For South Africans, whether you are a runner or not, the Comrades Marathon is an institution. We have watched this annual event from start to finish as supporters along the route, or at home glued to our television screens. In fact, if you were to conduct a survey, we’re sure you would find that every South African knows someone who has run this legendary race. We are fascinated by what motivates individuals to run such a long distance, proclaiming participants to be “mad”, yet secretly admiring their guts and determination.
As the “Ultimate Human Race” approaches this year, we thought we would dip into the history of the race and leave you with some memorable moments about the people that have made the race what it is today.
What Is The Comrades Marathon?
While the race goes by the title of “Marathon” it is widely recognized as the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race, run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, two cities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
First held in 1921, the Comrades Marathon has since gained global acclaim for its challenging course and rich history. The race covers a distance of approximately 89 kilometres (55 miles) and is known for its undulating course, testing the endurance and determination of participants. The direction of the race alternates each year: There is an “uprun” which is run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and is about 87 km in length, and a “down run” from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, which is about 90 km.
A Brief History
Vic Clapham, a World War I veteran from Durban, came up with the idea of this gruelling endurance event. He wanted to find a way to commemorate and honour the soldiers who had served and sacrificed their lives in the war, and he believed that a strenuous event would be a fitting tribute to their spirit and resilience, rather than a monument. It was with these sentiments that the first race on Tuesday, 24 May 1921 was run.
Consisting of only 34 men, the first race started at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and had its finish line at the Durban City Hall, 89,929 km away. Running on mainly dusty, dirt roads, Bill Rowan was the first to cross the finishing line in 8h 59m. It remains, to this day, the slowest winning time.
Only sixteen of the starting lineup finished that day, but each went down in history as having participated in the first Comrades Marathon.
The race has changed dramatically since 1921. Here are just some of the memorable moments recorded over the years:
- 1922: Arthur Newton won the race for the first of five times. Born in England, Newton lived in South Africa for many years.
- 1923: Newton finished the race in an amazing 6h56. He surprised everyone with his speed, so much so that there were only a handful of people at the finish to welcome him home. That same year, Francis Hayward became the first woman to complete the race. She was refused an entry, but ran regardless and finished in a time of 11h35. Her result went unrecognised by the authorities.
- 1930: The legendary Wally Hayward achieved his first win, going on to win four more times during the 1950s becoming the oldest man to complete the race in 1989.
- 1932: Geraldine Watson became the first woman to complete both the up run and the down run, unofficially.
- 1935: Robert Mtshali was the first black man to run the Comrades Marathon. He ran unofficially and finished in a time of 09:30:00.
- 1941 – 1945: Due to the Second World War, the race was stopped.
- 1948: A new tradition was born. Instead of firing the starter’s gun, Max Trimborn imitated a rooster’s crow, and so a recording of Trimborn’s crow is now played over loudspeakers at the start of every race.
- 1960: Jackie Mekler became the first man to break the 6-hour barrier, winning the race in 5:56:32.
- 1962: The first international runners participated. Four runners from England ran, and one of them, John Smith, won in under six hours, missing the record by 33 seconds. The race day was moved to 31 May, South Africa’s Republic Day, which was also a public holiday. The race remained on this day until 1994.
- 1967: Manie Kuhn and Tommy Malone were involved in the closest finish ever recorded. Malone looked like he would win the race comfortably, when with only 15 m to go, Malone collapsed in pain as cramps got the better of him. Kuhn raced past him to claim victory.
- 1971: Over 1 000 people start the race.
- 1975: In this the Golden Jubilee of the Comrades, women and black people were officially allowed to run. Vincent Rakabele became the first black runner to officially win a medal, finishing in 20th position. Elizabeth Cavanaugh won the women’s race.
- 1976: Alan Robb won the first of his four victories.
- 1981: A young Wits University student, Bruce Fordyce, won his first of nine victories. An opponent of Apartheid, Fordyce ran wearing a black armband.
- 1989: Sam Tshabalala became the first black man to win the Comrades Marathon. That same year, Frith Van Der Merwe won the women’s race in an astonishing 5:54:43, annihilating the women’s record and coming fifteenth overall.
- 1995: Prize money was introduced, attracting scores of international competitors. The official race day was moved to 16 June, a public holiday in South Africa commemorating the Soweto uprising.
- 2000: The 75th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon saw the largest number of participants in 75 years – 23 961 athletes. An extra hour was given for runners to complete the race.
- 2010: With 14 343 athletes participating, the race gained a place in the Guinness World Book of Records as the ultramarathon with the most runners.
- 2020: The in-person version of the race was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Virtual races were run or walked, with Parsons Pursuits participating for the first and only time! The race was cancelled again in 2021.
- 2022: In-person running of the event resumed, although the numbers were restricted to 15 000 participants.
- 2023: Total number of entries was capped at 20 000, and the race was run on the second Sunday in June.
Comrades Marathon Course Records And Statistics
Let’s explore some of the more fascinating statistics, impressive achievements and notable figures that have contributed to the rich history of this well-known ultra-marathon.
The 5 Fastest Times for the Up and Down Runs:
UP – MEN
| Year | Nation | Athlete | Time | Position |
| 2008 | Russia | Leonid Shvetsov | 5:24:39 | 1 |
| 2000 | Belarus | Vladimir Kotov | 5:25:33 | 1 |
| 1998 | Russia | Dmitri Grishin | 5:26:25 | 1 |
| 2000 | Russia | Alexi Volgin | 5:27:08 | 2 |
| 1988 | South Africa | Bruce Fordyce | 5:27:42 | 1 |
UP – WOMEN
| Year | Nation | Athlete | Time | Position |
| 2019 | South Africa | Gerda Steyn | 5:58:53 | 1 |
| 2006 | Russia | Elena Nurgalieva | 6:09:24 | 1 |
| 2004 | Russia | Elena Nurgalieva | 6:11:15 | 1 |
| 2015 | South Africa | Caroline Wöstmann | 6:12:22 | 1 |
| 2006 | Russia | Marina Zhalybina | 6:12:58 | 2 |
DOWN – MEN
| Year | Nation | Athlete | Time | Position |
| 2016 | South Africa | David Gatebe | 5:18:19 | 1 |
| 2007 | Russia | Leonid Shvetsov | 5:20:41 | 1 |
| 2009 | Zimbabwe | Stephen Muzhingi | 5:23:27 | 1 |
| 2016 | South Africa | Ludwick Mamabolo | 5:24:05 | 2 |
| 1986 | South Africa | Bruce Fordyce | 5:24:07 | 1 |
DOWN – WOMEN
| Year | Nation | Athlete | Time | Position |
| 1989 | South Africa | Frith van der Merwe | 5:54:43 | 1 |
| 2006 | USA | Ann Trason | 5:58:25 | 1 |
| 2004 | Russia | Tatyana Zhirkova | 5:58:51 | 1 |
| 2015 | Germany | Maria Bak | 6:00:28 | 2 |
| 2006 | Russia | Elena Nurgalieva | 6:07:12 | 1 |
The 5 Top Medal Winners:
A select group of runners have managed to achieve multiple victories in the Comrades Marathon, showcasing their exceptional talent and endurance.
| Men’s Champion | Nation | Number of Wins |
| Bruce Fordyce | South Africa | 9 (The only athlete to win 8 consecutive races 1981 – 1988) |
| Arthur Newton | England | 5 |
| Hardy Ballington | South Africa | 5 |
| Wally Hayward | South Africa | 5 |
| Jackie Mekler | South Africa | 5 |
| Women’s Champion | Nation | Number of Wins |
| Elena Nurgalieva | Russia | 8 |
| Maureen Holland | South Africa | 4 |
| Lettie van Zyl | South Africa | 3 |
| Helen Lucre | South Africa | 3 |
| Frith and der Merwe | South Africa | 3 |
Number of Participants
Over the years, the Comrades Marathon has witnessed a remarkable growth in participation. Thousands of dedicated runners from around the world converge to take part in this epic race. The number of registered participants has exceeded 20 000 in recent years, making it one of the largest and most prestigious ultra-marathons globally.
Spectators
Writing about the Comrades spectators in his book, Comrades Marathon – The Ultimate Human Race, John Cameron-Dow described them as “Lining the route, they are just as much part of Comrades as the athletes. The interaction between runner and spectator is the very essence of the race.”
Spectators arrive hours before the race starts to find the best spot for viewing the race or supporting their runner. They gather in their thousands, cheering loudly for all and sundry. Many runners have testified to how the encouragement and fervour of the crowds have kept them going at their weakest moments.
Medals
Athletes who complete the race in 12 hours or less are awarded medals:
- Gold: First 10 men and women
- Wally Hayward medal (silver-centred circled by gold ring): position 11 to 5:59:00.
- Isavel Roche-Kelly medal (silver-centred circled by gold ring): Women from position 11 to 6:29:00
- Silver: Athletes who finish between 6:00:00 and 7:29:00
- Bill Rowan medal (bronze-centred circled by silver ring): Runners finishing between 7:30:00 and 8:59:00
- Robert Mtshali medal (titanium): Runners finishing between 9:00:00 and 9:59:00
- Bronze: Athletes finishing between 10:00:00 and 10:59:00.
- Vic Clapham medal (copper): Athletes who finish between 11:00:00 and 11:59:00.
- Back-to-back medal: Awarded to runners who complete an up and down run in succession.
Stories Of Drama And Camaraderie
Over the last few years, the attraction of prize money has lured the top ultra-distance athletes to participate in the Comrades Marathon. However, it is not always the winners that people remember long after the event is over. For most competitors, it is the friendships that are made, bonds formed, the camaraderie and spirit of the race, as well as the inevitable drama. Spectators often recall those special moments when they watch complete strangers run shoulder to shoulder, laughing or crying and helping each other when they need it most.
Here are some dramatic and heart-wrenching tales from the Comrades Marathon.
The Pleasure And The Pain
In a tale of triumph and controversy, the 1992 Comrades Marathon saw Charl Mattheus initially crowned the winner, only to be disqualified due to testing positive for a banned substance. Mattheus maintained that the substance was inadvertently ingested through medicine he had taken for a sore throat. As a result, Jetman Msutu was rightfully elevated to the winner’s position, becoming the second black champion of the Comrades Marathon.
Adding to the unfortunate turn of events, the substance for which Mattheus faced the ban was later removed from the IAAF’s prohibited list, as it was found to lack any performance-enhancing properties. Mattheus endured public scrutiny during this time, but he ultimately redeemed his clean image in a remarkable fashion. In the 1997 down run, he triumphed with an impressive and faultless victory, surpassing a formidable field of both local and international competitors.
“If You Can’t Run, Walk. If You Can’t Walk, Crawl”
In 2022 we witnessed an extraordinary tale of determination. Jenna Challenor’s race started off well, with her feeling strong and in control. However, around the 65-kilometre mark, her body and legs began to falter under the strain.
Nearly at the finish line, Challenor collapsed to the ground. Her legs were finished. As three ladies ran past her, she was determined to finish, and get a gold medal. With the rules stating that athletes must cross the finish line unaided, Challenor found herself in a difficult position. Undeterred, she summoned every ounce of her strength and began crawling towards her goal.
She won her medal in an amazing time of 6:42:13.
True Sportsmanship
In 2016, Caroline Wostmann looked set to win the race. As she neared her final challenge, Cowies Hill, the competition transformed in an instant. Wostmann found herself struggling, plagued by the relentless cramps that haunt long-distance runners. With each painful step, she fought to maintain forward momentum through a combination of walking and jogging. Meanwhile, Charné Bosman steadily gained ground, trailing Wostmann by 8 minutes and 23 seconds at Sherwood, a mere 7 kilometres from the finish line. Many believed Wostmann’s lead was still secure despite her struggles.
However, as Wostmann approached the city centre, an unfortunate collision with a traffic officer on a motorcycle knocked her to the ground. Determined, she rose to her feet, but her legs wavered beneath her.
A few hundred metres later, Charné Bosman, propelled by a surge of energy, glided past Wostmann. Her momentum unyielding, she raced toward the finish line. Wostmann, displaying true Comrades spirit, admitted that the incident with the motorbike had been a setback, but also that Bosman would have passed her anyway, and so it didn’t affect the outcome of the race.
Comrades Legacy
In the illustrious history of the Comrades Marathon, stories of triumph, resilience, and the human spirit continue to shine brightly. This legendary race serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when all sorts of individuals push beyond their limits, supporting and inspiring one another along the way.
The Comrades Marathon embodies the essence of determination, camaraderie, and the relentless pursuit of personal goals. As the runners cross the finish line, they leave behind a legacy of courage, strength, and unwavering determination that will continue to inspire generations to come. It is fitting that we allow the great Sam Tshabalala to have the final word. “In the Comrades, we are all the same and all that matters is that we are running.”
