Comrades organisers to address ‘criticism and complaints'
A total of 19 runners were given a 30-minute time penalty for starting in the wrong group.
Organisers of the Comrades Marathon have acknowledged some of the issues which arose during the annual ultra-distance race in KwaZulu-Natal last weekend.
In what was essentially a dress rehearsal for the 100th edition of the race, to be held in 2027, the 'down' run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban attracted a record field of 20 972 starters, with 18 194 runners finishing the 90km race.
On the positive side, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) said it was pleased with the decision to have two separate starts for the first time, which eased the congestion in the early stages of the race.
Conversely, however, with the race finishing in the street (as opposed to a stadium venue) in Durban for the first time, organisers admitted they would need to make some changes in 2027 when they expected another record field.
'Congestion at the finish and dealing with the flow of people in the venue were particularly challenging in the last hour, although the event's safety and security teams attended to the bottleneck issue at the runners' exit area behind the finish line, and resolved it before any serious incidents could occur,' said CMA general manager Alain Dalais.
False start
There were some participants who were caught starting in group one when they were in the group two batch, giving them an extra 15 minutes to finish the race before the 12-hour cut-off. While they were not disqualified, they were given a time penalty.
'At the finish, all runners' race numbers were scanned to determine which medal they earned, and in the process 19 runners from group two were flagged for having started with group one,' the CMA said.
'After being interviewed by race officials, it was decided to penalise them with a 30-minute time penalty added to their finish times.'
Meanwhile, it was confirmed there were no deaths during this year's race.
While 440 athletes were admitted into the medical tent at the finish, only 25 runners were admitted to hospital, including Moira Harding, who was reported missing after the race and found the next morning after walking eight kilometres from the finish in a delirious state.
'All of these patients are stable and recovering, and are likely to be discharged in the next few days,' Dalais said.
'The Comrades race doctor (Jeremy Boulter) is closely monitoring their recovery and is in constant contact with the hospitals.'
Elite refreshment stations
One issue the CMA did not address was a bizarre situation which forced elite athletes to pick up their refreshments off the floor, with bottles being placed on the ground rather than tables, as is standard.
After the race, gold medallist and former race winner Edward Mothibi said this had been a problem, and some elite runners had opted not to take their bottles in an attempt to avoid cramping by bending down to pick up their personal refreshments.
However, the organisers said they would work on fixing multiple issues which had been raised by participants on social media, particularly around the congestion at the finish.
'We hear the criticism and complaints, particularly about the finish venue, management of flow in the venue, and security, and we want to assure the running community that we are taking this feedback seriously,' Dalais said.
'We will be implementing changes and improvements to enhance the overall runner and spectator experience, and of course, to improve on safety aspects as well.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
From reluctant runner to Comrades finisher: Marina Lues earns Vic Clapham Medal
What began as a simple goal to get fit in 2015 has turned into a remarkable personal journey for Marina Lues, who recently completed one of the world's toughest ultra-marathons. On June 8, the Alberton resident crossed the finish line of the Comrades Marathon in 11:57:20, proudly earning the Vic Clapham Medal awarded to runners who finish between 11 and 12 hours. 'I never liked running,' Marina admits with a smile. 'I just wanted to walk every day to stay healthy.' But step by step, Marina moved beyond her comfort zone. She ran her first 5km without stopping, progressed to 9km, and eventually completed a half marathon in 2:30. That's when the bug bit, or as she puts it, 'Die gogga het gebyt. I was hooked.' A journey of determination Completing the Comrades Marathon didn't happen overnight. It took Marina four attempts to qualify. After two heartbreaks in 2017 and 2019, where she didn't finish, she finally crossed the line in 2022, finishing the down run in 11:52. She followed it up in 2023 with another strong showing on the up run, 11:54. This year marked her third consecutive finish. Qualifying for Comrades is no small feat. Runners must complete a standard marathon in under 4:49. For Marina, one race has become her go-to event. 'There are too many marathons to mention, but my favourite one is Johnson Crane Marathon. I always run this one as my qualifying race. My best time there was 4:36,' she shared. The long road to the finish Marina trains year-round with her focused Comrades preparations kicking off in January. She runs four times a week, starting as early as 04:00, with long runs on Saturdays, and two strength sessions per week. Sundays are her only rest days. 'My husband is my biggest supporter. Rain or shine, he's out on the road with me, even now, with his foot injury, he cycles while I run,' she said. Although Comrades is more than double the distance of a marathon, Marina says it feels different. 'Running Comrades is actually much easier than a normal marathon because your pace is much slower, even though it's much, much further.' This year's run began well, and for the first 60km, she was on pace to beat her previous time by seven minutes. But then the familiar pain set in. 'My feet started hurting badly, and I had to keep moving my toes, which eventually affected my knees. It was rough,' she said. With just 5km to go and time running out, Marina dug deep. 'I was sore and tired, but I just told myself I'd deal with the painlater. I wasn't going to give up.' Crossing the finish line was an emotional moment. 'It's the most amazing feeling. I always cry. This race shows me that if I can finish Comrades, I can do anything.' More than a runner Marina balances her training with a full-time role at Stepping Stone Hospice, where she works in accounts and reception, liaising with medical aids and managing administrative tasks. She has been part of the team since March 2018. Though she doesn't work directly with patients, the nature of the environment can still be emotionally exhausting. 'Running is like therapy for me. In that time, I can switch off and not think about anything else.' She credits her colleagues, many of whom are tired of hearing her running stories, for being incredibly supportive. Some of the patients at the hospice, she added, were also Comrades runners once and this is a poignant reminder of how much strength and life stories are shared in both running and care work. Looking ahead Marina isn't chasing records or podiums, she runs for the love of it. 'I'm not a serious runner like the elites. I just do it for fun. Comrades is tough, but also fun, and if you're able, I think everyone should try it at least once.' Marina runs for 32GI, a running club that has also supported her journey. While she has no interest in other ultra-marathons, she has set her sights on a special goal of earning her green number, awarded after completing 10 Comrades Marathons. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
Louis Massyn's inspiring journey to his 50th Comrades Marathon
Louis Massyn (right) became the first person to complete the Comrades Marathon 50 times, finishing the 89.98km race at age 74 in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds, in Durban, on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Media While he may not have won the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 74-year-old Louis Massyn still came out a winner after he earned his 50th medal. Massyn completed his 50th Comrades Marathon when he crossed the finish line in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds in the 89.98km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. He managed to make it with just over six minutes left before the 12 hour cut-off. 'If you really mentioned this 30 years ago to me that in 2025, you will be the first runner to compete 50 Comrades Marathons, I wouldn't have thought that that would be possible.' Massyn was only 22 years of age, when he participated in his first Comrades in 1973. 'That was my very, very first race in my life. Comrades, '73. Comrades, 1974 was my second race ever in my life. The Laingsburg Karoo Marathon was my third race in my life. 'After that, well, after that, then it just started exploding. I started participating in many more local races.' The only years he didn't compete were in 2020 and 2021, when there was no race due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also missed out in 2022 when he did not make it to the start line due to a knee injury. He explained that the injury, a meniscus tear in his knee, was a very tough experience, but that ultimately it was the right decision to skip the race that year, as it has allowed him to keep going thereafter. Massyn said that he has already received a congratulatory message from the orthopaedic surgeon who did his operation in 2022. Massyn, left, said that he was very grateful for Rhyno Smith, (right) and Hernus Stols, his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club. Image: Supplied A cake to celebrate Louis Massyn's 50th Comrades Marathon. Image: Supplied He explained that his journey started with an Anglican Church sermon in Odendaalsrus when the Bishop of Bloemfontein used the Comrades Marathon as a metaphor. 'And there I sat in the congregation, and I said to myself, the next Comrades, you're going to run. All I knew was that I had to run from 'Maritzburg down to Durban, and I needed to do it on my feet. I wasn't going to drive there, and that's where it all started,' Massyn said. The road runner reflected that he has done each of the six majors - New York, Berlin, Boston, London, Chicago, and Tokyo - and that each one has been a different experience. 'That's actually where I have built relationships across the world. All six of them are really, really special, and while it's not one of the majors, the Rio Marathon is absolutely wonderful. 'The Brazilians invited me to come and run the Rio Marathon, and I spent 13 days in Rio, where they really spoiled me day after day. It was absolutely a spoiled time,' Massyn said. 'Over the years, there have been absolutely golden memories, but Sunday was actually the cherry on the top.' Louis Massyn said that his 50th Comrades marathon was a tough one. Image: Supplied Massyn shared that what has kept him coming back to participate in the Comrades Marathon so many times is its uniqueness. 'The name Comrades is unique, and I think it's the most unique name for a marathon to be called the Comrades Marathon... The comradeship of the marathon, and the comradeship that I experienced on Sunday. I really cannot describe it. I'm only starting to realise what actually happened on Sunday.' Massyn said that he was very grateful for Rhyno Smith and Hernus Stols, his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club, and Erich Cornelissen from Bethlehem Marathon Klub, who supported him throughout the race on Sunday. 'They really helped me. I wasn't carrying even a tablet on myself. No energy drinks. They carried everything for me. Asked me how I was doing. They insisted each and every hour. You need to take this (energy boost) now. And the one guy would ask, what do you need? Water? He'd run out in front of the water station to get a few sachets of water and hand them back. It wasn't even necessary for me to collect anything from the water station.' Louis Massyn alongside his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club in George. Image: Supplied Massyn did face a tough time during the marathon when an excitable athlete grabbed onto him in a way that made him almost lose his balance. 'Not fully unbalanced, but I did lose balance, and in this process, I actually developed serious cramps… and then my whole right leg cramped up totally. So then my team actually really had their hands full to get all these cramps out of me, and I managed eventually to get it out with ice. 'But for the next 15 kilometres, it was quite a struggle, and that's actually the difficult part of the route - from Drummond, from halfway, right into Hillcrest, where you've got fairly steep and long hills.' 'But once we've reached Hillcrest, the downhill starts. It actually went very well, but unfortunately, again, with all the downhills, I started developing lower back pain. You probably saw how I finished? All crooked and wasn't running straight. 'But my team managed it. It was a huge concern, but Rhyno helped try to keep me as upright as possible, which was a huge problem. The concern was if I really fell forward, then it would've been the end of the race, but the team really managed me properly.' Massyn, who was packing up to return home to George on Thursday morning, said that he has been overwhelmed with all the messages from strangers over the past couple of days since completing the race. 'I don't think I've ever had so much support. There are probably more than 1,000 messages on my phone still. People are saying, 'you inspired me so' and asking if I'm going to be on the start line next year, and saying, 'I want to start with you next year'.' 'For the last 300 meters, when the spectators started shouting, 'Louis! Louis! Louis!' I can remember this. It was When asked if he will be returning to next year's race, Massyn answered: 'I'm going to be back.' He said that last year he was invited to run the Coastal Marathon in Namibia from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay, and he's already been sent an invite to participate in this year's race in October. 'I had a great run in Namibia, and seeing as they've invited me, that's going to be my next race that I'm going to train for,' Massyn said. 'And I'm going to try and qualify for Two Oceans and Comrades on that race.' Even this week, Massyn said he will be doing a fun park run this weekend, because 'I just want to walk it with my wife'. He said that he loves running the Two Oceans Marathon and has already completed 48 of them. 'So in 2027, hopefully, I'll be able to run my 50th Two Oceans as well. I'm also hopefully going to run the 100th edition of Comrades as well. That would be my end goal for Comrades at this stage.'
The South African
18 hours ago
- The South African
Comrades Marathon: No deaths, avoid 'fake news'
There has been some widespread criticism of the chaotic, crowded and poorly controlled finish at the People's Park at the conclusion of Sunday's Comrades marathon. Understandably, there was also widespread concern over the wellbeing of runner Moira Harding, who went missing after the event and is being treated in hospital after eventually being found unresponsive on Monday morning. There have also been some rumours and reports of fatalities during the race, but these have been emphatically dismissed by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) in a statement released this week. 'It has been brought to the attention of the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) that some digital media outlets or accounts are reporting two deaths during the 2025 edition of the race, which took place this past weekend (Sunday 8 June),' the statement read. 'The CMA and its medical team can confirm that no deaths have been recorded at the 2025 event.' CMA General Manager Alain Dalais warned against taking 'fake news' as fact. 'As can be expected from an event of this nature and size, there were some cases of runners being transferred to hospital from the route, for various medical reasons. The CMA medical, emergency, safety and health protocols are excellent, and focused on the safety of all runners. 'The CMA distances itself from any fake news or rumours doing the rounds, and suggests that our community rely on reputable sources for information – starting with our own channels,' he adds. Meanwhile, the latest update on the condition of Harding suggests she is still being treated in hospital for dehydration and hypothermia, and remains under sedation in order to allow her the best chance of a quick recovery. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
