Comrades Marathon 2020 Race Information

Comrades Marathon 2020 race information and basically everything you need to know about The Ultimate Human Race. The Comrades Marathon is run under the rules of IAAF, ASA, KZNA and CMA.

Don’t forget the #Comrades2020 campaign slogan, ‘Iphupho Lami – Dare to Dream’, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has dared all aspirant participants in next year’s Ultimate Human Race to dream. #IphuphoLami #DareToDream

ENTRIES

Entries for the 2020 Comrades Marathon are limited to a maximum of 27 500 and there will be no extensions. All current and potential Comrades Marathon runners that wish to run the 2020 Comrades Marathon are urged to take careful note of the entry process and the cutoff date. All runners are urged to enter early to avoid disappointment.
Entries open on 28 October 2019 and close on 30 November 2019 or once the quota of 27 500 has been reached.

DATE AND TIME OF RACE

The race will be run on Sunday, 14 June 2020 starting at 05h30 and finishing at 17h30. The race is run from ‘gun to gun’.

ROUTE & DISTANCE

It is a “DOWN RUN” starting at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. The distance is subject to change and will be confirmed in the final race instructions.

ENTRY FEE

South Africa: R600 (28 October 2019 to 30 November 2019)
Foreign athletes (Africa/SADC): R1500 (28 October 2019 to 30 November 2019)

Foreign athletes: R3800 (28 October 2019 to 30 November 2019)

The entry fee will also include a base fee of R8 as well as a transaction fee of 5.5% (online entries only).

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

THE ENTRY FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

ENTRY PERIOD

Entries open on 28 October 2019 and close on 30 November 2019. The total number of entries will be capped at 27 500. Entries will close on 30 November 2019 or once the 27 500 entries have been received. 2500 of these entries will be reserved exclusively for foreign athletes.

NO ENTRIES WILL BE TAKEN IN 2020.

RIGHTS RESERVED

Any irregularities in your entry form will result in a rejected entry. Comrades Marathon Association reserves the right to accept or reject any entry, subject to the rules of IAAF, ASA, KZNA and CMA.

AGE RESTRICTION

The minimum age requirement is that the athlete must be 20 years or older on the day of the Comrades Marathon.

RESTRICTION ON ENTRY

The Comrades Marathon is restricted to club registered runners only. All participants must be 2020 licensed by their respective Federations. The domicile rule will be strictly enforced. No athlete may run for a club other than a club registered in the Province in which they are domiciled unless they are registered on the current ASA National List. Athletes will not be in possession of their 2020 licenses at the time of entry. They will be allowed to enter; however, they MUST submit their club name and license number to CMA by 16h30 on 4 May 2020. Failure to submit these details will result in the entry being rejected.

SUBSTITUTION

The Comrades Marathon Association will accept substitutions for the 2020 Comrades Marathon during the window period starting on 16 March 2020 and ending on 16 April 2020. No late substitutions will be accepted.

An Admin Fee of 15% of the entry fee will be deducted by the CMA from the withdrawing athlete. The CMA will then refund all withdrawing athletes. There will be no money or voucher exchange between athletes. Athletes will be able to withdraw from the race from 1 December 2019 to 16 April 2020.

Substitution entries will be issued on a 1st come 1st serve basis. The “like for like” concept therefore no longer applies. The Substitution Fee of R200 will apply over and above the entry fee for the athlete taking up the available entry.

FOREIGN ATHLETES

Foreign athletes must strictly observe IAAF Rule 4 and 22 as well as ASA Rule 9. All foreign athletes must note that in order to participate in the event, they require written approval (a permit) from their National Federations, and hand it over to the race organisers before the event takes place.

In a case where a foreign athlete is entered through a South African athletics club, it is the responsibility of the club to assist the athlete in securing the permit and to hand it over to the race organizers before the event takes place.

Event organizers reserve the right to reject the entry of foreign athletes who violates IAAF Rule 4 and 22 as well as ASA Rule 9.

HOW TO ENTER

1. ONLINE ENTRIES – Please note that in order to enter online you will require either a Debit / Credit Card (Visa / MasterCard). Online entries will open at 08:00 am on 28 October 2019.

2. DROP OFF POINT – Hand deliver your entry to the CMA House in Pietermaritzburg by 16h30 on the closing date of entries. (Refer to “ENTRY PERIOD” clause above).

3. POSTAL ENTRIES – Post your entry to Comrades Marathon, PO Box 100621, Scottsville, 3209. You may enter using one of the following options, either by cheque, EFT or direct deposit. All cheques, EFT’s and direct deposits must be made payable to the Comrades Marathon Association.

Postal entries must be postmarked by the Post Office no later than the closing date of entries (Refer to “ENTRY PERIOD” clause above). We strongly recommend that you send your entries by registered post. Please keep a copy of your entry form, registered post receipt and deposit slip. Should there be any issues with the non-delivery of your entry we will require a copy from you.

4. DIRECT DEPOSIT – Runners may pay their entry fee by DIRECT DEPOSIT into a Nedbank branch and post their entry form and original deposit slip to CMA. Bank details are: Nedbank, Branch Code: 130526, Account No. 1305846559. Please use your ID Number as the reference number on the deposit slip.

POST THE ORIGINAL DEPOSIT SLIP WITH YOUR ENTRY. NO PHOTOCOPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

KEEP A COPY OF YOUR ENTRY FORM. PLEASE DO NOT DUPLICATE YOUR ENTRY.

NO FAX OR LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ENTRY FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

CHAMPIONCHIP

All entrants must run with their own ChampionChip. Entrants who do not own their own ChampionChip must purchase a chip from ChampionChip Africa, or one of their distributors, prior to entering the event. Runners MUST produce their ChampionChip when collecting their race pack. All runners are required to wear a ChampionChip timing device on their shoes for the duration of the race. The chip must be registered in the runner’s name and NOT belong to someone else. Wearing another athlete’s ChampionChip will lead to disqualification.

NO CHIP, NO RUN, NO RESULT, NO EXCEPTION.

For more information please contact ChampionChip on +27 (0)861100963 or visit their website www.championchip.co.za

QUALIFYING RACE

All qualifying races must be run between 24 August 2019 and 4 May 2020. All qualifying races must be ASA technically compliant and meet the Comrades Marathon qualifying criteria. You must submit your provincially approved club name, license number and qualifying race details by no later than 4 May 2020.

This can be done either by email, contacting the CMA office, updating your details online or by instructing your club administrator to do so for you. Qualifying details will NOT be accepted at Race Registration. Failure to meet the qualifying criteria will result in your entry being rejected. No seeding upgrades will be accepted after 4 May 2020 and particularly at Race Registration.

You will not be able to participate and your details will be removed from our database, which means that you will NOT receive a goodie bag or runner’s t-shirt.

Entrants without access to the internet can contact the CMA office and supply their qualifying details to upgrade their seeding. Your club administrator will be issued with login details to the club verification system. They will have direct access to your entry qualifying details and must verify and authorise your entry before 4 May 2020. No upgrade of seeding will be permitted after 4 May 2020.

Net time (Mat to Mat) will be accepted if the race is timed by a reputable timing company using an electronic timing system.

QUALIFYING TABLE

DISTANCE OF RACE	QUALIFYING TABLE
42.2 km	4:49:59
48 – 50 km	5:49:59
52 – 54 km	6:24:59
56 km	6:44:59
60 km	7:19:59
64 km	7:54:59
68 km	8:29:59
80 km	10:24:59
90 km	11:59:59
100 km	13:29:59

SEEDING BATCH

All runners will be seeded according to their qualifying times. Runners who have improved their qualifying times after entering may upgrade their seeding by entering the race name and their finishing time into their registration details on the Comrades Marathon website.

Entrants without access to the internet can contact the CMA and supply their qualifying details to upgrade their seeding.

QUALIFYING RACE DISTANCE

Batch	42.2 km	48 – 50 km	52 – 54 km	56 km	60 km	64 km	68 km	80 km	90km	100 km
A	02:59:59	03:39:59	03:59:59	04:04:59	04:34:59	04:54:59	05:19:59	06:29:59	07:29:59	08:14:59
B	03:19:59	03:59:59	04:19:59	04:34:59	04:59:59	05:24:59	05:49:59	07:09:59	08:14:59	09:14:59
C	03:39:59	04:24:59	04:49:59	04:59:59	05:24:59	05:49:59	06:19:59	07:44:59	08:59:59	10:14:59
D	03:59:59	04:49:59	05:14:59	05:29:59	05:59:59	06:29:59	06:59:59	08:29:59	09:44:59	10:59:59
E	Green Number Club
F	04:19:59	05:14:59	05:44:59	05:59:59	06:29:59	06:59:59	07:29:59	09:09:59	10:29:59	11:44:59
G	04:34:59	05:34:59	06:04:59	06:24:59	06:59:59	07:34:59	08:09:59	09:59:59	11:29:59	12:29:59
H	04:49:59	05:49:59	06:24:59	06:44:59	07:19:59	07:54:59	08:29:59	10:24:59	11:59:59	13:29:59

THE IRONMAN SEEDING IS AS FOLLOWS

Batch	Marathon Leg Of Ironman
A	3:30:00
B	3:50:00
C	4:15:00
D	4:40:00
E	Green Number Club
F	5:00:00
G	5:20:00
H	Official Finisher over 5:20:00

RUNNING KIT, SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING

Athletes must comply with ASA Rule 3, IAAF Rule 8 and 143. In order to qualify for a team prize, athletes must wear their club colours, as officially registered with their provincial federation.

THE TWO OFFICIAL 2020 COMRADES MARATHON RACE NUMBERS MUST BE WORN ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF YOUR UPPER BODY GARMENT THROUGHOUT THE RACE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.

Runners must familiarize themselves with and abide by the advertising rules as per the IAAF and ASA Rulebooks. 

These provisions apply for the duration of the race including warming up, all race ceremonies and official press conferences. Under no circumstances may a runner display a political slogan in any matter or form.

SECONDING / PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE

The no mobile seconding rule will be very strictly enforced. No seconds may drive, cycle or run alongside any athlete on the route. The stand and hand rule anywhere on route will apply, whereby a runner’s seconds may stand and hand refreshments while they remain stationary. No seconds may travel on the route. No pacing will be permitted. Any transgressions will lead to disqualification. Any athlete being found carried along the route and/or before the finish line will be liable for disqualification. (IAAF Rule 144).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ENTRY

Entries can be confirmed on the Comrades Marathon website www.comrades.com by viewing the “Start list” on the home page or login to your user profile using your unique username and password supplied during the entry process. Entries will also be acknowledged to valid e-mail addresses and/or by SMS as supplied on your entry form. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact details are up to date and accurate.

It is your personal responsibility to check your details and confirmation of entry. If any of the details are incorrect, please log on with your username and password supplied and correct your details or contact the CMA office. Print your entry confirmation email.

INTERNATIONAL BUS TOUR

Bus tour tickets are NOT included in the international entry fee. The tour is limited to a runner and two guests. Tours can be booked with your entry. Tour ticket will be allocated on a 1st come 1st serve basis. The cost of the bus tour is R550.00 per person.

NUMBER COLLECTION

You must collect your two(2) Comrades Marathon Bonitas race numbers, Mizuno runner’s t-shirt and Goodie Bag from the venue you have indicated on your entry form. Should you have placed an order for a ChampionChip with your entry form, the chip will be in your race number pack and can ONLY be collected from the registration venue you have indicated.

Should you wish to use your chip for qualifying races before the Comrades Marathon, please contact ChampionChip directly. These items will not be posted to you. It is important to note the following when collecting your race number package:

All runners MUST produce their ChampionChip when collecting their race number (Athletes who ordered a new ChampionChip with their entry will receive it at Race Registration).

All runners MUST produce their ChampionChip when collecting their race number pack (Athletes who ordered a new ChampionChip with their entry will receive it at Race Registration).

All runners MUST provide proof of identity to collect their race number pack e.g. ID book/card, Passport or Driver’s License along with your race entry confirmation.

NO race numbers will be issued on race day.

REGISTRATION VENUE

DURBAN	PIETERMARITZBURG
Durban Exhibition Centre Walnut Road Durban	Comrades Marathon House 18 Connaught Road Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg

DATES AND TIMES

Thursday	11 June 2020 10h00 – 19h00
Friday	12 June 2020 09h00 – 19h00
Saturday	13 June 2020 09h00 – 17h00

If you are unable to collect your race number package, a third party can collect this on your behalf providing they have a printed copy of Acknowledgement of Entry, the athlete’s ChampionChip, letter of authorization from the entrant and a certified copy of your ID and the entrants’ ID. The person collecting the race number package must have identification.

Runners may not claim their registration package after registration closes. These items will not be posted to you and no refunds will be processed.

BUS TICKETS

Bus tickets from Durban to the start in Pietermaritzburg and from the finish in Durban back to Pietermaritzburg after the race will be available for sale only at both registration venues.
No tickets will be available on race day.

TIME LIMITS & CUTOFFS

The race is run from “gun to gun”. The cut-off times for these points will be confirmed in the final race instructions. The CMA reserves the right to alter these positions and times. 

Runners will be required to board a bailer bus and be transported to the finish venue should they not have reached the cut-off points within the specified time.

The cut-off points will be clearly signposted.

Subject to change:

	CUT-OFF POINTS
CUT – OFF	RUNNING TIME	TIME OF DAY	KM TO GO	KM DONE
N3 Subway – Lion Park	2:40:00	08h10	74,61km	15,57km
N3 Subway – Cato Ridge	4:30:00	10h00	59,90km	30,28km
Drummond (Halfway)	6:10:00	11h40	45,91km	44,27km
Winston Park	8:10:00	13h40	32,57km	57,61km
St. Johns Avenue Subway (Pinetown)	9:30:00	15h00	21,32km	68,86km
Sherwood	11:10:00	16h40	8,87km	81,31km

Please note that these times and positions are subject to change should the organisers deem it necessary. The final cut-off is at 12 hours (17h30) and if you have not reached the Finish, you must leave the route and retire from the race immediately. Failure to do so will jeopardise your participation in future years.

FINAL RACE INSTRUCTIONS

Your Final Race Instructions form part of the rules of the race and will be included with your race pack. All rules included in the Final Race Instructions supersede the Entry Form rules.

AWARDS & INFORMATION

GENERAL AWARDS

Badges and Medals will be awarded to all official finishers who complete the full distance within the 12-hour cut-off.

MEDALS
Gold	First 10 Men and Women
Wally Hayward (Men)	Position 11 to sub 6hrs 00min
Isavel Roche-Kelly (Women)	Position 11 to sub 7hrs 30min
Silver	6hrs 00min to sub 7hrs 30min
Bill Rowan	7hrs 30min to sub 9hrs 00min
Robert Mtshali	9hrs 00min to sub 10hrs 00min
Bronze	10hrs 00min to sub 11hrs 00min
Vic Clapham	11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min

PRIZE MONEY
Position	Men	Women
Position 1	R525 000,00	R525 000,00
Position 2	R260 000,00	R260 000,00
Position 3	R190 000,00	R190 000,00
Position 4	R95 000,00	R95 000,00
Position 5	R75 000,00	R75 000,00
Position 6	R40 000,00	R40 000,00
Position 7	R35 000,00	R35 000,00
Position 8	R30 000,00	R30 000,00
Position 9	R25 000,00	R25 000,00
Position 10	R20 000,00	R20 000,00

BEST “DOWN RUN” TIME

Should the Winners (man and woman) of the 2020 Comrades Marathon break the Best Time previously recorded for the “Down Run”, he or she will receive a cash payment of R525 000,00.

The Best Time Previously Recorded

Men – 05:18:19 by David Gatebe in 2016
Women – 05:54:43 by Frith Van der Merwe in 1989

AGE CATEGORIES

An athlete is not eligible for a prize in more than one age category, i.e. an athlete is only eligible for a prize in the age category applicable to him/her or the younger category chosen by him/her provided he/she is wearing the relevant age category tag. An athlete, male or female, who finishes the race in first to tenth position, may, however, win his/her position prize as well as any applicable age category prize.

Unless you specifically request in writing to CMA organisers to change your age category to a lower age category, by 4 May 2020, you will be entered in the age category of your chronological age. Appropriate ASA approved numerical age category tags must be worn on the front and back of the upper body garment and be clearly visible.

An athlete must provide positive identification to verify proof of age. These rules apply to both individual and team categories.

AGE CATEGORY PRIZES

Position	Men	Women
40-49 years
Position 1	R20 000,00	R20 000,00
Position 2	R12 000,00	R12 000,00
Position 3	R6 000,00	R6 000,00
50-59 years
Position 1	R12 000,00	R12 000,00
Position 2	R6 000,00	R6 000,00
Position 3	R4 000,00	R4 000,00
60 years+
Position 1	R6 000,00	R6 000,00
Position 2	R4 000,00	R4 000,00
Position 3	R3 000,00	R3 000,00

TEAM COMPETITION

All team prizes will be calculated on the combined times of the first four (4) club members to finish in the Open (20 – 39 years) category and the first four (4) club members to finish in the 40 years category. In order to qualify for a team prize, an athlete must compete wearing officially registered club colours. The domicile rule will be strictly enforced.

Team prizes and rules pertaining to the award thereof will be detailed in the Final Race Instructions. Only valid for South African citizens.

TEAM PRIZES

TEAMS (Recreational Clubs)
POSITION	MEN	WOMEN
Open 20 – 39 years
1st team	R16 000,00	R16 000,00
2nd team	R12 000,00	R12 000,00
Over 40 years
1st team	R12 000,00	R12 000,00
2nd team	R8 000,00	R8 000,00
Professional
1st Team	R32 000,00	R32 000,00

SOUTH AFRICAN RUNNERS

The first South African citizen (man and woman) to complete the event will each receive a cash payment of R200 000,00

KWAZULU-NATAL ATHLETES

The first KwaZulu-Natal athlete (man and woman) to complete the event will each receive R 50 000.00 from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation.

A KwaZulu – Natal athlete shall be defined as an athlete domiciled in the province of KwaZulu – Natal, and licensed by KwaZulu – Natal Athletics, but includes any athlete domiciled in KwaZulu – Natal who is registered on the current ASA National List, and who may be licensed in another province.

PRIZE MONEY & AWARDS

All prizes including prize money, trophies and/or special medals will only be issued once doping control results have been received and subject to clearance. All prize money is subject to South African tax laws and may take up to 3 months to process.

OFFICIAL CHARITY

The Comrades Marathon Amabeadibeadi Campaign consists of six official charities namely:

CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa), Community Chest Durban & Pietermaritzburg, Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, Wildlands Conservation Trust and World Vision South Africa.

An Amabeadibeadi gift will be enclosed in your race number pack when you make a minimum donation of R50.00. Please support our Comrades Marathon Official Charities.

RACE 4 CHARITY

The Race 4 Charity campaign is intended to foster wider support for charitable fundraising for the CMA’s six official charities. An exciting facet to this campaign is that runners have the opportunity to improve their seeding batch while raising funds for a good cause.

The CMA has reserved 500 entries for runners, who need to raise R6000 each. This will ensure that they get to start in the “Charity ” batch near the front of the field on race day. Follow the link on the Comrades Website to sign up, and encourage your family, friends, co-workers and supporters to donate and leave messages of motivation on your fundraising page.

Runners get to choose which of the six Amabeadibeadi charities they would like to support. All Race 4 Charity runners will also be on the receiving end of an exclusive goodie bag which they can collect during Registration. The entry process is also a simple one. Runners need to enter the Comrades 2020 by the closing date of entries but will have until 4 May 2020 to sign up and raise funds. Please note that normal race rules still apply for entries and there are no refunds, should a runner fail to qualify or raise the minimum amount. For more information and details on our charity initiative, please visit www.comrades.com.

For any further enquiries, please contact us. If you want to know more about our packages to join us for Comrades 2020 the click here.