Durban - Comrades Marathon 2011 - Entries Open 1st September

Wally Hayward Credits: Germiston Callies

The Annual Comrades Marathon for 2011 is scheduled for 29^th May 2011 and entries open today (1^st September 2010) for all runners, irrespective of whether they have run the Comrades Marathon before or not. 

The Comrades Marathon is one of the greatest sporting events in the world and attracts thousands of runners from around the globe. 

The years roll on and the history of the Comrades is richer as the result of each year is added to that of the races past and the legends of the Comrades stand out as giants among men. 

The great Wally Hayward from Germiston Callies was one of the greatest, winning the Comrades Marathon 5 times in his first 5 starts. In 1930 at the age of 21 Wally won his first Comrades in a time just under 7½ hours. He entered again in 1950, 1951, 1953 and 1954 and won all four giving him the 5 wins in 5 starts. 

34 years later, at the age of 79, Wally again completed the race and held the founders trophy for the oldest person to complete the Comrades.

Wally also ran and finished the Comrades Marathon in 1989 at the age of 80. A truly remarkable man, He epitomised the spirit and purpose of this great sporting event. 

The Comrades Marathon starts at 05:30 in Durban on 29^th May 2011 and the final gun goes off at 17:30 in Pietermaritzburg, 89 km away. 

To complete your application form or to find out more on the Comrades Marathon visit the official website. Germiston Callies has more on other great Comrades Marathon heroes.