Comrades Marathon Announces Innovative Two-Start System for 2025 Race

Get ready, Comrades runners! The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has unveiled an exciting change for the 2025 edition of the world’s biggest, oldest, and most famous ultramarathon. Love it or hate it, in a move designed to enhance the race experience for every participant, the 2025 Comrades Marathon will feature two race starts.

A Historic First: Two Starts for the Ultimate Human Race

This means that for the first time in the history of “The Ultimate Human Race,” runners will be split into two groups, each with its own start time. Both starts will still take place at the traditional Pietermaritzburg City Hall, the iconic start venue for the 49th Comrades Marathon Down Run.

Staggered Starts for a Smoother Race

With the Comrades Marathon field growing year on year, the CMA is introducing staggered start times to manage the flow of runners. The first wave will kick off at 05h45, with the second wave following 15 minutes later at 06h00. This staggered approach is all about reducing congestion on the course, giving you more room to find your stride, especially in those crucial early kilometres.

Safety and Experience at the Forefront

This decision didn’t come lightly. The CMA has consulted with numerous experts and put in a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure that the two-start system maintains the world-class safety measures and exceptional runner experience that Comrades is known for. The Race Advisory Committee has explored various options, and this change is expected to improve safety and also allow runners to run at their best.

CMA General Manager, Alain Dalais says, “This change reflects our commitment to continuously improving the safety measures and the overall race experience for our participants. We believe the two starts will provide a safer, more enjoyable and efficient race day for everyone involved.”

What This Means for You: Key Info

Firstly, previous seeding will not apply. The CMA will issue specific communications about the new process as soon as possible, so keep an eye out for those. There’s also a slight delay in confirming the final Comrades route due to ongoing roadworks, but rest assured, this will be finalized in plenty of time for you to plan your training and race strategy.

Detailed information, including updates on seeding, qualifying, and cut-offs, will be available on the official Comrades Marathon website and through our Africa Marathons communication channels.

Get Ready To Race!

The 98th Comrades Marathon is set for Sunday, June 8, 2025. This is the 49th Down Run, starting at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at Durban’s People’s Park. Get ready for another incredible chapter in the Comrades story!

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