‘Asijiki – No Turning Back’ will be the all-encompassing campaign theme of the 2018 Comrades Marathon, as unveiled by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) in Johannesburg today (Wednesday, 30 August 2017).
The annual media launch of the 93rd edition of The Ultimate Human Race attracted members of the media, road-running dignitaries, stakeholders, the nation’s top runners, sporting personalities and 2017 Comrades Marathon Men’s Champ, Bongmusa Mthembu.
CMA Chairperson, Sifiso Nzuza said, “We are pleased to unveil our campaign for next year’s race, ‘Asijiki – No Turning Back’ which encapsulates the grit, perseverance and determination it takes to complete a Comrades Marathon. It is a relevant and all-inclusive campaign slogan that is bound to unite Comrades Marathon runners in one magnificent running of The Ultimate Human Race.”
The 93rd Comrades Marathon will be a Down Run on Sunday, 10 June 2018. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ends 12 hours later at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, covering a distance of approximately 90km. This will be the 46th Down Run in Comrades history.
The opening date for entries is 1 September 2017. The entry period closes on 30 November 2017 or as soon as the entry cap of 20,000 has been reached. Prospective entrants are encouraged to get their entries in early to avoid disappointment.
Entry fees for the 2018 Comrades Marathon are as follows:
• Early Bird Entries : R 460.00
• Local Entries : R 500.00
• International : R3300.00
Athletes from South Africa and the Rest of Africa will be eligible for the ‘early bird’ entry fee of R460 if their entry is received before 30 September 2017. The regular entry fee of R500 will kick in on 1 October 2017 until the entry process closes. Please note that athletes from the Rest of Africa will pay the same entry fee as South African runners.
The international entry fee is applicable to all entrants outside of the African continent.
Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.
Runners can enter as follows:
• online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;
• by posting their completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA Office: P.O. Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209;
• by handing in their completed entry form together with payment at Comrades House, 18 Connaught Road, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg.
Qualifying for the 2018 Comrades Marathon will be applicable from 27 August 2017 till 2 May 2018. Runners are advised that the 2017 Comrades Marathon will not be an automatic qualifier for next year’s race. Instead, the qualifying criteria for next year’s Comrades Marathon will be to complete a standard 42.2km marathon in under 5 hours.
The Substitution Process will open on 26 March and close on 25 April 2018.
The CMA also announced that three new charities have been chosen to be part of the Comrades Amabeadibeadi charity drive for the next three years. The Childhood Cancer Foundation SA (CHOC), Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust and Hospice South Africa will join the Community Chests of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, Wildlands Conservation Trust and World Vision SA as the beneficiary charities of the Comrades Marathon.
CMA Vice Chair, Cheryl Winn said, “We are delighted to welcome our new charities and we appeal to all Comrades entrants to select the Official Charity closest to their heart and commit to running for a cause greater than themselves. Through the Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive, the CMA has created the opportunity to give back and improve the social and environmental landscape in South Africa. It is our intention that we benefit the communities in which we operate and add value to the sport of athletics.”
CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher said, ‘Next year’s Down Run will certainly be a grand affair, finishing at Durban’s iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium. We welcome all of our runners, supporters and stakeholders to share in the joy and excitement of Comrades race day on Sunday, 10 June 2018.’
CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, ‘We have exciting plans in place for next year’s Down Run. With entries opening on 1 September, we urge our athletes to enter early and take advantage of our Early Bird Entry Fee, specifically for South African runners.’