This year’s Comrades Marathon Down Run, scheduled for Sunday, 11 June 2023, will have a different finish as it returns to the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium after a seven-year break.
The world-famous 90km ultramarathon will not end at the Moses Mabhida Stadium (MMS), as has been the case with the 2018 and 2022 Down Runs. This is due to the Comrades race date returning to its traditional date of the second Sunday in June from the previously held August date. In doing so, the traditional June date had already been allocated by MMS to the hosting of the 2023 Cosafa Cup at the landmark venue, thereby necessitating the move.
CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, “Kingsmead Stadium is our preferred finish venue for this year’s Down Run, as the venue is accustomed to hosting the Comrades Marathon and the revised route should be an ease in transition for the runners. We would like to thank the team at MMS for partnering with CMA during the 2018 and 2022 races and we look forward to hosting our athletes on Sunday, 11 June.”
Head: Stadia and Facilities Unit, Vusi Mazibuko says, “MMS valued its association with the Comrades Marathon as their finish venue of choice during the 2018 and 2022 Comrades Down Runs. This race is not just a proudly KZN event but one of international significance; and it continues to attract the world’s best ultra-runners to our shores and maintain Durban’s status as South Africa’s sporting playground.”