Comrades 2013

HI Folks A message from Comrades HQ. PLease pass it on and encourgage runners to entrer early

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA RELEASE: 2013 Comrades Marathon Entries Going Fast

Barely three weeks into the entry process of the 2013 ‘Ultimate Human Race’, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced that well over a third of the entry tally has been filled, with entries now standing at 6419.

Aspiring runners need to enter by 30 November 2012 or before the cap of 18000 entries has been reached. No further entries will be accepted after this, so runners are urged to enter now or risk losing out.

It is worth a reminder to Comrades runners that the annual road-running challenge has been oversubscribed for the past three years, meaning that late entrants will be left disappointed as they will not be allowed to participate in South Africa’s most famous road-running challenge.

The good news is that South African runners can enjoy a discounted entry fee of R300 until 30 September 2012, thanks to the CMA catering exclusively for its local enthusiasts. The new increased entry fee of R320 will kick in on 1 October 2012 until the entry process is closed.

Runners from the Rest of Africa will be charged an entry fee of R500 and the cost to International athletes is $US180.

The entry requirements, which are clearly indicated on the entry form, must be adhered to at all times or runners could lose their place at the Start.

Runners may enter:

• online via the Comrades      Marathon website: www.comrades.com;     
• at Mr Price Sport, Home and      Clothing stores countrywide;
• through the post by posting the      completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office in      Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
• Comrades Marathon House: by      handing in the completed entry form together with payment at the CMA      office in Pietermaritzburg. 

With runners the world over still singing the success of the 2012 event, the CMA is all set for a Comrades showdown, come Sunday, 2 June 2013. In keeping with tradition, the race will be an ‘up-run’ next year, starting at the Durban City Hall at 05h30 and finishing at The Cricket Oval in Pietermaritzburg 12 hours later.

CMA Race Director, Johan Van Staden says, ‘With the large number of entries already received within the first three weeks of the entry process, we are confident that the 2013 Comrades Marathon will once again be oversubscribed.’

Van Staden adds, ‘With this in mind, we urge our local runners to enter during the month of September and benefit from our ‘early bird’ entry fee of R300. We further ask that all runners wishing to be a part of the 2013 Comrades Marathon be proactive and secure their place at the Start.’

The CMA has reminded all runners that they may enter the 2013 race prior to running a qualifier (minimum qualifying distance of 42.2km). Qualifying details must be submitted to the CMA by 6 May 2013. For more details, please visit: www.comrades.com

***ENDS***

Statement released by the Comrades Marathon Association on Thursday, 20 September 2012

HI Folks

If you have not seen it, South Afrinca Airways are offering return flights from Heathrow to Durban (Via J'burg) at just over £700 on Comrades week  http://www.flysaa.com/gb/en/home.action

That is a good price and probably won't get cheaper than that as I paid a tad more this year.

Stevan- If your South/South-west based I'd recommend Gloucester in January. Cotswolds Marathon was in Feb this year moved from March the year before. You also have the Llanelli 37m in Feb again moved from end of March this year. In April this year, I ran Worcester, London and Stratford on consecutive weekends (Stratford was reduced to half due to weather).

Bal- That's interesting, not listened to it yet. She nailed two oceans and in the majority of Fordyce interviews he was talking her up for the age group win (subsequently won by our very own KarenG) I think I passed them at 62-63k (under the swinging women) and they were getting some amazing cheers!

I booked flights with SA and hotel for 5 nights the same day I entered Comrades - the day it opened and got it all for just a wiff under £1100. Was very pleased with that. I really must get some insurance tho just in case it all goes belly up.

Lots of races to consider - thanks all.

Have also seen some hilly off road runs in the Cotswolds (http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk).

Anybody come across these before (Nauton 19 for example). Doesn't say you need to route find / map read (good for me).

I am doing Portsmouth, but only as I have done it for the last 2 years and set a pb both years.  Nice course but agree with PH that it really does depend on the elements.  I wont be as fit as before though as physio has said another 3 weeks before I can run again but I can feel that I am on the mend (finally).  Turns out it was a tendon in my hamstring! So the indoor bike is getting a little more of my time, but I am still enjoying the change and itching to run again!

P47 - So you would recommend Portsmouth for a tilt at a good time? Hopefully my recovery goes better than hoped so I can be in some sort of shape by then.

I managed 30km Waterloo to home on Wednesday. Tough mentally after a day at work but no knee pain, which makes it the furthest I have gone without knee pain for a long time. So things seem to be going in the right direction.

Warren - yes - Portsmouth could be good for a good time BUT as said before it would be completely weather dependant. Very flat course with footpath, bit of shingle on beach which you have to go on twice as an out and back, waterside footpath which is compacted mud and would get muddy if rained and the track out to Hayling Island is old train track so flat with gravel. The weather tends to come from the West so the last few miles you are into a headwind....possibly. Good event.

..oh and one other thing to look out for at Portsmouth, the increase in numbers since it first took place in 2010 means that you do get some bottlenecks quite early on, so just watch out for that and if you are a speedy person, try to get ahead of it or you would get frustrated.

Morning all

Right back from Corfu (Would make a very good but tough marathon over the mountain in the middle!) and need some help please.

Whats the right order from experience to sort the following

1) Thanks fot SA airline link and want to book but
2) Want to add a safari with my daughter which I have started on but not completed
3) Therefore not booked hotels
4) Just to make it more difficult probably going with someone else who is doing the run and then coming home earlier!!!!!

Also insurance. Can you take out insurance incase if injury and dont go?

Thanks all

Me again

Just cleared a weeks e-mails. No confirmation and cant see confirm entry on the web page anyone else?

Does anyone who has run Comrades previously have a summary of the UK based Mara's / UMs they ran in the Feb - May period preceding the race (Up run friendly races particulary) ?

I have Compton 40 pencilled in, which I believe is Easter time (Late March / Early April).

This info was probably posted in previous years forums (but can't for the life of me find the detail).

Particulary interested in UMs around the 50k around March time (as these seem thin on the ground unless you are SA based and clubs have 'Comrade training specific' events OR 50 mile UK events which is too hard core for me at that time). Equally, some good events do fill up super quick, so I am already too late for them, i.e. the Grizzly, Devon in March.

Ode - looking again at your previous reply, some of the races seemed to have moved from March to earlier in the year, so this month does seems to have a lack of UM races before the Spring mara season commences

My list of possible races, although I'm away for a few weeks starting the end of March, so I've none listed around that period. 

Please feel free to edit and make additions.

0 - June 2nd - Comrades
3 - May 12th - MCN - Race 2 - Black Mountains - 40miles
4 - May 5th - Pony Express - New Forest - 2 x 30miles
5 - April 28th - Stratford Marathon
10 - March 24th - MCN - Race 1 - Black Mountains - 33miles
10 - March 24th - Sussex Coastal - 34miles 
11 - March 17th - Exmoor - 40mles
12 - March 10th - New Forest - 31miles
13 - March 3rd - White Cliffs - Dover - 52miles
14 - Feb 24th - Born to Run - Gower - 40miles
14 - Feb 24th - Moonlight Challenge Kent - 32miles
16 - Feb 10th - South Devon Coastal - 35miles
17 - Feb 3rd - Thames Trot - 50miles
17 - Feb 3rd - Pilgrim Challenge - New Forest - 2 x 33miles
20 - Jan 13th - Country to Capital - 45miles 

O.K...now I definatly feel like a lightweight and will have to pile in to some of those. Have a further 12 marathons planned before Comrades but just 'normal' 26.2 milers with a LSR the day before. Definatly interested in New Forest stuff as not too far from me and just did NF mara on Sunday. Love it down there.

Possum Hopper - I'll only do a couple of them, I just wanted to compile a list so I could work out which were the most relevant for my training schedule.

stevie- have you got a link for the MCN runs. I cant find anything on FETCH or RW?

Possum- Im no expert but in 2010 I only went over 26 twice. My longest 5 were 35/29 and 3  x 26. With a 3.48 mara pb I finished in 10.23 if that helps

http://www.mightcontainnuts.com/events/welsh_one_day_ultra_series/round_1.html

thanks Looks a bit tough!!!! Done 1 map reading event but 10 miles from home so new the area.