Comrades Marathon 2025 to feature new longer route and finish line setup
The 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon is set to take place on Sunday, June 8, 2025, marking a Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban over a newly confirmed distance of 89.98km.
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) announced the updated route following precise measurements conducted in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s Road Traffic Inspectorate and Durban Metro Police.
This year’s route is slightly longer than the 2023 Down Run (87.701km), due to a new finish line outside Durban’s People’s Park on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue. The finish replaces the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium and will include grandstands for spectators, a hospitality area, and dedicated spaces for running clubs.
Runners will begin their journey at 5h30 AM at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and must cross the finish line by 5h30 PM, within the traditional 12-hour cut-off. The course will take athletes through key city streets and landmarks, including Chief Albert Luthuli Street, Alexandra Road, and Polly Shortts, as they face the infamous “Big Five” hills.
The CMA has placed a strong emphasis on safety, promising enhanced medical support, refreshment stations, trained marshals, and visible law enforcement along the route.
Entries are capped at 24,000. Green Number Club members those with 10 or more Comrades finishes will have an exclusive entry window from November 6 to December 9, 2024. All other runners can enter from November 13 to December 9. Athletes with 25 or more medals will have their entry fees waived, though a service provider fee still applies.
Qualifying times must be recorded between June 10, 2024, and May 5, 2025, with final seeding based on verified results post-qualification.