The 97th edition of the Comrades Marathon held on June 9, 2024, was largely hailed as a success, drawing praise from participants and spectators alike for its exciting and upgraded Up Run event, according to Race and Operations Manager Ann Ashworth.
However, despite the overall positive feedback, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has acknowledged receiving several complaints regarding various operational issues during the race.
These issues include the shortage of goodie bags at the Durban Registration, delays in transportation for athletes from the finish area to Durban, heavy traffic congestion around the finish venue and on the N3 highway, late waste collection from refreshment stations along the route, and inadequate supply of Robert Mtshali medals for athletes finishing between 9:00 and 9:59.
Assuring runners and spectators, Ashworth stated that a thorough investigation will be conducted to understand the causes behind these challenges. Measures are being taken to address and resolve all complaints promptly.
Actions include placing additional medal orders for affected athletes, contacting suppliers to locate missing goodie bag stock, establishing a dedicated committee to manage parking and traffic concerns for future races, dispatching waste collection agencies to complete clean-up operations, and scheduling a debrief with the Runners Bus Service providers to prevent similar issues in the future.
Ashworth offered an unequivocal apology for any oversights and inconvenience experienced by participants and spectators. The CMA is committed to resolving all outstanding issues before the end of the following week, demonstrating their dedication to ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience for all involved in future events.
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