Namibians up for virtual Comrades
There is just over one week left until the first-ever virtual Comrades Marathon takes place, with Namibians having signed up for the race.
WINDHOEK – LIMBA MUPETAMI
Fifteen Namibians have taken up the challenge to compete in the upcoming virtual Comrades Marathon on 14 June.
The marathon is the world’s largest and oldest ultra-marathon race, but will this year go virtual. What this means is that participants will do it from wherever they are in the world according to Frans Amakali, who is taking part in the marathon for the second time.
“The participants will decide the distance they want to participate in, set their own routes and starting times. Runners will be required to submit their finishing times, which must be recorded using fitness apps such as Strava, Endomondo or Suunto.
“Upon completing their respective distances, runners will each receive a finisher's medal, which will be couriered to them after the race,” Amakali explained.
He added that some participants are based in Swakopmund and only about five will be going the full 90.2 km distance.
The other Namibian participants are: Joey Sheehama, Kirsty Britz, Ephraim Duve, Kennedy Tores, Alex Kanu, David Shinge (90.2 km), Harold Akwenye, Michael Keib, Josia Shiyuka, Elia Nauela, Uahoroka Kauta, Daniel Mbidi, Israel Johannes (45 km) and Jerry Mwadinohamba (25 km).
They are all from the Windhoek City Runners Club.
DECISION TO HOLD THE EVENT
The annual event was cancelled in May due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) deciding to put together the virtual event.
“It is with profound sadness and regret that the CMA Board had to make the decision to cancel the 2020 Comrades Marathon.
“We do so with the knowledge that it will come as a great disappointment to thousands of runners, who together with us at CMA, have been holding out hope that the race would somehow proceed,” a statement from the organisers read.
“The last time this great event had to be cancelled was in the years of World War II and in those days, there was no substitute to help the runners through those difficult years.
“We live in different time today where with innovation and technology we can look to innovative solution to contribute in a small way to fill the gap that the cancelation of the race will create,” the statement further stated.
WHAT IS ON OFFER
Participants will receive a unique set of results with interesting statistics comparing their performances to legends of the marathon. Past runners and supporters of the future can be inspired to earn a special ‘Race the Legends’ medal to mark their participation in this unique time in the history of the race.
Entrants who finish any predetermined distances will earn the real special medal and have the option of purchasing a T-shirt, in addition to this they will also receive a: digital race number, virtual certificate and medal and an electronic personalised results comparison.
ABOUT THE RACE
As of Thursday evening, there were over 14 000 registered runners, the majority of whom have entered for the half-marathon. Last year, close to 25 000 runners entered the race with registration closing after one week. South African runners constitute the greater part of the field, but many entrants hail from the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, India, the United States, Brazil, Australia, Botswana, Russia and Swaziland.
Fifteen Namibians have taken up the challenge to compete in the upcoming virtual Comrades Marathon on 14 June.
The marathon is the world’s largest and oldest ultra-marathon race, but will this year go virtual. What this means is that participants will do it from wherever they are in the world according to Frans Amakali, who is taking part in the marathon for the second time.
“The participants will decide the distance they want to participate in, set their own routes and starting times. Runners will be required to submit their finishing times, which must be recorded using fitness apps such as Strava, Endomondo or Suunto.
“Upon completing their respective distances, runners will each receive a finisher's medal, which will be couriered to them after the race,” Amakali explained.
He added that some participants are based in Swakopmund and only about five will be going the full 90.2 km distance.
The other Namibian participants are: Joey Sheehama, Kirsty Britz, Ephraim Duve, Kennedy Tores, Alex Kanu, David Shinge (90.2 km), Harold Akwenye, Michael Keib, Josia Shiyuka, Elia Nauela, Uahoroka Kauta, Daniel Mbidi, Israel Johannes (45 km) and Jerry Mwadinohamba (25 km).
They are all from the Windhoek City Runners Club.
DECISION TO HOLD THE EVENT
The annual event was cancelled in May due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) deciding to put together the virtual event.
“It is with profound sadness and regret that the CMA Board had to make the decision to cancel the 2020 Comrades Marathon.
“We do so with the knowledge that it will come as a great disappointment to thousands of runners, who together with us at CMA, have been holding out hope that the race would somehow proceed,” a statement from the organisers read.
“The last time this great event had to be cancelled was in the years of World War II and in those days, there was no substitute to help the runners through those difficult years.
“We live in different time today where with innovation and technology we can look to innovative solution to contribute in a small way to fill the gap that the cancelation of the race will create,” the statement further stated.
WHAT IS ON OFFER
Participants will receive a unique set of results with interesting statistics comparing their performances to legends of the marathon. Past runners and supporters of the future can be inspired to earn a special ‘Race the Legends’ medal to mark their participation in this unique time in the history of the race.
Entrants who finish any predetermined distances will earn the real special medal and have the option of purchasing a T-shirt, in addition to this they will also receive a: digital race number, virtual certificate and medal and an electronic personalised results comparison.
ABOUT THE RACE
As of Thursday evening, there were over 14 000 registered runners, the majority of whom have entered for the half-marathon. Last year, close to 25 000 runners entered the race with registration closing after one week. South African runners constitute the greater part of the field, but many entrants hail from the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, India, the United States, Brazil, Australia, Botswana, Russia and Swaziland.
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