Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 95, June 2017 | Page 51

The official distance of the 2017 Comrades Marathon will be 86.73km, making it slightly shorter than the two most recent Up Runs. This change in distance is due to minor route changes just after the top of Polly Shortts hill and a revised course to be followed to the new finish venue at Scottsville Racecourse.

Slower runners need to take note of the various cut-off points along the route, as failure to reach these points within the prescribed time will unfortunately see runners removed from the route and put on buses to the finish:

Place / Area Running Time Time KM to go KM done St Johns Avenue Subway- Pinetown 2:40:00 08h10 68,5 18,2 Winston Park 4:30:00 10h00 57 29,7 Drummond( Halfway) 6:10:00 11h40 44 42,7 N3 Subway- Cato Ridge 8:10:00 13h40 30 56,7 Umlaas Road Interchange 9:30:00 15h00 20 66,7 Top of Polly Shortts 11:10:00 16h40 7,5 79,2

The revised final 7km from the top of Polly Shortts will thus see runners continue along CB Downes Road( R103) in the direction of Pietermaritzburg, then turn right into Gladys Manzi Road( previously Murray Road), proceed over the N3 National Freeway and then left into Cleland Road, passing the Hayfields Shopping Centre on the right. Next they will turn left into Blackburrow Road and back over the N3, then right into Fairfield Avenue and right into Ridge Road, crossing over New England Road, with Ridge Road now becoming Harwin Road. Then it’ s left into Taylor Street, proceeding all the way to the end, through the palisade fence and into the Scottsville Race Course complex, via the subway under the race course to finish on the race track in front of the main grandstand and big screen TV.

Along the 86.73km Comrades route, you will find a selection of beautiful Comrades landmark monuments. We invite you to take a selfie at any of these notable points on the route and share it on any of our social media platforms.

The CMA has confirmed the road closures for Comrades weekend, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June. Being an Up-run, the 2017 Comrades Marathon will start outside the Durban City Hall at 5:30am and finish 12 hours later at the home of the Golden Horse Casino, the Scottsville Racecourse, in Pietermaritzburg.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James has asked that residents in the finish venue precinct take heed of the route changes as certain roads in the last 7km of the route will be most affected by the closure. He has apologised for any inconvenience to the affected residents, saying,“ The Comrades Team has already dropped off notices at homes and businesses along the affected route. We greatly value the cooperation of all residents. We look forward to hosting the 92 nd Comrades Marathon finish at the new venue and anticipate a phenomenal day for all of our stakeholders, and especially the citizens of Pietermaritzburg.”

Supporters on the route and spectators will need to take these road closures into consideration when planning their race-day movements, including finding alternative or parallel roads to move along:

Saturday 3 June Closed From Closed Till

Durban- Dr Pixley KaSeme Str.( West Str.) between Dorothy Nyembe Str.( Gardiner Str.) & Samora Machel Str.( Aliwal Str.)

Durban – Samora Machel Str.( Aliwal Str.) between Monty Naicker Str.( Pine Str.) & Anton Lembede Str.( Smith Str.)

Sunday 4 June

17h00

00h00

07h00

07h00

Every Comrades Marathon runner has their ultimate tale of courage, perseverance and endurance. The CMA wants you to inspire others to take up the challenge of 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 delaine @ comrades. com.

Umlaas Road 07h45 16h00 Lion Park 08h00 16h30 Ashburton 09h00 17h30 Polly Shortts 09h00 18h00

Pietermaritzburg- CB Downes Road, Gladys Manzi Road( Murray Road), Cleland Road, Blackburrow Road, Fairfield Ave, Ridge Road, Harwin Road, Taylor Road

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