Dear Comrades Marathon Association,

The 2027 Comrades Marathon promises to be a truly special occasion. The centenary edition has attracted extraordinary interest, and the decision to increase the field to 28,000 runners is very welcome.

Unfortunately, many runners who desperately want to participate have been unsuccessful in the ballot.

At the same time, we know that some runners who have secured entries will ultimately fail to qualify, withdraw, or be unable to participate.

We are therefore asking the Comrades Marathon Association to make every reasonable effort to ensure that all 28,000 available places are allocated to qualified runners.

In particular, we ask the CMA to:

1, Strictly enforce qualification requirements and actively police cheating

2, Conduct a ballot among unsuccessful applicants who have already met the qualification, after the qualification deadline of 3 May 2027, allowing sufficient time for the necessary administration.

3, Communicate clearly how many places have become available and how they will be reallocated.

We recognise that organising the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon is an enormous logistical undertaking, and that practical deadlines are necessary.

However, it would be deeply disappointing if qualified runners who desperately want to participate were denied the opportunity while available places went unused.

Our request is simple: let's do everything reasonably possible to have 28,000 qualified runners on the start list for the 100th Comrades Marathon.

We offer this suggestion in a positive and constructive spirit, in keeping with the extraordinary community that makes Comrades the Ultimate Human Race.

Yours sincerely,

The undersigned members of the running community of Comrades marathon places