This year marks the 91st edition of the Comrades Marathon, the world’s most famous ultra-marathon.

This year’s race is taking place today on 29 May and promises to be an epic race once again, with a number of Potchefstroomers also participating in the race.  The race starts at 05:30 at City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finishes at Kingsmead Stadiun in Durban.

Here are 10 interesting Comrades Marathon facts

1. Caroline Wostman and Gift Kelehe are the defending woman’s and men’s Comrades Marathon champions.
2. First World War veteran Vic Clapham is the father of the Comrades. He wanted to host a marathon as a living memorial to South African soldiers killed in the war.
3. The first Comrades Marathon took place in 1921 and has been held every year, except between 1941-1945 during World War II. The first winner was Bill Rowan with a time of 08:59.
4. Springbok, Bill Payn, finished the 1922 Comrades Marathon in his rugby boots, having consumed a plate of bacon and eggs, chicken curry, oranges and peach brandy along the way! The next day he played rugby in his running shoes!
5. Bruce Fordyce holds the record for the most Comrades wins with nine. He also won eight in a row as he dominated this race in the 1980’s.
6. The Russian twins, Olesya and Elena Nurgalieva has dominated the Comrades Marathon in the 21st century. Elena has won a record eight times while her sister Olesya has won twice.
7. Around 20 000 runners have entered for the event with  19 626 runners representing South Africa.
8. The average age of runners for this years Comrades is 43 for the men and 41 for the women.
9. A runner will lose approxamitely 3-5 kilograms in the race.
10. The ‘Old Mutual Spirit of Comrades Awards’ is an annual event, whereby a maximum of three individuals are rewarded for embodying the true ‘Spirit of the Comrades Marathon’ and being an inspiration to humanity.