Newsletter
 
Brought to you by: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za
17 November 2023
  
Comrades Marathon

Opening of 2024 Comrades Entries next week

The Comrades Marathon Association is pleased to announce that entries for the 2024 Comrades Marathon will open in a week’s time. The entry period officially opens at 10am on Tuesday, 21 November 2023 and will close at 16h30 on 11 December 2023 or once the entry cap of 23,000 has been reached, whichever comes first.

Entry fees remain the same as that of the 2023 Race and are as follows:

Entry Type

Entry fee

South Africa 2024 Entrants

R1 200

Rest of Africa 2024 Entrants

R2 000

International 2024 Entrants

R4 500

Entry fee is waived for holders of 25 or more Comrades medals.

Entries can be done online via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com or via the Comrades App.

The online entry system includes the option whereby an athlete can pay the entry fee off in two instalments – 50% of the entry value on entering with the remaining 50% due by 29th February 2024. Runners have the option of paying the full entry fee on entering, should they prefer to do so.

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Race and Operations Manager, Ann Ashworth says, “We look forward to pulling out all the stops in ensuring a memorable race day for our athletes. Qualification for the 2024 Comrades Marathon is applicable from 1 September 2023 till 6 May 2024.”

“The qualifying criteria for next year’s Comrades Marathon remain unchanged, requiring completion of a standard, officially timed 42.2km marathon in under 4 hours and 50 minutes, or a 56km ultra-marathon in under 6 hours and 45 minutes.”

The substitution process will run over the month of March and April 2024. Details will be revealed closer to the time.

The CMA has also announced the introduction of the Comrades Marathon Runners Relief Fund. Through this initiative, up to 1500 disadvantaged athletes may apply for a reduced entry fee of 50%. Terms and conditions apply. More details are available on the official Comrades website: www.comrades.com

The 97th Comrades Marathon will be the 49th Up Run on Sunday, 9 June 2024, starting at the Durban City Hall at 05h30 and ending 12 hours later at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse, covering a distance of approximately 87km.
 
National Personalities and Stories

Nedbank running clubs Margie Saunders sets new World best time

After setting a new national 70+ age record last month over 10km, Nedbank running clubs Margie Saunders set a new 70 age World best over 25km over the weekend at the Econofoods 25km in Gqeberha in a time of 2:12:45.

Having started the sport of running at 35 after being a long distance swimmer previously, Saunders has set the record books alight, and there are no signs of her slowing down, even after some setbacks over the last two years. After a major abdominal operation last year, Saunders was on the road back to fitness but a fall off her patio in January this year saw her break her ankle and foot which needed two operations and a lot of rehab.

“I had to do a lot of rehab as well as a lot of swimming to get back to some form of fitness and I only feel like I am getting back to it now,” said Saunders. “I firmly believe that such enforced breaks which require “other” training like core, strength, even walking actually make you stronger in the long term.”

Setting the new world best over the 25km, Saunders had actually not even targeted the time or knew what the time to beat was. “I did not specifically train for the 25km and my actual objective was a slightly up-tempo training run in preparation for a half marathon on the 2nd December,” said Saunders. “I did not even know what the world best time was for 25 until Riel (Hauman) informed me after the race.”

With a World best to her name now, Saunders is running times that could rewrite many more. “My national best last month over 10km was 46:07 and it was run on a very hilly course and the world best is 44:09 so I certainly will look at running that because I ran a 43 last year so I just need to find a fast course.”

A half marathon world best could also be on the cards and most definitely a national record. The national record to best is 1:46 whilst the world best for 70 years is 1:37:38.

Saunders who is a member of the Nedbank Running Club I Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) prefers racing between 10km and the half marathons now but has previously run marathons, with a 2:55 marathon personal best as well as two Comrades silver medal finishes. “I do far less mileage these days with lots of shorter faster runs and I also still swim 2km at least twice a week with a local swim squad.”
 
Upcoming Events

Dear Nedbank Running Club athlete.

At the finish of the Dischem race there will be a special hospitality site for all registered Nedbank Running Club athletes.

Please come and share your race stories and new year’s resolutions with us at the Bavaria/Biogen Nedbank Running Club hospitality site at the finish.

Your “ Entry Fee’ to the hospitality site will be arriving with your full Nedbank Running Club attire and your Dischem race number!

Dis-Chem Half-Marathon Entries are Open!

Dis-Chem21

The 2024 Dis-Chem Half-Marathon presented by Momentum Multiply is taking place on Sunday 14 January 2024 and will mark the 22nd running of this Premier Half Marathon in Gauteng.

It takes place at the Bedfordview Virgin Active Club, heralding the start of the New Year’s running activities.
There is something for everyone from the 21K Half Marathon to the 5K Fun Run.

The challenging route takes runners through the scenic and hilly suburbs of Bedfordview and Primrose. ENTRIES ARE LIMITED - So enter as soon as possible as this race sells out fast.
See website for more race information including PRIZE MONEY.

See you there for a great day at the races!
 
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Your weekly Nedbank RunnersGuide Race News. A look at the

Dis-Chem Half Marathon in January 2024.