Comrades: Thousands descend on KZN

Durban - Thousands of runners have descended on Durban for the Comrades Marathon, which boasts the second highest tally of entrants for an up-run in the race's history.

A total of 22 576 runners will navigate the gruelling course from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday as part of the international event.

Comrades Marathon Association spokesperson Delaine Cools said the build-up was beginning to reach a fever pitch.

“The run-up to the race this year so far has been fantastic. We have the Comrades Expo which is running in the days ahead of the race and we are expecting about 50 000 people to pass through the doors before the runners hit the road on Sunday,” she said.

“We have posted the second largest tally of those who will be taking part in the history of the marathons up-run so it is going to make for an amazing event,” she added.

Runners will start in central Durban near the city hall and trudge nearly 90 kilometres to the finish in the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg.