Comrades Marathon

Description

The Comrades Marathon is an 89km ultra marathon and a highlight on any runner’s calendar, held annually between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The first marathon took place on 24 May 1921 with 34 runners and began outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. It has continued annually since with the exception of the war years (1941 – 1945) with the direction alternating between Pietermaritzburg and Durban each year which has earned it the reputation as the “up and down run”.

Route landmarks

• Ethembeni School for Handicapped Children
• Camperdown
• Cato Ridge
• Alverstone Mast
• Highest Point on Umlaas Road
• Little Pollys
• Arthur's Seat
• Wall of Honour
• 45th Cutting

ChampionChip

All entrants must run with their own ChampionChip timing device on their shoes for the duration of the race. The chip must be registered in the runner’s name and NOT belong to someone else. No Chip, no results.

Medical services

• Ambulances equipped with satellite tracking
• Rapid response vehicles with advanced life support paramedics and full emergency equipment
• 4 motor bikes / quad bikes with paramedics
• 1 helicopter
• Netcare 911 Physio and First Aid Stations
• Adcock Ingram Critical Care Medical Tent
• Doctors, interns, and nurses
• Physio tent
• Mobile medical resuscitation trailer
• Advanced life support paramedic
• St. John’s Ambulance tent

Entries for the Comrades Marathon are limited to a maximum of 18,000 and there are no extensions. All entrants must qualify by completing an officially recognised race, be 20 years or older on the day of the race, and are urged to enter early to avoid disappointment.