Big News for the 2025 Comrades Marathon: Qualifying Time Revised

Fellow runners and marathon fanatics! We’ve got some exciting news fresh off the press from the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) that’s going to make a few of you very happy. With just 150 days to go to Comrades Marathon 2025, they’ve announced a major change to the qualifying criteria for the 98th Comrades Marathon, and it’s all about making this legendary race even more inclusive.

Drumroll, please… The qualifying time for the standard 42.2km marathon has been bumped up to 5 hours for everyone! Yep, you read that right – you now have a full five hours to complete a marathon and secure your spot in the 2025 Comrades Marathon, which kicks off on Sunday, June 8th, 2025.

Why the change?

This is huge! It means that Comrades, known as the “Ultimate Human Race,” is opening its arms even wider to runners of all levels. The CMA clearly wants to see a more diverse group of athletes tackling this incredible challenge, and we at Africa Marathons are totally on board with that!

This decision didn’t just come out of the blue. The CMA met with people in the running community – athletes, coaches, running clubs – before making the call. It seems like everyone’s excited about the change.

CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo, put it perfectly: “We are thrilled to make the Comrades Marathon more accessible to a wider range of runners. This change reflects our commitment to inclusivity and the growth of the sport.”

He added, “The Ultimate Human Race continues to uphold its tradition of challenging endurance and celebrating the spirit of camaraderie and perseverance. We believe that this adjustment will inspire more runners to participate and experience the unique challenge and camaraderie that the Comrades Marathon offers.”

And it’s not just him. Alain Dalais, the CMA’s Acting Race & Operations Manager, is also excited. He said, “The new qualifying time is a fantastic move. It opens up the race to more participants and encourages a greater diversity of runners to take on this incredible challenge.”

What do you need to do?

If you’ve run a marathon in under 5 hours since June 10th, 2024, you’re in the running (pun intended!). Just make sure you submit all your qualifying details to the CMA by Monday, May 5th, 2025. This means sending in your race time along with a few other details and the medical questionnaire.

You can update all your information on your Comrades entry profile on the Comrades website: www.comrades.com. Don’t miss out!

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a truly iconic event. The Comrades Marathon is more than just a race; it’s a testament to the human spirit. We can’t wait to see even more of you pushing your limits and experiencing the unforgettable camaraderie of Comrades in 2025!

Want to enter Comrades Marathon 2026?

Let Africa Marathons organise your trip to the iconic Comrades Marathon 2026. To find out more and enter the race, please email us at [email protected]. You can also contact us using the button below to join.