On Sunday, 9 June, the streets of KwaZulu-Natal will once again come alive with the spirit of camaraderie and competition as thousands of runners gather for the 97th Comrades Marathon. Known as the Ultimate Human Race, this iconic ultra-marathon, famed for its grueling challenge and inspiring feats of endurance, promises to be an event of remarkable performances and thrilling outcomes.

From Durban to Pietermaritzburg

This year’s Comrades Marathon is an Up Run, starting in Durban and finishing in Pietermaritzburg. Notably, the official route distance of this year’s 97th Comrades Marathon is 85.91 km, making it the shortest route distance in Comrades history. The route course, meticulously measured by the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) Route Portfolio, Department of Transport’s Road Traffic Inspectorate, Durban Metro Police, and Msunduzi Traffic, ensures a challenging yet streamlined course for the runners.

Shortest Distance in History

CMA Race & Operations Manager Ann Ashworth confirmed that this year’s race distance is nearly 820 meters shorter than the last Up Run in 2019. The race finished at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse five years ago, where Gerda Steyn set the current best Up Run time of 5:58:53 in the Women’s race over a distance of 86.73 km. In 2008, Leonid Shvetsov set the still-standing Men’s best Up Run time of 5:24:49 over 86.94 km at The Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.

The varying distances over the years are primarily due to roadworks and differing routes taken out of Durban. This year’s race accommodates ongoing roadworks at the Umlaas Road Interchange, following a route through the suburbs of Cleland and Pelham, similar to that used in 2013 and 2015.

The Last 7km

Ashworth describes the final 7 km of the 2024 race route: “From the top of Polly Shorts, runners will continue along the R103 / CB Downes Road, past the previous right-hand turn into Murray Road used in 2017 and 2019, and continue into Washington Road bordering the sports fields of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. With approximately 3 km to go, runners will turn right into Oribi Road and head towards the Scottsville Racecourse along King Edward Avenue. The race’s iconic Toyota Mile will start at the intersection of King Edward Avenue and Alan Paton Drive, where runners will turn left and then right into Connaught Road, passing Comrades Marathon House within the last kilometer of the race. The entrance to this year’s finish straight will be off Surrey Road, eliminating the need to pass through the tunnel beneath the Scottsville Racetrack.”

Ashworth advises runners to arrive at the start of the race early due to ongoing roadworks, recommending that all athletes make their way to Durban City Hall in good time to avoid traffic congestion and potentially miss the start of the race.

Cell C’s Incentive for Excellence

This year, South Africa’s fastest-growing mobile operator, Cell C, is injecting a new wave of motivation into the race by incentivizing improved performance. In a groundbreaking move, Cell C will offer a total of R1 million in prize money to the male and female athletes who achieve the fastest average pace ever recorded over the race distance.

Currently, the record for the fastest average pace on the Up Run stands with Vladimir Kotov, who achieved it in 2000 over a distance of 87.3 km. For the women, Gerda Steyn holds the record, set in 2019 over 86.3 km. These benchmarks will serve as the targets for this year's competitors, aiming to surpass these impressive performances.

CMA Chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo expressed his excitement about the new incentive, saying, “This incentive is perfectly suited for an event like the Comrades Marathon, given the ever-changing race distance. The aim of this accolade is to stimulate improved performances by our leading men and women as opposed to a pure time-based incentive.”

A Grand Prize for Exceptional Performance

The R1 million prize is split equally, with R500,000 each for the top-performing male and female athletes. This significant reward is made possible by Cell C's sponsorship, highlighting the company's commitment to celebrating excellence and supporting the sporting community.

“We are grateful to this leading mobile operator for joining us in putting Runners First and celebrating our top performers in this year’s 49th Up Run,” Ngcobo added.

A Race to Watch

As the runners prepare to tackle the challenging course from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, the excitement builds for what promises to be a memorable race. With the added incentive from Cell C, this year's Comrades Marathon is set to push the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring not only the participants but also the global community of running enthusiasts.

The 97th Comrades Marathon will start at the Durban City Hall at 05h30 and end 12 hours later at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. Stay tuned for a race where history will be made, records will be challenged, and the spirit of endurance will shine brightly.