Comrades Marathon 2024 Route Distance Confirmed

The 97th Comrades Marathon, which takes runners from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, will see the shortest route distance in the race’s history this year. The official confirmed distance, following a meticulous measurement process, is 85.91km.

Route distance measurement

This measurement was conducted by a team consisting of the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) Route Portfolio, the Department of Transport’s Road Traffic Inspectorate, the Durban Metro Police, and Msunduzi Traffic. Ann Ashworth, the CMA Race & Operations Manager, confirmed that the 2024 route, known as the Up Run, will be nearly 820 meters shorter compared to the last Up Run held in 2019.

Fastest route times

Interestingly, the last time the race finished at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse, five years ago, the distance was slightly longer at 86.73 kilometres. That year, Gerda Steyn, the current Comrades Marathon Champion, set the record for the fastest Up Run in the Women’s category with a time of 5 hours, 58 minutes, and 53 seconds.

Looking back even further, 2008 saw Leonid Shvetsov achieve the Men’s Up Run record that still stands today – 5 hours, 24 minutes, and 49 seconds. However, The Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg served as the finish line that year, and the course distance was 86.94 kilometres.

Why the change in distance?

These variations in race distance over the years can be attributed to road construction projects and adjustments made to the route leaving Durban. This year’s course will need to navigate ongoing roadworks at the Umlaas Road Interchange. As a result, the marathon will take runners through the suburbs of Cleland and Pelham, similar to the routes used in 2013 and 2015.

Route description – Ann Ashworth

Ashworth has described the last 7km of the 2024 race route as follows, “From the top of Polly Shortts, runners will continue along the R103 / CB Downes Road, past the previous righthand turn into Murray Road used in 2017 and 2019; and continue into Washington Road bordering the sports fields of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.”

“With approximately 3km to go, runners will turn right into Oribi Road and head towards the Scottsville Racecourse along King Edward Avenue. The race’s iconic Toyota Mile will start at the intersection of King Edward Avenue and Alan Paton Drive where runners will turn left and then right into Connaught Road, passing Comrades Marathon House within the last kilometre of the race. The entrance to this year’s finish straight will be off Surrey Road, with the result that runners will no longer need to pass through the tunnel beneath the Scottsville Racetrack.”

Get to the Comrades Marathon start line early

There are only 78 days to Comrades race day, Ashworth has advised runners to make their way to the start of the race early saying, “Due to the ongoing roadworks, we ask that all of our athletes make their way to the Durban City Hall timeously to avoid the traffic congestion and potentially miss the start of the race.”

---

Want to enter Comrades Marathon 2025?

Unfortunately, there are no more spots available for Comrades 2024. Let Africa Marathons organise your trip and entry to the iconic Comrades Marathon 2025. To find out more and to enter the race, please send us an email at [email protected]. You can also contact us using the button below to join. We look forward to welcoming you to South Africa.

---