On Sunday, 3rd June 2012, runners from all over the world will again compete in what is arguably the world’s greatest ultra-marathon, The Comrades Marathon. This year will be a ‘down-run’ starting at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg at 5.30am and finishing at the Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. The cut off time for runners to cross the finish line is 5.30pm. This annual event first took place on 24th May 1921, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg. There were 34 runners and the first winner was Bill Rowan. The marathon has continued every year since, with the exception of the war years 1941 – 1945, with the direction alternating each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The