Polly Shortts

Polly Shortts is a hill on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Polly Shortts is reportedly named after Portland Bentinck Shortts.^[1] Shortts managed Shortts Retreat, a nearby farm, and whose help was often sought when after heavy rain, the road up the hill became muddy and impassable.^{[citation needed]}

Polly Shortts is known for being located on the route of the famous 90 km ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon.^[1][2] Pollys, as it is known among participants, is about 2 kilometers long, is particularly steep and comes about 7 – 8 km from the end of the race in odd-numbered years (when it goes from Durban to Pietermaritzburg). Few runners outside the top ten manage the ascent without stopping to walk. In even-numbered years (Pietermaritzburg to Durban), Pollys is near the start of the race, and the runners must descend it.^{[citation needed]}