Reader here we go... it's the Friday Comrades Marathon Edition.

Taking a moment to honour and salute all the athletes taking on the Ultimate Human Race this weekend. Wishing you all the best of luck.

Comrades 2025, all you need know, running for a cause, meet our squad and will you be lining up in 2027 for the 100th running of the Comrades Marathon?

💭What I'm thinking about Comrades:

I. Comrades is far and hard but you have the privilege to line up at the start and deserve to be there. Not anyone or everyone can say that. What a privilege it is to worry about a running race time.

II. Have your WHY engrained in your thoughts. This race is not just about you. It's about all the sacrifices that all your family, friends and loved ones have made.

III. Challenges like the Comrades Marathon come into our lives to help us get from one place (the start of your training) to a better one (the finish line 🤣) but more importantly to be a better person. Process > Outcomes

IV. Comrades Marathon is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired, aka the finish line at Comrades Marathon.

📖COMRADES MARATHON: All you need to know:

The 98th Comrades Marathon will be run on Sunday, 8 June.

This will be the 49th Down Run, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at Durban’s People’s Park, covering an approximate 89.9km distance.

Group 1, with batches A to J, will start at 5:45am, and Group 2, with batches K to S, will start 15 minutes later at 6:00am.

This year's race will be slightly longer than the 87.701km of the previous Down Run (2023), as the finish has been moved from the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium to an exciting new street finish outside People’s Park, in the northbound lanes of Masabalala Yengwa Avenue.

This will include a finish-line grandstand for spectators erected in the southbound lanes of Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, as well as a hospitality and entertainment area in People’s Park, and space allocated for running club tents on either side of the finish.

The longest Down Run in the history of the Comrades was 92km in 1971.

MEDALS

Gold First 10 Men and Women Wally Hayward (Men) Position 11 to sub 6hrs 00min
Isavel-Roche Kelly (Women) Position 11 to sub 7hrs 30min Silver (Men Only) 6hrs 00min to sub 7hrs 30min Bill Rowan 7hrs 30min to sub 9hrs 00min Robert Mtshali 9hrs 00min to sub 10hrs 00min Bronze 10hrs 00min to sub 11hrs 00min Vic Clapham 11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min

EQUAL PRIZE MONEY FOR MEN & WOMEN

Position 1 R874 000 Position 2 R438 000 Position 3 R315 000 Position 4 R158 000 Position 5 R123 000 Position 6 R71 000 Position 7 R62 000 Position 8 R54 000 Position 9 R45 000 Position 10 R36 000

KEY REFRESHMENT DETAILS:

HYDRATION SUPPLIES

• Thirsti Water Sachets: 2.2 million

• Thirsti Sports Drink Sachets: 600,000

• Coca-Cola: 30,350 litres

• Fanta / Crème Soda: 10,650 litres

• Coca-Cola Paper Cups (175ml): 450,000

• Asemzansi Amahewu: 45,000 servings

• Bavaria 0.0% Beer (150ml cans): 22,000

FOOD & ENERGY PROVISIONS

• Cooked Baby Potatoes: 2 tons

• Bananas: 600 boxes

• Oranges: 4.5 tons

• Energy Biscuits: 500 kg

• Salticrax (Crackers): 500 kg

At the refreshment stations there will be around 5,000 volunteers to assist runners as they make their way through the gruelling ultramarathon.

Over 80 different nations will take part in this year’s edition.

🤍 What I'm liking:

Comrades 2025, Running for a Cause...

A few of our athletes are running for more than just a medal and themselves. If you are able to please assist by donating to their cause.

Support Stellenbosch University: Empowering Future Leaders with Zareena Badsha

"Hello everyone! My name is Zareena, and I am excited to share my fundraising journey to support Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

As I embark on my most ambitious running goal, Washie100miler in July. I hope to once again raise funds in support of students at Stellenbosch University who fall into the 'missing middle', unable to access state financial aid (NSFAS) yet struggling to afford their education."

DONATE HERE

Running for Gaza with Mumtaz Chohan

"Each kilometer of my run will be dedicated to the memory of the Palestinians who have lost their lives. With the current death toll standing at 50000+, I will honor 556 Palestinians with each kilometer run, totaling 90 kilometers. Palestine WILL be free! I have always used running as a platform to raise awareness."

DONATE HERE

Mental Health and Awareness and The Bechet Legacy Fund c/o the newly-formed Bechet Alumni Society with Luke Kirtsen

"I have been participating in endurance events for many years earning my Comrades Green Number and 4 Ironman finishes amongst my personal milestones. Over the years I have raised funds for Ironman4thekids, old age homes, children’s homes and many of my Mum’s passion projects. An ongoing conversation with Mum was… is… using my love of running for a purpose and so this year I finally mustered the courage to go public and recruit an NGO called Coming Home to raise funds with."