The 2026 Comrades Marathon

The 2026 Comrades Marathon on 14 June is the 99th edition of the world’s oldest ultra marathon. This year’s race covers a distance of 85.7km with 21 633 runners from around the world taking part. The race signifies the endurance and resilience of the human spirit, and war veteran Vic Chapham conceived it.

Bill Rowan won the first race in 1921. Women who participated in the first few races did so unofficially, and the organisers later opened the event to international runners. Vincent Rakabaele from Lesotho became the first black person to win a medal in 1975. Every person who successfully finishes the race earns a Comrades Medal. So in 2025 it was the Comrades “down” Route which means this year the runners are facing the “Up” Route. Notably, The Comrades Marathon 2026 is generating even more anticipation among running fans.

The “Up” Route

One of the aspects that sets the Comrades apart from other marathons is that the race changes direction every year. This year the runners take on the “Up” race, which runs from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. The “Up” race climbs 1800m in elevation and starts at Durban’s City Hall with the infamous “Rooster crow”. Max Trimborn introduced the “Rooster crow” in 1940 to replace the starting pistol that signals the start of the race. The route up to Pietermaritzburg confronts runners with the “Big Five” the five hills they must overcome. Looking ahead, The Comrades Marathon 2026 will again feature these signature challenges.

The first of the Big Five is Cowies Hill with a distance of 2.2km. Next up is the most brutal Fields Hill at 2.8km. Bas Hill comes third with a distance of 2.4km. Inchanga presents a 2.5km climb just after the halfway mark. Finally, Polly Shortts the last of the Big Five awaits runners just outside of Maritzburg. The race finishes at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse.

The Starting Line Traditions

The starting traditions must first play out before the first set of runners start at 05:00. The tradition opens with the South African National Anthem, followed by vuvuzelas blown on the mining song. Chariots of Fire then fills the air, followed by the Rooster crow, after which the runners set off. Fans of The Comrades Marathon 2026 are sure to enjoy these established traditions.

Cut Off Times for the Comrades

Unfortunately, not all runners who start the race manage to finish it. The race features 7 time cut off points that runners must reach within certain times in order to continue. Runners must reach the Pinetown cut off at 18.5km within 2.45 hours to carry on. The next point, Winston Park, sits at 29.5km and runners must reach it within 4.30 hours. Drummond marks the halfway point at 41.8km, where runners face a cut off time of 6.10 hours. Runners must then pass through the Kater Ridge Underpass within 8.10 hours. They must hit the Chicken Farms cut off within 9.40 hours. The last cut off point stands at the bottom of Polly Shortts, with 6.4km remaining to the finish line. As a result, training strategies for The Comrades Marathon 2026 will be under the spotlight.

Favourites to Win the Comrades in 2026

Several names demand mention when writing about the Comrades Marathon. Bruce Fordyce is synonymous with the Comrades Marathon. The South African athlete claimed a record eight consecutive wins during the eighties. Johannes Maros Mosehla holds the title of oldest finisher, collecting his 12th medal in 2025 at the remarkable age of 83. The marathon rewards the first ten finishers with substantial prize money, paying the winner a cool R925 000. It also offers a massive R605 000 to any man or woman who breaks the current record, and the first ZA resident to cross the finish line earns an extra R242 000.

Gerda Steyn needs little introduction when it comes to women athletes in the Comrades. The 36-year-old, who graduated from the University of the Free State, has claimed both the Comrades and Two Oceans Marathon titles multiple times. Gerda became the fourth female runner to break 6 hours and set a new record in 2023 with a time of 5:44:54. She is chasing her fifth win and her third double win of the Comrades and Two Oceans in one year. She enters as the firm favourite, but Kenyan Shelmith Muriuki who claimed third last year will push her hard. South Africans Irvette van Zyl and Adele Broodryk also enter the race as strong contenders in 2026.

Dutch runner Piet Wiersma is the man to beat this year. He will line up against Tete Dijana, who is chasing his first “Up run” victory.

Betting on the Race

World Sport Betting and Hollywoodbets are the two sports books in South Africa that focus on Comrades Marathon odds. Both offer markets on the outright winner as well as the top 3 and top 10. Here’s to getting up early and watching the start of South Africa’s most famous marathon with a cup of coffee.