That time of the year has arrived when 22 000 crazy and eccentric people will be pounding the tarmac between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, a whole 90km, unprovoked.
The Comrades Marathon will once again be rolling into town, bringing KwaZulu-Natal to a standstill. The world’s toughest and biggest ultra marathon will take place on Sunday, June 8, and all eyes will be on the runners, the new initiatives and changes introduced by the new organizers.
Year in and year out, SA and international running aficionados and novices gather in this space to give their bodies a battering, their knees unbearable pain and their minds a serious mental challenge.
Many come out victorious, while thousands go back home defeated, crushed, their dreams shattered and limbs aching for weeks to come.
This 98th edition of the famous ultra will be the 49th down run, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at Durban’s People’s Park.
According to the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), the route distance for The Ultimate Human Race is a challenging 89.98km.
The 2025 race will be slightly longer than the 87.701km of the previous down run (2023), as the finish has been moved from the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium to an exciting new street finish outside People’s Park, where a grandstand for spectators as well as a hospitality and entertainment will be available, including space for running club tents.
The new street finish should create a more inclusive and celebratory atmosphere, as more people can gather to cheer on the participants, while also allowing a better flow of runners and spectators, reducing congestion, and ensuring a smoother finish experience for all.
Runners will also be very pleased to know that there will be no steps to climb at the finish.
Sunday World takes a look at some of top runners expected to burn the tarmac and romp home with the biggest prizes on offer.
Piet Wiersma: The defending champion became the first Dutch runner to win the Comrades Marathon last year. He announced his arrival in the 2023 race when he chased down the Tete Dijane, only to settle for second in one of the most dramatic finishes ever.
Tete Dijane: The rivalry between Dijane, a down run record holder (05:13.58), and Wiersma, “The Flying Dutchman”, will once again come to the fore when the gun is shot to unleash the runners.
Dijane surely is a favourite in the down run, and it will be interesting whether he can regain his crown from the hard-working Wiersma.
Edward Mothibe: The Nedbank runner won the 2019 edition, but Covid-19 halted his rhythm with the 2020 and 2021 races being cancelled due to the pandemic that was ravaging the world. He has been working hard behind the scenes to get back to the top of the mountain.
In the ladies’ event, Gerda Steyn is the overwhelming favourite, going for her third win in a row and overall fourth. Last year, she stormed home in a time of 5:49. 46 beating rival and Russia’s Alexandra Morozova, who finished second in 6:05:12.
American Courtney Olsen came third in 6:08:09, and together with Morozova, they have established themselves as suitable competitors. Steyn, who won the last six editions of the Two Oceans ultra marathon, looks unstoppable.
