The roads from Maritzburg to Durban were once again full of runners as the Comrades returned in 2022
Pre- and Post-COVID Comparison
Initial analysis indicates that the class of 2022 graduated with resounding success compared to pre-COVID editions , but it should be a source of concern that when allowing for distance and cut-off time comparison with Down Runs in the late 1980 ’ s , it reveals little progression .
Winner Tete Dijana ’ s 5:30:38 was around four minutes slower than the 2018 winning time ( Bongmusa Mthembu ’ s 5:26:34 ), in spite of the race distance being slightly shorter ( 89.885km compared to 2018 ’ s 90.184km ), but this may well have been due to the massive breakaway by two runners while the pack sat back with a more conservative approach . On the other hand , the men ’ s top 10 closed in 5:47:20 with Lutendo Mapoto crossing the line , close to Nkosinathi Duma ’ s 5:47:09 for 10th in 2018 , and both years saw 11 additional runners duck under six hours to earn the Wally Hayward medal .
In the women ’ s race , winner Alexandra Morozova crossed the line in 6:17:48 , some two-and-a-half minutes faster than her 2018 performance ( 6:20:21 ), when she finished third , but substantially slower than Ann Ashworth ’ s 2018 winning time of 6:10:04 . Meanwhile , Yolande Maclean took the last gold in 7:00:19 – the same position she filled in 2018 – but this time she was eight minutes slower than her 6:52:16 finish of that year . Behind her , 25 women earned the Isaval Roche-Kelly medal this year , for a sub-7:30 finish outside the top 10 – only two more achieved that in 2018 .
Interestingly , while there was little change in the toplevel performances , many perceived it to be a slower race overall this year . Actually , consideration of the middle field shows that there was , in a fact , a nominal
increase in the percentage of silver medals , from 3,8 % to 3,9 % of the finishers , while the number achieving the sub-9-hour Bill Rowan medal dropped by 1,1 %, and there was a 1,3 % increase in those finishing sub-10-hours with Robert Mtshali titanium medals or better . In both years , 65,2 % of the finishers made the 11-hour bronze medal cut-off , leaving 34,8 % of finishers , and their supporters , on nerves ’ end about making the 12-hour cut-off .
COVID Recovery
In summary , Comrades runners have apparently recovered from COVID-19 and are back to producing the numbers and figures that we saw in 2018 . In fact , although the number of starters were around 3000 less , the percentage of starters who finished increased by around four percent , to 88 %. This could indicate a more responsible approach towards tackling the race , or to more diligent preparation . It ’ s also important to note that this is about a three-percent higher percentage of finishers than is generally being seen in races around the world in this post-COVID period .
Similar comparisons can be done around the number of entries in the race . Worldwide , entries in the first quarter of the year were generally around 40 % down . Comrades ended with 15,998 entries , which is around 58 % of the 27,500 they were expecting for 2020 . Of that nearly 16,000 , there were just under 1900 who did not turn up at the Expo , and another 900 who registered but didn ’ t line up , leaving around 13,200 at the start in Pietermaritzburg to hear Max Trimborn ’ s cockcrow first-hand . That ’ s a drop of 17.5 %, which is slightly more than worldwide trends , but the traditionalists with Green Numbers probably account for some of that drop-off , as they will enter each year , but not turn out on race day .
On that note , this presents an opportunity for the Comrades Marathon Association to offer these “ passionate patriots ” something else , perhaps as a memorial to historian , past CMA chairman , and Green Number 616 , Barry Varty , who completed his 28th Comrades in 2011 and then tried every year from 2012 to 2019 to run two more and reach his Triple Green , but passed away last year , aged 83 , still on 28 medals .
Imagine a 5-7km event from Tollgate on the Down , or from Polly Shortts on the Up , that allowed kids to run the final section to the finish , followed by the Green Number regiment , all running two hours before the first man home . This would not only provide the inspiration for future participants to establish a ‘ Comrades connection ’ at a young age , but also the opportunity to rub shoulders and learn from the passionate Green Numbers . With many modern runners seemingly content to just do the Back-to- Back ( two consecutive Comrades from debut ), and perhaps one more , the Green Numbers are literally a dying breed , and if not looked after , they will take the history and Comrades legacy with them .
Medical Matters
There was great shock and sorrow over the two deaths that occurred in the 95th Comrades , and condolences go to family and friends . The fact is that since 2021 , there has been a massive increase worldwide in reported “ sudden cardiac deaths ” in sport . From an
Interestingly , while there was little change in the top-level performances , many perceived it to be a slower race overall this year .”
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