Comrades Marathon announces cut-off alteration

The eagerly anticipated 97th Comrades Marathon is swiftly approaching, and as runners gear up for the challenge, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has officially announced the cut-off times for this year's race.

Set to kick off on Sunday June 9, as the 49th Up Run, the marathon will witness a slight alteration in the cut-off time for Pinetown.

Ann Ashworth, the CMA race and operations manager, unveiled the details, highlighting the adjustment in the initial cut-off at Pinetown.

“This year's Up Run, commencing at the Durban City Hall, warrants a five-minute extension in the first cut-off at Pinetown,” Ashworth said.

“This modification accommodates the time required for athletes at the rear to cross the start line and acknowledges the on-going roadworks at Sherwood, potentially causing delays in the initial 8km stretch.”

Ashworth said the extended time aims to foster a more measured pacing strategy for runners, reducing the temptation to commence the race too swiftly.

She outlined a relocation of the Umlaas Road cut-off to a closer proximity to Pietermaritzburg, necessitated by ongoing roadworks. The cut-off time has been adapted accordingly. All other cut-off times remain unchanged from the 2017 and 2019 editions of the marathon.

Athletes participating in the marathon face a critical 50-minute window to conquer the challenging stretch from the summit of Polly Shorts, spanning a distance of 6.84km.

Scheduled to commence at 5.30am from the Durban City Hall, the 97th Comrades Marathon will span a distance of 85.91km, ending 12 hours later at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg..