Comrades Marathon is a 89km ultra marathon in Durban, South Africa. Distance: 89km. Elevation: 1,500m D+. Difficulty: challenging (Challenge Rating 32/100). DNF rate: 8%. Time limit: 12h. Surface: road. Established 1921.

89km challenging legendary iconic bucket-list hilly

Comrades Marathon

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

"The world's oldest ultra — 20,000 runners, 89km of South African hills, and a 12-hour cutoff that breaks hearts on live TV."

Moderate

Distance 89km

Elevation Gain ↑1,500m

Surface road

DNF Rate 8%

Cutoff 12h

What Makes It Unique

A 100+ year old institution. The biggest and most emotional ultramarathon on Earth.

The Course

The world's oldest and most prestigious ultramarathon, alternating annually between the up and down runs between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The course traverses rolling hills, passing through historic towns and the dramatic Valley of a Thousand Hills.

Profile

hilly

Topology

point-to-point

Aid Stations

Highest Point

1,120m

No Crew Access

No Pacers

Runner Experience

Scenery 4/5

Organization 5/5

Community 4/5

Aid Stations

Well-supported with 48 aid stations. Frequent access to food, drinks, and medical support throughout the course.

Post-Race Culture

A legendary finish line atmosphere. Comrades Marathon is a bucket-list race with celebrations that match its reputation.

Race Day Weather

Temperature

18°C

14° – 22°

Humidity

68%

Rain Chance

35%

Conditions

Early South African winter with cool, crisp conditions.

Stats & Records

Established

1921

Finishers

14,500

Avg Finish

09:30:00

Course Record (M)

05:18:19

Leonid Shvetsov (2007)

Course Record (W)

05:54:43

Frith van der Merwe (1989)

Entry

Entry Cost

R750-R1200

Opens

September

Sells Out

instant

Lottery Max Starters: 20000

Official Website →

External Links

Results

Lore & Trivia

Comrades is the world's oldest and largest ultra marathon — and for many runners, it is THE ultra marathon. Founded in 1921 by Vic Clapham, a South African World War I veteran who wanted to honour the soldiers who suffered alongside him, the 87km race between Durban and Pietermaritzburg has been run almost every year since. The race alternates direction annually: the "up run" from Durban climbs to Pietermaritzburg; the "down run" reverses. With 20,000+ runners, Comrades is ultra running's only true mass-participation event — a spectacle that rivals major marathons in crowd support and media coverage. South African television covers it live for 12 hours. The final cutoff at exactly 12 hours is enforced with heartbreaking precision: a gun fires, the gates close, and runners still on the course — sometimes metres from the finish — are disqualified. The emotion of that moment, broadcast live, has made Comrades one of the most dramatic events in all of sport.

▸ Founded in 1921 — the oldest ultra marathon in the world.
▸ 20,000+ runners make it the largest ultra marathon by participation.
▸ The "up" and "down" runs alternate direction each year between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
▸ The 12-hour cutoff is enforced with a gun — runners still on course are disqualified instantly.
▸ South African television covers the race live for 12 hours.
▸ Vic Clapham founded the race to honour South African soldiers from World War I.
▸ Green number bibs are given to runners who have completed 10+ Comrades; yellow for 5+.
▸ The race has been held every year since 1921 except during World War II and COVID.

Comrades is not a race. It is a pilgrimage. You don't run Comrades — Comrades runs through you.

— A South African running journalist On the race's cultural significance

Notable Editions

2000

The Impossible Double

Russian twins Oleg and Dmitry Volkov finished 1st and 2nd, running side by side for most of the race in matching form — one of the most visually striking finishes in Comrades history.