Comrades Marathon: Exciting New Finish Venue Details & Confirmation Of 2025 Down Run Distance
April 25, 2025Comrades Marathon Unveils More Generous Cut-Off Times for 2025
Big news from the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA)! They’ve just announced revised cut-off times for the 98th Comrades Marathon, happening on Sunday, 8th June 2025. This isn’t just a minor tweak; it’s a fresh, runner-focused approach. The CMA has designed these new cut-offs to ensure that anyone who has qualified and is on track for a 12-hour finish won’t be unfairly impacted.
A Runner-Centric Approach to Race Day
The CMA has listened and, after careful discussions, rolled out cut-offs that aim to support rather than penalise runners. The goal is clear: if you’ve put in the training and are capable of crossing that finish line within 12 hours, these new timings are designed to help you do just that.
CMA General Manager Alain Dalais explains the setup for race morning: “Although there will be two starts on race morning, at 5:45 am and 6 am, there will only be one set of cut-off times that come into effect after the second start at 6 am. The good news for the runners at the back of the field is that the staggered start will save them up to five minutes.”
He also touches on the practicalities: “The cut-offs are designed around the dismantling of race operations, cleaning up the route and the re-opening of the roads to traffic, but generous times have been given at each cut-off point, and runners who have not passed through a cut-off in time will be unable to continue the race. Safety is paramount, and we cannot allow runners who simply want to carry on to make that decision, hence they will be required to stop by these times.”
Understanding the New Cut-Offs
So, what’s the big deal with these new cut-offs? Well, to bag a 12-hour finish for the total 89.98km race distance, you’re looking at an average pace of eight minutes per kilometre (8:00/km). The exciting part about the 2025 adjustments is that none of the intermediate cut-off points will demand this pace from the get-go.
In fact, they’re giving runners more breathing room, especially early on. You’ll have a pace over 10:00/km to reach Cato Ridge (30.5km) and just under 9:00/km to get to the halfway mark in Drummond (45km). This is great news as it eases the pressure in the first half, allowing you to potentially bank energy for a stronger second half – a classic negative split strategy!
| POINT ON ROUTE | APPROX DISTANCE DONE | RACE TIME | TIME OF DAY | PACE TO GET THERE | APPROX DISTANCE TO GO | TIME REMAINING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cato Ridge underpass | 30.5km | 5:10:00 | 11:10 | 10:12km | 60km | 6:50:00 |
| Halfway @ Drummond | 45km | 6:40:00 | 12:40 | 8:55/km | 45km | 5:20:00 |
| Winston Park | 58.3km | 8:30:00 | 14:30 | 8:42/km | 32km | 3:30:00 |
| Pinetown underpass | 69.1km | 10:05:00 | 16:05 | 8:48/km | 21km | 1:55:00 |
| 45th Cutting crest | 81.5km | 11:30:00 | 17:30 | 8:30/km | 9km | 0:30:00 |
| Final Cut-off | 90km | 12:00:00 | 18:00 | 8:00/km | 0 | N/A |
Note: Cut-off times come into effect after the Second Group start at 06:00. (Add 15 minutes for Group 1.)
CMA Board Member Alan Gray, who also heads up the Race Advisory Committee (RAC), clarifies: “Runners will be aware of their own pacing, and if they fail to reach these points within these extended cut-offs, then their chance of completing the whole race at an overall 8:00/km average is extremely slim.”
He further adds: “The cut-offs have been set so that anyone capable of maintaining the required pace to the finish will be allowed to continue. For example, runners who may have been delayed while waiting to meet up with supporters for a change of shoes, but who pass through a cut-off point within the allowed time and still maintaining a significantly faster pace, will be allowed to continue. If those runners fail to maintain their pace, they will be removed from the race at the next cut-off point on the route.”
The Strategy: Pacing is Paramount
Alan Gray also offers a crucial piece of advice: “We know some runners may look at the list of cut-off times and think, wait, why do I only have 30 minutes to get to the finish after the 45th Cutting point, needing to cover 9km at 3:30/km pace, but they need to remember that just trying to stay ahead of the cut-offs should not be viewed as the ideal way to run the Comrades.”
He emphasises that the goal isn’t just to scrape past each cut-off. These are designed as safety nets, giving you the maximum possible time. The real focus should remain on maintaining that overall 8:00/km average needed for a sub-12-hour finish.
“Rather, it should be seen as the CMA giving you the maximum time to get to the finish, especially if you are still running strongly as you pass a cut-off point, but you still need to be able to meet the minimum requirement of running an overall pace of 8min/km to finish the race under 12 hours. We also urge you to watch the Comrades Webinar on 28 May to get a clear picture of how to run the race, so that you do not end up missing out on achieving your finish,” he adds.
A Word of Encouragement
Gray concludes with a positive message for all participants: “Remember, it’s about pacing more than anything else, and you don’t have to run non-stop the whole way – you can work within your own capacity, especially in the first half of the race. If you can run 10km in 63 minutes and a marathon in five hours, you can finish the Comrades, so pace yourself and enjoy the race. Simply put, the 2025 organisers are not here to take you off the road unless absolutely necessary – we want you to finish the race, and we are going to give you every chance of doing so!”
Delving Deeper: Your Cut-Off Questions Answered
To give you a bit more background, here are some common questions and answers regarding Comrades’ cut-offs:
The Early Days: A “Go As You Please” Affair?
Q: What was the original policy on cut-offs when the Comrades Marathon was first run?
A: Back in 1921, the first Comrades was a bit more… relaxed. The motto was “go as you please.” This meant if you fancied a quick lunch break or needed a rest, you could! You just had to make up the time later to hit that 12-hour finish. This philosophy led to the legendary tale of Bill Payn’s 1922 Comrades run. Payn, a noted provincial rugby and cricket player (who later played two rugby tests for the Springboks in 1924), was convinced to enter Comrades on race morning by his friend Arthur Newton (the 1922 race winner and eventual five-time champion). Payn famously stopped in Hillcrest for a breakfast of eggs, enjoyed a meal of curried chicken at Botha’s Hill, had a beer at Drummond, and munched on about 36 oranges in the second half. Add to that several more stops for tea, water, and even some peach brandy, and he still managed an eighth-place finish in a very respectable 10 hours 56 minutes!
The Need for Mid-Race Cut-Offs
Q: Why have intermediate cut-offs?
A: The Comrades Marathon route winds through primary access roads that are vital for local communities, residences, farms, and businesses. While these communities generously accommodate this iconic event, the roads do need to be reopened to traffic within a reasonable timeframe. Intermediate cut-offs help manage this process.
Evolution of Comrades Cut-Offs
Q: When and how were cut-offs introduced at the Comrades?
A: The concept of cut-offs wasn’t there from day one. The first official Comrades cut-off appeared for the 1968 Up Run. It was set at 6 hours 30 minutes at the halfway point (Drummond) for what was then an 11-hour final race time. Interestingly, this halfway cut-off effectively paced for a 13-hour full-distance finish. After a couple of years, the CMA noticed that runners just making this cut-off often had no realistic chance of finishing the race. So, a few years later, the Drummond cut-off was tightened to 6 hours. This was still essentially a 12-hour pace for an 11-hour final limit. This system remained until the 12-hour final cut-off was brought back for the 2000 millennium race and became a permanent fixture from 2003. Over the years, other intermediate cut-off points were also introduced.
Why Were Recent Cut-Offs Debated?
Q: Why have cut-offs proven so controversial in recent years?
A: The specific intermediate cut-off points and their timings have changed from year to year. However, Comrades Marathon organisers have faced criticism for setting these cut-offs too aggressively (or “tight”). The concern was that slower runners were forced to expend too much energy in the early stages of the race just to make these initial cut-offs, which then made it significantly harder for them to pass the later ones and ultimately finish.
The 2025 Philosophy: A Runner-First Approach
Q: What is the 2025 approach to route cut-offs?
A: The new 2025 strategy is a nod to the past, particularly the principles from 1968 and earlier. The main focus is on giving runners the greatest possible flexibility in their pacing choices, especially during the first half of the race. However, there’s still a need for cut-offs to ensure roads can be reopened to other users in a timely manner.
Will I Be Pulled Off the Course in 2025?
Q: Will a runner be removed from the road in the 2025 race?
A: The CMA has clarified that runners will only be asked to leave the route (and be transported to the finish by one of the ‘bailer buses’) under two main conditions: either the medical team has concerns about the runner’s health or welfare, or it becomes evident that the runner will not be able to make up the required time to reach the finish within the 12-hour limit. The 2025 race organisers are committed to ensuring that no runner who is still capable of finishing is prevented from doing so, provided they reach the designated cut-off points according to the official table. With very generous pacing times allowed to reach these points, runners will only be removed if they fail to meet a cut-off within the permitted time.
Want to enter Comrades Marathon 2026?
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