Durban - Provincial athletics body, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) has approved the race date for next year’s Comrades Marathon.
In a statement on Tuesday KZNA said the 96th running of the world’s biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon will take place on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
Rowyn James, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) race director, said: “Next year’s Comrades Marathon will be the 48th Down Run, starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing 12 hours later in Durban.”
KZNA said the details of the entry process, qualifying criteria and other race information will be confirmed at the official media launch, the date of which will be announced in due course.
The Mercury reported race statistics of this year’s race announced by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) race doctor Jeremy Boulter at the end of August.
The race started with 13213 runners, 11709 of whom made it to the finish line on time. Two runners died.
Mzameleni “Mzamo” Mthembu, of Hollywoodbets Athletics Club in KZN, died at Westville Hospital. He was last clocked in Winston Park at 11.41am. Phakamile “Phaks” Ntshiza, of Adventist Athletics Club in Gauteng, was last clocked at 8.53am in Cato Ridge.
Boulter said 341 runners received medical treatment at the finish, at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Of these, 221 were attended to at the main medical facility while 120 runners received rubdowns, strapping, massage and mild treatment at the St John tent.
Boulter said 82 runners were treated in hospital; of those, 28 were referred from the medical facility at the finish and the rest were taken directly from the route.
He said 19 runners were admitted to hospital; seven to the ICU.
At the time of the report all those who were in hospital were expected to be released the next day.
Boulter said: “The Comrades Marathon is a tough race. The aim of our extensive medical provisions is to allow us to help a runner in just about any medical eventuality should the need arise.”
He said most of the runners who were treated at the finish were dehydrated and exhausted.