With the 97th edition of the prestigious Comrades Marathon, run on Sunday June 9 hailed as a resounding success by many participants and onlookers, Ann Ashworth, the race and operations manager, has confirmed that several issues and complaints will be addressed.
She said some of the complaints included: a shortage of runner goodie bags during the Durban Registration; delayed arrival of buses designated for transporting athletes from the finish area to Durban as part of the Runner’s Bus Service; severe traffic congestion on the N3 highway and surrounding areas near the finish venue; late collection of waste and recyclables from refreshment stations along the latter half of the race route; insufficient supply of Robert Mtshali medals for athletes finishing between 9 hours and 9hr:59min.
Ashworth said the Association has pledged a thorough investigation into the root causes of these challenges, with prompt steps to rectify all grievances.
Proposed actions include: placing additional medal orders for athletes who did not receive them at the finish line, with arrangements for courier delivery; contacting the CMA’s goodie bag supplier to rectify the shortfall and ensure distribution to affected individuals; establishing a dedicated portfolio within the Race Organising Committee to anticipate and address parking and traffic issues for future races; deploying waste collection agencies to complete clean-up operations along the race route; scheduling a debrief with the Runners Bus Service providers to identify and mitigate future transportation shortcomings.
Ashworth has also issued a sincere apology for any oversights, errors, and inconvenience experienced by participants and spectators during this year’s event. “The CMA is committed to resolving all outstanding matters by the end of the following week,” said Ashworth in a statement.
