Comrades Marathon changed their date to August for 2022. This I get as there was a lot of uncertainty regarding Covid regulations. But now there is talk to keeping the race in August for the next 5 years.

This is where we as runners in the inland lying areas need to stand together and say no. All very well for a province that does not experience the temperatures during winter that the rest of the country experiences. Gauteng temps drop to zero and the Free State even lower, and we normal working class are expected to train in the early hours of the morning in freezing conditions. Every second runner you speak to is sick or just come back from a bout of flu or a cold. Although this is normal for this time of year it hampers  the training now as we were accustomed to training in warmer conditions for the last 100 years. 

Should the call from the Comrades Marathon Association be to stay in August I am asking you to stand up and say no.  Gauteng alone makes up over 50% of the field at Comrades Marathon, and we have the power to say no. 

Another point of contention is the price tag for the event. I understand there were losses during the past 2 years, but to double the entry fee is just a huge step. Yes keep it like that for 2022, but going forward this would need to go back to previous runs, most of the general population cannot afford such a steep price for an event.

Comrades Marathon Association, here is something to think about, and we suggest going back to the drawing board.