Comrades Marathon

Comrades Marathon

Overview

The Comrades Marathon is the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon, run annually since 1921 between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Despite its name, it is not a standard 42.2 km road marathon — it is an ultramarathon of roughly 87–90 km run entirely on tarred public roads. The race was conceived by World War I veteran Vic Clapham as a living memorial to soldiers who died in the war, and it is widely known as "The Ultimate Human Race." It is organised by the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and carries a strict 12-hour cut-off. The race has run every year apart from interruptions during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021).

The course

The direction of the race alternates each year between the "up" run, which starts in coastal Durban (≈8 m elevation) and climbs inland to Pietermaritzburg (≈655 m), and the "down" run, which reverses the route. The up run is approximately 87–88 km and the down run approximately 89–90 km; the exact distance is re-measured and varies slightly year to year (e.g. 90.2 km in 2022, 87.7 km in 2023, ≈85.9 km in 2024, 89.98 km in 2025). The course is run on roads and features five major named hills (Cowies, Fields, Botha's, Inchanga and Polly Shortts) and a net elevation change of over 600 m, making it one of the most demanding road ultras in the world. It is hilly road terrain — neither flat nor a trail race.

Getting there & spectating

The race links Durban and Pietermaritzburg, about 90 km apart and connected by the N3 highway. Durban is served by King Shaka International Airport, and both city halls (the traditional start/finish points, with the finish historically at Moses Mabhida Stadium / Scottsville Racecourse depending on direction) are accessible by road. The start is in the pre-dawn dark, typically around 05:30. The route passes through towns such as Pinetown, Kloof, Hillcrest, Drummond (the halfway mark), Cato Ridge and Camperdown, all of which draw large, festive crowds; the halfway point at Drummond (Arthur's Seat / Wall of Honour) and the major hills are classic spectating spots.

History & records

First held on 24 May 1921 with 34 starters, the Comrades has grown into a field capped in recent years at around 20,000–22,000 runners. In 2010 it entered the Guinness World Records for the most finishers in an ultramarathon. Stephen Muzhingi (ZIM) won three straight titles (2009–2011); Elena Nurgalieva (RUS) dominated the women's race, winning 2010–2013. More recently, Gerda Steyn (RSA) has become the defining women's champion of the era — she broke the women's up-run barrier of six hours in 2019 (5:58:53) and won again in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Tete Dijana (RSA) set a down-run men's record of 5:13:58 in 2023.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comrades_Marathon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winners_of_the_Comrades_Marathon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Comrades_Marathon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Comrades_Marathon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Comrades_Marathon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Comrades_Marathon
• https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/live-updates-95th-comrades-marathon-28-august-2022/
• https://comrades.com/