The Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Councilor Mxolisi Kaunda, has urged all running enthusiasts as well as the general community of eThekwini to support and participate in the Race the Comrades Legends Virtual Race which takes place on Sunday, 14 June 2020.

Dubbed the ultimate human race, this year’s Comrades Marathon would have been the 95th instalment of this signature race which has been the mainstay of our continent’s racing calendar and is the world’s oldest and largest ultra-marathon.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant safety measures by government to curb the spread of the virus, including the Lockdown, have meant that this year the race could not take place in the normal Durban-to-Pietermaritzburg route as has been the case over the years.

The Race the Comrades Legends Virtual Race allows runners and racing enthusiasts to experience the inimitable Comrades Marathon spirit wherever they might be in the world by participating in this virtual race.

“We commend the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) for keeping the spirit of the Comrades Marathon alive through this virtual race. The Comrades Marathon has been both a permanent and differentiating feature for our City, our province and our country over the years and has assisted us as a country to deal with some of the major challenges that we have faced as a united force. As we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have no doubt that this virtual race will restore hope for millions of our people and will further entrench the solidarity within our community which has been the major ingredient in our efforts to deal with this pandemic,” said Kaunda.

The eThekwini Municipality will pull out all the stops to ensure that those who participate in this Virtual Race are safe and encourages all participants to adhere to the Level 3 Lockdown regulations.

“Level 3 of the Lockdown has eased movement restrictions and allows us to run in public spaces as long as we adhere to the rules. We urge those who will be running the virtual race in the open to also take time to enjoy and experience the beauty of our public spaces; attractions; the beach as well as the flora and fauna which have made us the world’s foremost tourism destinations,” continued Kaunda.

The Race the Comrades Legends Virtual Race fits snugly within eThekwini Municipality’s ground-breaking Virtual Know Your Durban Campaign whose aim is to showcase the Durban’s attractions and hidden gems using digital platforms. The idea behind the Know Your Durban Campaign is that the destination needs to be proactive in promoting itself to both local and international visitors so that when the Lockdown ends, visitors think of visiting Durban first before any other destination.

Over the years, the Comrades Marathon has helped to market and promote Durban globally and, with the Lockdown forcing the traditional race to be cancelled, the City of Durban and her people are duty-bound to show their support for a race that has contributed immensely to the South Africa that we enjoy today.