THE 50th up-run of the Comrades Marathon may be 700m shorter this year, but the elite runners reveal that the training in preparation for the big day was as rigorous, with each runner hoping to beat his or her own previous record.

Polish runner Dominika Stelmach has been participating since 2019, and has managed to bag a gold medal every year since, coming in at fifth place in 2025. She reckons that the race has gotten tougher each year.

“It’s harder now to get into the top three than it was years ago. Things are different; however, one has gotten stronger, chasing the under-7-hour mark. But, I must say it’s always better to be a novice in the race, there’s less pressure out there,” said Stelmach.

Widely decorated Dikeledi Majara is entering the race for the first time, carrying the hopes of her country, Lesotho. Her performance at The Two Oceans Marathon in April emboldened her to “check out” the Comrades. “There is nothing difficult about the Comrades, one just needs to be well prepared,” she chuckled.

Irvette van Zyl is taking on her first Comrades up-run, and bagged fourth place in 2025. She is excited and nervous, highlighting that last year’s edition was an eye-opener. “There were many lessons learned from 2025, given that I needed to experience the race again this year. I just had to reinforce my hill training, and hope that everything will come together on Sunday,” Van Zyl said.

The darling of ultra-marathons, Gerda Steyn, has added pressure coming into the race. She is a four-time Comrades Marathon champion, as she admits that the weight on her shoulders (or legs), is a motivating factor.

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“I always give it my all. This year will not be different; I will run as if I will never run again. That is always ingrained in my mind. My training is always 100%, so is my performance on race day.

“My victory is not so much personal, but it’s a ripple effect. I am not standing alone, I stand for and with my supporters who serve as my motivation. Running is my purpose, and my brain is wired to win, and break my best record,” Steyn said.

There will be three batches at the start line this year, i.e., 05:00, 05:15, and 05:30. The ultra-marathon will also be broadcast on YouTube for the first time.

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