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More than 50 Canadians to run Comrades, an 89K race that will “humble you”

More than 50 Canadians are expected to race the Comrades marathon, the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon, in South Africa on May 29.

Comrades marathon

While marathons and road racing events in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Calgary and on the Cabot Trail in the Maritimes will be the focus for many Canadians this weekend, one of the world’s most famous ultramarathons will go off on Sunday. The Comrades marathon, an annual 89-kilometre event in South Africa, will be held on May 29 and features a large contingent of Canadians.

RELATED: Go the distance: Training tips for finishing your first ultra.

The run begins in Pietermaritzburg and finishes in Durban. Comrades is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon and has the following tagline: “It will humble you.” The race begins at 5:30 a.m. local time and each year the route alternates between the two locations. In 2016, it will be a “down” year meaning runners will end in Durban.

Comrades is run on the roads.

Though Ellie Greenwood, one of the world’s most accomplished ultramarathon runners, is currently in South Africa for the race, she has withdrawn due to injury. Greenwood, a resident of North Vancouver, won the 2014 edition of Comrades.

“I am not running due to injury, it is not related to [the] BMO Vancouver marathon,” Greenwood told Canadian Running in regards to running the Vancouver race in early May. “It is likely an injury which has developed over time but at this stage it is hard to tell.”

RELATED: Fat Dog 120: One of Canada’s most scenic and gruelling trail races.

Greenwood finished third overall at the BMO Vancouver marathon on May 1 and, prior to that, won the Chuckanut 50K in Washington state in the early spring.

Greenwood’s finish line moment, captured in 2014, can be found below:

Russians, who have long dominated the event, are banned from competing this time around because the Russian athletics federation is currently under suspension due to state-sponsored doping allegations. World 50K champion Camille Herron is also out due to injury.

New Balance has even designed custom-made Comrades-themed shoes:

Runners who have listed Canada as their nationality

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