Interesting facts about the Comrades Marathon
With more than a century since the first Comrades Marathon, the race has become an iconic source of South African pride. Here are five interesting facts about the legendary ultramarathon.
THE proudly South African ultramarathon, with a total distance of 88km between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the Comrades Marathon, started as a tribute to the South African soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. Since then, the Comrades Marathon has become an iconic long-distance running race of prestige, and its popularity has spread globally.
With just a few weeks left until the 97th annual marathon on June 9, with this year being an Up Run, starting at the Durban City Hall and ending at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, we compiled a list of interesting facts about the legendary South African marathon.
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1. The course is marked by a set of hills
The Comrades Marathon is run on the roads of KwaZulu-Natal, marked by ‘The Big Five’ set of hills. On the Up Run, they appear in the following order: Cowies Hill, Fields Hill, Botha’s Hill, Inchanga and Polly Shortts. The highest point of the race, at 2 850 feet (870m) above sea level, is located near Umlaas Road interchange. Forty official refreshment stations along the route are stocked with soft drinks, mageu, water sachets, energy-drink sachets, fruit, biscuits, energy bars and cooked potatoes. Eight physiotherapy and first aid stations are also located at strategic points.
2. The first Comrades Marathon
The first Comrades Marathon was held on Empire Day, which was on May 24, 1921. On that day, 34 runners lined up at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall to begin a race to Durban to commemorate the spirit and camaraderie of the soldiers who fought in the Great War (World War I). The founder of the historic race, Vic Clapham (war veteran and SA Railways engine driver), set up the event with a vision to create a living memorial to the spirit of his fellow soldiers who suffered in the war.
The first race was won by Bill Rowan, a 26-year-old Transvaal farmer in a time of 8 hours and 59 minutes which would be the slowest winning time in the history of the race. There were 16 official finishers of the first race.
3. Comrades traditions
Over the years, the Comrades Marathon has evolved its own set of traditions. Since it began in 1921, the race has officially started with the firing of a gun by either the mayor of Durban or Pietermaritzburg, depending on the start venue, while his/her counterpart of the finish city welcomes the winner and receives an official letter of greeting, which is exchanged between the two cities annually.
The famous Vangelis’ Chariots of Fire has become associated with both the start and finish of the race.
At the finish, the chairperson of the Comrades Marathon Association fires a gun to designate the 12-hour cut-off of the race. Other officials or celebrities fire the gun to designate the cut-off times for the various medals. Immediately following the final cut-off gun at 17:30, a lone bugler plays The Last Post to signify the official end of the race.
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4. First woman to win
May 24, 2023, marked a centenary of women’s participation in The Ultimate Human Race. Frances Hayward was the first woman to have unofficially completed the Comrades Marathon in 1923, during a time when the race was only open to white men.
On the third running of the race in 1923, she lined up outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall with the 68 men who were competing that year for a Down Run. Despite speculation that she would not physically be able to finish the race, Frances crossed the line in 11:35:00, in what would have been 28th position in a field of 30 finishers that year.
5. The best Comrades Marathon times
The Comrades Marathon Association does not have records for the Up and Down Runs, as the distances differ with each run. Instead, they have the fastest recorded time for each route.
The male record for the Down Run, set in 2023 is 05:13:58 by Tete Dijana. The female record for the Down Run, set in 2023 is 05:44:54 by Gerda Steyn.
The male record for the Up Run, set in 2008 is 05:24:39 by Lenoid Shvetsov. The female record for the Up Run, set in 2019 is 05:58:53 by Gerda Steyn.
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