The Road to Comrades Begins Long Before the Run Itself

For most people, the Comrades Marathon is a single day in June. For thousands of Johannesburg runners, it is the result of months spent on roads, trails, and hills long before the starting gun sounds in Durban.

Long before race day, Johannesburg's roads, parks, and hills become training grounds for thousands of runners preparing for the Comrades Marathon. Before sunrise, headlamps weave through the darkness, suburban streets fill with footsteps, and weekend mornings are claimed by long-distance training groups.

The 2026 race, the 99th edition of the iconic ultramarathon, once again delivered performances that will be remembered for years. More than 22,000 runners tackled the demanding Up Run from Durban City Hall to Pietermaritzburg, testing themselves over one of the world's best-known endurance events.

The day also produced new records.

South African George Kusche crossed the finish line in 5:15:56, breaking the previous Up Run record of 5:24:49 that had stood since 2008.

Gerda Steyn added another remarkable chapter to her Comrades career by securing her fifth victory, finishing in 5:44:53 and improving on her own previous Up Run record.

While the headlines belong to the winners, the event is built on thousands of ordinary stories. Johannesburg sends one of the country's largest communities of runners to Comrades each year, people who balance work, family commitments, and training schedules while preparing for a single day that can last anything up to twelve hours.

The marathon's influence extends well beyond race day. Running clubs organise training programmes months in advance, sports retailers see increased demand for shoes and equipment, physiotherapists and coaches work through busy schedules, and conversations around office coffee machines often shift from business to qualifying times and pacing plans.

For every runner standing on the podium, thousands of others are simply trying to hear the words, “You are a Comrades finisher.” That shared ambition is part of what has made the race special for more than a century.

In recent years, that spirit has also been captured in the race’s messaging culture, including the phrase “Ska Fela Moya”, meaning never lose hope, never give up. It reflects what many runners already learn long before race day: that Comrades is not only a test of distance, but of persistence.

Quick Digest

The Race: More than 22,000 runners took part in the 99th Comrades Marathon, following the Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

The Men's Record: George Kusche won in 5:15:56, setting a new Up Run record.

The Women's Record: Gerda Steyn claimed her fifth Comrades title in 5:44:53, breaking her own previous record.

Where the race is built before it begins

Months before race day, the city's roads, parks, and running clubs become training grounds for thousands of athletes preparing for South Africa's most famous ultramarathon.

Bottom Line

The medals may be awarded in Pietermaritzburg, but for thousands of Johannesburg runners, the real Comrades story was written long before race day, one early morning training run at a time.