THE COMRADES MARATHON

Finishing the Comrades marathon is a huge achievement for even a highly accomplished runner, and the atmosphere is without equal. This should definitely be a bucket-list experience for every South African runner.

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The strong values of camaraderie, courage, commitment and dedication are key to making this event unique.

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The legendary Comrades Marathon is the world’s oldest and largest Ultra Marathon, with a distance of 90km. The Comrades is run between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in KZN and alternates each year between an UP-run starting in Durban, and the DOWN-run starting in Pietermaritzburg, taking on the challenging ‘Big Five’ set of hills along the way.

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Once you have made the decision to run Comrades, there are some adjustments you'll need to make to your lifestyle, as you'll need to commit to running for around one and a half hours a day, four to five times per week, and then an additional three to four hours on Saturdays or Sundays which is when we take part in races and long runs. 

You will also need to decide on a training program that suits you, which will help you achieve your goals. RAC has many experienced Comrades runners who are ready and willing to share their experience and advice with runners of all abilities. Feel free to chat to Dick Welch, Hanspeter Stebler, Mike Goodhew or Robin Jones at the RAC clubhouse on Tuesday evenings about tailoring your goals and training plans.

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During the months leading up to Comrades RAC holds regular informative talks and interactive discussions for runners, covering a variety of topics. These talks are open and free to all runners, but we appreciate any donations towards our Comrades Travel Fund, for runners needing assistance.

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