South Africa through their provinces. Athletes will not
be in possession of their 2017 licenses at the time
of entry, but will still be able to enter. However, they
must submit their club name and license number to
the CMA by no later than 2 May 2017, and failure to
do so will result in the entry being rejected. The entry
fee is non-refundable.
LAST CHANCE VIA SUBSTITUTION
The CMA will accept substitutions for the 2017
Comrades Marathon during the window period starting
on 14 March 2017 and ending 14 April 2017. No
substitutions will be considered after this date.
MUST HAVE A CHAMPIONCHIP
All entrants must run the entire race with their own
ChampionChip electronic timing chip attached to the
laces of one shoe. If you do not own a ChampionChip,
you must purchase a chip from ChampionChip Africa,
or one of their distributors, prior to entering the event.
You can do this with your Comrades entry and you will
receive your new chip when you pick up your Comrades
race numbers at registration. Should you wish to use
your chip for qualifying races before the Comrades
Marathon, please contact ChampionChip directly.
Runners must produce their ChampionChip when
collecting their race number, and it must be
registered in their name. Wearing another athlete’s
ChampionChip will lead to disqualification. For more
information, please contact ChampionChip on 086 110
The entry fee for South African runners is R460.
(Early Bird entries from 1 September to 30 September
would have cost you R420). Runners from the rest
of Africa will pay R770 and International runners will
pay R2650. The entry fee is automatically waived for
holders of 25 Comrades medals or more, who can
contact the CMA to get the required voucher number
required at entry.
1. Online entries: Done at www.comrades.com,
and requires either a Debit or Credit Card.
2. Hand-delivered entries: Drop off your entry at
CMA House in Pietermaritzburg.
3. Postal entries: Send your entry to Comrades
Marathon, PO Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209, and pay
either by cheque or direct deposit, made payable to
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Comrades Training & Information Guide 2017
Images: Courtesy CMA
THREE WAYS TO ENTER…