Welcome to the Comrades Marathon

11 June 2023|South Africa

Comrades Marathon 2023 with Africa Marathons

Please note:

• Very important Comrades Marathon information - We can unfortunately only cater for international entrants. No entries are available with us for athletes resident in South Africa
• The provisional date for Comrades Marathon 2023 is scheduled for Sunday, 11 June 2023
• Click here for our Comrades 2023 itinerary
  Email us now to reserve your race entry and place on the Africa Marathons team. Spaces are limited so please check with us as soon as possible

The legendary Comrades Marathon is the world's oldest and largest Ultramarathon. The 96th running of Comrades Marathon 2023 will be a very special down run (a double down medal for those who completed the 2022 down run). If Comrades 2022 is anything to go by the celebration of the comeback of The Ultimate Human Race in 2023 will be even bigger.

The Comrades Marathon was run for the first time on the 24th of May 1921 and has been run every year since, with the exception of World War II and unfortunately 2020 & 2021. The race was the brainchild of WWI veteran Vic Clapham, to commemorate South African soldiers killed during the war. Clapham himself had endured a 2,700km trek through East Africa during the war and wanted the memorial to be a supreme test of physical endurance.

Ultramarathons are any distance over the standard 42.2km marathon and this is one of the very best in the world. The Comrades is run between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal and alternates each year between an ‘up’ run starting from Durban, and the ‘down’ run starting from Pietermaritzburg, taking on the challenging ‘Big Five’ set of hills.

The race distance slightly varies each year but is approximately 90 km. There are 27,500 entry places (2,500 international entries) and runners must complete the course in under 12 hours, also reaching a number of cut-off points at allocated times to continue in the race. Runners must have completed an official ‘qualifying’ marathon in under 4 hours and 50 minutes to enter this prestigious event.

The Comrades is a very special event and one that should be on all runners' bucket lists – the strong values of camaraderie, courage and commitment, dedication, passion and perseverance are key to making this event so unique.

Africa Marathons arranges everything for athletes who join us for the Comrades Marathon and offer a fantastic package to take part in the ultimate human race. We also have a limited number of guaranteed entries for international runners to the Comrades Marathon, so best get in touch with us to secure your spot.

Please click here to see our full travel itinerary for 2023.

To join the Africa Marathons Team please email - [email protected] or ring +44 1932 361807 (UK) +1 844 390 1798 (USA) +44 (0)7791360170 (Rob).