Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 90, January 2017 | Page 54

Ma Comrades ENTRIES CLOSED! Check out all the latest news and important info from the world’s biggest, oldest and most famous ultra, the Comrades Marathon. – BY DELAINE COOLS & NONKULULEKO MDLALOSE 2017 COMRADES ENTRY PROCESS CLOSED E ntries for the 2017 Comrades Marathon officially closed on Tuesday 29 November, one day early, when the entry cap of 20,000 was reached. CMA Race Director Rowyn James has thanked all Comrades entrants for getting their entries in on time, saying, “Our plans are that the 92nd Comrades Marathon will be an amazing experience for our athletes as well as our supporters and spectators.” SHARE YOUR COMRADES STORY Every Comrades Marathon runner has their ultimate tale of courage, perseverance and endurance. The CMA is calling on you to inspire the nation to take up the challenge of running the world’s greatest footrace, by sending us your Comrades Story in 300 words or less, and stand the chance to win a Comrades hamper. Please e-mail your story to [email protected]. The 2017 Comrades Marathon will be the 47th Up-run, starting outside the Durban City Hall at 5:30am and finishing 12 hours later at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. The race will take place on Sunday 4 June, and the event is expected to once again boost the KwaZulu-Natal economy by a whopping 600-million Rand. CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “The Comrades Marathon contributes to the economic impact of the entire KwaZulu-Natal region due to the ever-increasing number of runners from all over the country, as well as the rest of Africa and internationally. This year we will be hosting athletes from nearly 70 countries.” Good news for those athletes who missed the entry cut-off is that they will have another chance to get their entry in for the 2017 race when the Substitution Process runs from 14 March until 14 April. The CMA has extended this window by one week, to make sure there is ample time for all substitution paperwork to be processed. Also, all entrants must supply a qualifying time for a marathon or longer distance run during the period of 27 August 2016 to 2 May 2017, along with their club name and license number, by no later than 2 May, and requests for seeding upgrades must also be done by 2 May. GET YOUR TRAINING PROGRAMME Follow the link below to access the free digi-mag version of the Comrades Information and Training Guide published by Modern Athlete, containing the full training programmes designed by Comrades Coach Lindsey Parry for sub-7:30, sub9:00, sub-11:00 and sub-12:00 target times. www.joomag.com/magazine/comrades-supplement-comrades-training-and-info-guide2017/0719335001474895912?short Official COMRADES Training & Information Guide 2017 TRAINING PROGRAMM • Silver Medal • Bill Rowan Medal ES • Bronze Medal • Vic Clapham Medal Published by Magazine 1 54 ISSUE 90 JANUARY 2017 / www.modernathlete.co.za Images: Courtesy CMA Please visit www.comrades.com for more information on entries, qualifying and substitutions.