Ten things worth knowing about the Comrades 1 2

Durban
This years race is an up run as it starts in Durban and nishes in Pietermaritzburg over a distance of

A eld of runners have entered the race

18 000

86.96km

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The legendary Zola Budd (47) will run in her second Comrades after her debut last year. She came home in 8:06.09, a time she shared with another veteran Bruce Fordyce after they raced the last 25km of the marathon together

Defending champion Ludwick Mamabolo and three-time winner Stephen Muzhingi have entered the race. Mamabolo will race in the colours of Bedfordview Athletics Club in race number 45047 while Muzhingi will turn out for Toyota Athletics Club wearing number 55925

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Pinetown

The last time a South African won the up run was in 1992 when Jetman Msutu breasted the tape in a time of 5:46.11

Hillcrest

Only registered runners who nish the full distance within the 12-hour cut-off time will receive medals and badges

The winning man and woman will each pocket R300 000 and organisers have put aside the same amount for a male and female who break the course records

The standing up-run records were set by Leonids Shvetsov (5:24.47 in 2008) and Elena Nurgalieva (6:09.24 in 2006)

Pietermaritzburg

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The Comrades Marathon Associations tribute to the late broadcaster Vuyo Mbuli is: Vuyos heartiness and cheer will be greatly missed at the 2013 Comrades Marathon. Vuyo was an ardent and a vocal Comrades fan, having completed the race twice, in 2010 and 2011

The highest point on the course is 870m high at Umlaas Road, about 19km from Pietermaritzburg

The womens defending champion Elena Nurgalieva will line up in her 11th Comrades. She and her twin sister Olesya have won nine titles between them from 2003 to 2012

DANIEL MOTHOWAGAE, JACO GROBBELAAR, Graphics