Comrades Marathon postponed indefinitely
A new date for one of the most famous ultras in the world has yet to be set
The 2020 Comrades Marathon has been postponed indefinitely. The postponement of the most famous and historic ultramarathon in South Africa was announced on Friday morning by Athletics South Africa.
The Comrades Marathon route travels between two cities, Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The direction changes, however, between “up” and “down” years. “Up” years see racers run 87K with about 2,000 metres of elevation gain. “Down” years are a bit further, hitting 90K, but the run is a net downhill. It was set to be a down year in 2020, so the race was scheduled to start in Pietermaritzburg and head to Durban, on South Africa’s east coast. The cut-off for the Comrades Marathon is 12 hours.
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Athletics South Africa confirms that #Comrades2020 has been postponed. More details to follow. #IphuphoLami #DareToDream #StaySafe #FlattenTheCurve pic.twitter.com/aQiC9KnbmR
— ComradesRace (@ComradesRace) April 17, 2020
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Both Jim Walmsley and Camille Herron, American ultra running legends, were set to compete at the 2020 event was originally scheduled for Sunday, June 14.
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The news follows the April 9 announcement that South Africa would be extending its lockdown by another 14 days, before re-evaluating the country’s public health needs. Aleck Skhosana, president of Athletics South Africa, told Sport24, “The Comrades Marathon is therefore postponed from 14 June to a suitable date that will be determined between ASA, KZN Athletics and the Comrades Marathon Association as soon as conditions around the management of the virus allow us to under the guidance of the Government.”
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