What is the Comrades Marathon Distance in 2020?

Want to know a bit more about the Comrades 2020, specifically what the Comrades Marathon distance will be, then look no further, you are in the right place?

So what is the exact Comrades Marathon distance for 2020?

The 2020 Comrades Marathon will be held on 14^th June, and it will be 90,2km long, following the route run in 2018. The exact distance can be subject to change however and will be confirmed in the final race instructions.

The Comrades Marathon start

The Comrades Marathon 2020 start will be at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg at 05.30 AM. It starts in the dark and the atmosphere is absolutely incredible. Every year the famous ‘Chariots of Fire’ song is played which is a special moment. Many cite the Comrades Marathon as the best race start line atmosphere in the world! Your qualifying time will determine which starting batch you are in, from A-H.

The Comrades Marathon route

The Comrades Marathon route in 2020 is a ‘down run’ from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, following the 2018 route. Although it is described as a ‘down run’, there are still plenty of climbs throughout the route, so be prepared for this.

There are a total of 43 refreshment stations along the route which stock many beverages including water sachets, Energade sachets, Coke, Fanta and Crème Soda. There are also snacks available at these stations, including bananas, oranges, energy biscuits, savoury biscuits and chocolate. There are 3000 dedicated volunteers who will man these refreshment stands.

The route takes runners towards Durban, where the finish will be in the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The crowd support along the route is always amazing, and the atmosphere in the last stretch to Durban is incredible.

Comrades Marathon route cut-offs

The Comrades Marathon is a ‘gun to gun race’. This means that regardless of where you start, your time will begin when the gun goes off. The final cut off is at 17:30, which means there is a maximum 12 hour time limit.

There are also cutoffs, throughout the route. The table below clarifies this, although it may be subject to change.

The Comrades Marathon finish

As mentioned earlier, Comrades Marathon 2020 will finish at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. If you are arriving into Durban during the daylight, you’ll be treated with beautiful views of the coastline. Many runners have described this as a big motivation boost towards the end of the race when most are struggling.

At the finish, the Chairperson of the Comrades Marathon Association will fire a gun to announce the 12-hour cut off of the race.  Immediately following the final cut-off gun at 17:30, a lone bugler plays the ‘The Last Post’ to signify the end of a very long day. If you’ve ever seen a video clip of the Comrades supporters trying to cheer the last runners over the line in under 12 hours, it is incredible!

Want to know more about the Comrades Marathon and how you can get there with Africa Marathons? Please visit our Comrades Marathon 2020 page or contact us on [email protected]