YOUR MARCH COMRADES MARATHON QUALIFIERS

Bucket List Marathons

There are 3 marathons that are on my all-time Top 10 short list. They are all hilly but incredibly beautiful (and make for an ideal weekend – or longer – getaway).

Surrender Hill: One should always be wary of marathons with the word ‘hill’ in the title - the Surrender Hill Marathon enhances this reputation. It’s a gruelling out-and-back route that takes one over 1,900m above sea level whilst you enjoy the natural beauty of the Maluti Mountains. Surrender Hill was known as ‘Sleeping Beauty’ until 1900 when the Free State Boers surrendered to the British during the Angle Boer War. It is now a national heritage site and forms the focal point of the marathon. Saying that you’ve conquered Surrender Hill is must for all marathon runners. This year the race will be run from Fouriesburg instead of Clarens.

Marakele: It doesn’t get any better (or more South African) than running a marathon in a Big 5 game reserve. The Marakele National Park is nestled into the Waterberg and the race organisers ensure that you take time to enjoy your beautiful surroundings with one of the toughest climbs in the country to get to the turnaround point. Before heading back to the safety of base camp, take some time to enjoy the spectacular cliff faces. Whilst looking up, don’t be too concerned if vultures seem to be circling overhead and following you – the reserve is instrumental in the conservation of Cape Vultures with 800 breeding pairs (the most in the world). Armed rangers are positioned every few hundred metres to keep a close eye on proceedings and ensure the safety of the runners but if you do encounter an apex predator, the standard game ranger advice is, “Don’t worry, you don’t have to run faster than a lion. You just have to run faster than the guy next to you!”

Weskus: This is a stunner of a race run entirely through the West Coast National Park. You start on the beach to the crashing sounds of the Atlantic Ocean and head up and down the fynbos covered sand dunes whilst the tranquil turquoise waters of the Langebaan Lagoon (the largest of its kind in the world) keeps you company. Those worried about twisting an ankle (or getting their shoes dirty) need not fear, only the initial 2km are on (smooth) dirt road and the remainder on tar. As an added bonus the route is entirely traffic free, so you can really appreciate your surroundings.

“If you’ve got a Big Bucket” Marathons

A few other destination races that I’d recommend travelling for a running weekend away are -

Tzaneen Tuffy: With 1143m of elevation gain over the single lap route, this is the toughest standard road marathon in South Africa. If you can fly up these hills, Comrades will be a breeze! And if the hills don’t leave you breathless, the scenery will.

Battlefields: This is a fairly hilly out-and-back route along the quiet R511 set amongst beautiful KwaZulu Natal scenery. The good news is that route back from the halfway mark is a lot easier. Although the course is tough, the surrounding scenery is simply stunning – your legs might complain about the hills but your eyes will feast on the pristine Drakensburg views for the full 42.2 kilometres. Of note is that every single person who used the race for as their Comrades qualifier finished the race in 2022.

Umngeni-uThukela Water: Replace the traffic, congestion and carbon monoxide of other locales with the thick Midlands air on a traffic-free marathon and celebrate Water Week with a marathon around the Midmar Dam. This is a beautiful route exploring the 3,000 hectare Midmar Nature Reserve. Enjoy a complimentary coffee at the start and the stunning scenery along the route.
Top tip: Stay in one of the resort chalets which are a few hundred metres from the start and enjoy a weekend in the Midlands. (with focal point being the Midmar Dam).

Dolphin Coast: “Fast and beautiful” is a combination you’ll seldom find on South African marathon route descriptions – get to enjoy the best of both worlds at this coastline-hugging route along the M4 Dolphin Coast highway. Enjoy great beach views on a fast course whilst the gentle sea breeze counteracts the Durban heat and humidity. This is the final event in the Balwin Sports marathon series.

Top tip: Look out for Comrades legend and race director Barry Holland and the finish and ask him for some Comrades tips.

Ultra Marathons

Om Die Dam (50km): Like the name says, this ultra is one long lap around the Hartbeespoort Dam. The route is tough with continual undulations. Enjoy the spectacular views on offer as you run over the Hartbeespoort Dam wall early on but the real highlight of this race is the classic climb up Saartjies Nek at 38km. Legend has it that Saartjie was a wicked witch who now haunts the pass (making this a real “hek’s nek”). Saartjie is indeed a nasty nymph who will haunt and taunt the weary ultra runner as you slowly drag yourself to the top of the Nek.

Human Rights Real Gijimas (50km): A unique and superb running experience through the Eastern Cape townships. Highly recommended for those that want something a little different. The Real Gijimas club was formed in Mdantsane township as a sporting outlet during the political turmoil of the 1980s. As such they are the oldest township running club in the country and organise an impressive array of races. Having run every 50k race in South Africa, I can confirm that this is the toughest. If you can sail through the final 11km of razor-sharp uphills into and around Mdantsane township you are in good shape for 8 June.

Irene (48km): This is one of only two ultras in Gauteng and is a low fuss, hassle-free Gauteng ultra that brands itself as “#THEQualifier for Comrades”. The race starts and finishes in the local agricultural grounds with the meat of the race run through the Irene and Midstream suburbs. The race is back to a double-lap route and has plenty of long, straight stretches for easy running.
Swasap (52km): A low key single lap route of Bloemfontein. With just 188m of elevation gain this is the flattest ultra marathon in the country.

Downhill Marathons

There are three options for those who like to use the force of gravity to assist them over their qualifier.

Elands: A point-to-point marathon starting at Waterval Boven on the road to Mbombela. The race sponsor, Trac4, also manages the road the marathon is run on – ensuring a safe and secure running experience with full road closures.

NMC Fast One: A downhill quadkiller that starts on the R37 towards Sabie and finishes at the Mbombela Stadium. Although the last few kilometres are similar to Kaapsehoop Marathon (and the race is also organised by Nelspruit Marathon Club), this race drops you into Mbombela via a different road. Take time to admire the views as you descend from the highveld to the lowveld – and enjoy the scents and colours of the local foliage and fauna.

Cango: Drop down from the famous Cango Caves to the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn. A fast qualifier amongst wonderful mountainous scenery and farmland - look out for large flocks of ostriches along the way to Oudtshoorn.

Fast & Flat Single Lap Marathons

Diamond Marathon: Go digging for diamonds at the second oldest standard marathon in the country (55th edition this year) with many of historic landmarks lining the route. The race boasts what is perhaps the longest standing men’s records in South Africa: 2:19:05 set over 30 years ago by a very young Gert Thys who was running as a junior!

Knysna Heads: A route that is both flat and beautiful (the highest point on the route is just 30m above sea level). This is a tranquil tour around the Knysna Lagoon which hugs the water for all but 2.4 km of the entire route. As a bonus the race has one of the cheapest entry fees in the country.

Original Kosmos: This is Secunda’s signature event where their marathon is just the starter. Most of the participants stick around to run another half marathon at lunchtime and a further 10km in the evening for a 73.3km daily total. You can run all three or enter events individually. The race has superb refreshment tables hosted by the local community - so you’ll be well fed and supported over the course of the day.

Moderate Single Lap Marathons

Johannesburg City: This is a PG-13 replacement of the old Jackie Gibson (which was the Texan Chainsaw Massacre of Marathons). The route is run over full road closures and includes the novelty of running along the M1 highway with panoramic views of the city and other interesting sights like Gold Reef City, the Masjid Siratul Jannah mosque and lot and lots of mine dumps. One of the high points of the route (metaphorically) and definite high point (literally) is Constitution Hill which reduces most to a constitutional walk until the summit is breached at 1788m above sea level just before the 25km mark. Another drawcard on the tour of downtown Johannesburg is the opportunity of the route is the opportunity to run over Nelson Mandela Bridge without the risk of getting mown down by a taxi.

Makoro Village: This marathon is themed around the Limpopo village lifestyle fusing traditional food, drinks and dance into the event. You can also expect to get plenty of support along the route form the local schoolkids who will be entertaining runners at various points along the route.

Fast & Flat Double Lap Marathons

Edenvale: This is your stock-standard fast-and-flat East Rand double-lapper. A well organised, low fuss community organised marathon with all proceeds going to local charities and a safe bet for the Joburg runners

Sasolburg: Obtuse, acute, right: Regardless of which angle you look at the Vaal Triangle from, you are in for a hot run through flat industrial landscapes. However, the people of the Vaal Triangle are proud of their towns, so much so that they all make you run around them twice. Sasolburg was founded in 1954 as a housing project for the local Sasol petroleum refinery (and the bottom point of the Vaal Triangle) and offers a fast and flat marathon that gives you a two-lap tour of the town.

Ethekwini Best of the Best: A well organised double-lap route from Kings Park Stadium towards Suncoast Casino including a section along the promenade. From there it's over the river to Durban North and then back to Kings Park.

Durban City: A flat two lap tour of Durban incorporating the city centre, promenade, harbour and point area. The race is known for having intermittent organisational issues (the year I ran there was no water at any of the tables) and should not be confused with the much better organised Durban International Marathon.

Mimosa Mall: A new race in Bloemfontein. You do your biggest climb (60m) over the first 3km of the lap and then gently undulate for the remainder. The finish is also the lowest point on the route so after the first hill it really is "all downhill from here!"

Out-&-Back Marathons

Bielie Mielie: Although the town of Reitz is small in size they are big on mielies – and have one of the largest maize silos in the southern hemisphere. Get your mielie buttered on both sides during the marathon which forms part of the Bieliemielie Festival – a long weekend full of festivities, sporting activities and ‘lietjies’ from the best Afrikaans talent in the industry. The out-and-back route is run over undulating country roads while competitors take in the atmosphere of the eastern Free State.

Standerton: Celebrate your right to run a marathon on Human Rights Day in Standerton. This is your typical small mining/agricultural town marathon with energetic support tables lining the out-and-back route. This is a popular qualifying marathon with a fairly easy route along the R50 towards Leandra. For those that aren’t chasing a fast time, enjoy the thousands of cosmos flowers that are blooming at this time of the year.

uMhlathuze Crocs: By popular demand, the race is back to the traditional out-and-back route through the Empangeni sugar cane fields. The scenic route combines tar and off-road running over a course that will test your endurance. Northern KwaZulu Natal can be very hot, but the refreshment tables are always well stocked with ice-cold Coke and water. Marathon runners are ensured a balanced diet over the route with barrels of bananas (which grow like weeds in this part of the world) as well as potatoes and oranges.

Point-to-Point Marathons

Harry Gwala: Run from One of the few March marathons I’ve never run is the Harry Gwala. This race is sponsored by the local municipality in rural KZN, has massive prize money but does not provide any transport to runners making it one of the more difficult marathons to run.

Ngqeleni Human Rights: This is a new marathon in the Transkei run from the Libode Bridge on the R61 to the village of Ngqeleni.

Other Marathons

At the time of writing I was not able to obtain feedback from the organisers of the new Upington Wes Marathon.

Stuart Mann is the proud holder of Comrades Green Number 50252. He writes and blogs as ‘The Running Mann’. You can follow him on social media @runningmann100 and read about his marathon running adventures at www.runningmann.com

Full details of all February qualifiers can be found here
A complete list of all 2025 Comrades qualifier marathons and ultras can be found here