How (not) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon

If you want to know how NOT to qualify for the Comrades Marathon, The Ultimate Human Race, then you’ve come to the right place!*  This post is about our attempts at how (not) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon in 2024.

We have both run the Comrades Marathon before.  Dave ran it in 2007 and in 2010, and I also ran it in 2010 – you can check out My Comrades Marathon 2010 story here.  

*SPOILER ALERT – we did qualify for the 2024 Comrades Marathon, but we didn’t do it the easy way!  Read on to learn more about the Comrades Marathon, and the lessons we learned during the training and qualifying period.

About the Comrades Marathon

First a bit of background about the Comrades Marathon.  The Comrades Marathon is an ultra marathon run on the road between the two cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa.  It first started 103 years ago in 1921, and this year will be the 97th Comrades Marathon.  The distance is approximately 90km/56 miles, but does vary slightly each year depending on the exact route used.  The race starts at 5.30am and has a cut-off time 12 hours later at 5.30pm.  

The Comrades Marathon, also known as The Ultimate Human Race, is iconic in South Africa, and is a challenge that attracts runners from all around the world.  The modern era sees upwards of 20,000 runners take to the start line.

Up versus Down in the Comrades Marathon

The direction of the run alternates each year between “up” and “down”.  The “up” and “down” effectively refers to the elevation levels of the starting and finishing points – Pietermaritzburg sits at an elevation of approximately 921 metres (3,022 ft), while Durban is pretty much at sea level.

The “Down Run” from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, is usually run in odd-numbered years, and the “Up Run” which starts in Durban and finishes in Pietermaritzburg is run in even-numbered years.  There have been exceptions to this due to special events, for example the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 meant that year was a Down Run.  And due to the global coronavirus pandemic the Comrades Marathon was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. 2022 followed the missing years with a Down Run, before returning to the correct odd/even sequence for the 2023 race.  

This year the Comrades Marathon is an Up Run and will be held on the 9th June 2024. 

Qualifying Criteria for the Comrades Marathon in 2024

The Comrades Marathon is an ultra marathon road running race where you need to run at least one approved race no shorter than 42.2km in under 4hrs49min59secs to qualify.  In essence you have to run a marathon in under 4hours 50minutes, and you have to do it between 1st September 2023 and 6th May 2024 in order to stand on the start line in Durban on the 9th June 2024.

There are some additional criteria (e.g. completing a medical questionnaire), plus other official distances and times for qualifying, but for the purpose of this post we will concentrate purely on international entrants (us!) attempting to run a qualifying time for the Comrades Marathon in 2024.

The lure of the Comrades Marathon

The Comrades Marathon has a way of pulling you in.  Once you’ve done one Comrades, you want to do another, and that is despite the fact that after running the first 90kms most people say never again!  2024 will see one man, Barry Holland, remarkably attempt to run his 50th consecutive Comrades Marathon!!!

Dave started with a “Down” run in 2007 while we lived in South Africa, and I vowed at the finish line of that race that I was not going to endure the stresses of being a supporter/spectator ever again.  Next time I too would run the race.

That next time didn’t arrive until 2010 when Dave was hoping he would get the chance to complete the “Up” run and have the satisfaction of completing one of each of the Comrades Marathon routes.  But apparently due to the FIFA World Cup and the 85th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon, the organisers changed the race direction to a “Down”.  We both completed that race in 2010, but it meant that we would have to return to South Africa again to take on the challenge of the “Up”.

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It has taken us 14 years to find the right time to get back to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon Up Run!  

Losing my running mojo

Dave has been fairly consistent with his running over those past 14 years, continuing to bang out a decent weekly mileage, but after finishing the Venice Marathon in 2019 I didn’t think I’d ever run another marathon again.  (How wrong I was!)

With the onset of menopause and all the changes that come with it, plus a diagnosis of osteoporosis in my hips, I lost my running mojo.  The coronavirus pandemic also meant all running races were cancelled, and the motivation for me to run without a race goal was non-existent.

And so it was during a day in late September last year when Dave was training for the Rennes Marathon in France that I decided I will start running again.  If he was going to fulfil his dream of going back to South Africa to run an Up Comrades Marathon, then I sure as hell was not going to be left standing on the sidelines!  My running mojo was back, menopause or no menopause, and I was ready to give Comrades Marathon training a crack.

Starting training for the Comrades Marathon from scratch

I was aware that I was starting training for an ultra-marathon from a very low base.  And I was starting late in the Comrades Marathon training programme calendar – most training plans for beginners like me start from June, not October!  But even if it was only two to three short runs a week, it was a start, and more importantly I had the focus and motivation to keep trying.  My aching knees that I had been feeling while walking and cycling had deterred me from running, but it wasn’t long before I realised I could run pain free!  By the end of October 2023 I had managed to run a whopping six times covering the grand total of 33km for the month.

At the beginning of December 2023 when my average weekly total was hitting the glorious highs of 22kms, we paid the entry fee and officially entered to run the 2024 Comrades Marathon.  There was no turning back now!

The road to qualifying for the Comrades Marathon

The road to qualifying for the 2024 Comrades Marathon has been a tad bumpy for both of us to say the least!  We had already lost four months of the qualifying period by the time we actually entered so time was certainly not going to be on our side.

In October Dave contracted another bout of Covid 10 days before he was due to run the Rennes Marathon in France.  He managed 35kms of the marathon before wisely deciding to bail out.  No qualifying time there then!

A last minute house sitting opportunity in the Canary Islands meant we would be based there for the winter months (November-March), and it was there where our training began in earnest.  Our runs became consistent four times a week, building mileage slowly, and with help from Dave’s cousin Kieran we started a strength training programme in the local gym.  Adding in a good sports massage every couple of weeks definitely aided the recovery process. 

By the end of the year we felt we were on target to complete our qualifying marathons by mid-late February.  Seville was the one we had our eye on.  But then the first disaster struck…

Injury

In early January on one of our weekend long runs, Dave went over on his ankle and damaged the ligaments in his foot!  No running for four weeks, and it may have been a lot longer had it not been for a great local physio working his magic.

We had to push back the qualifying marathon to March to give him time to build up again.  The only workable option we could find was the Lentemarathon in Amstelveen (Amsterdam) on the 17th March, St. Patrick’s Day.  Surely that would be enough to bring us luck!!!

The luck of the Irish, or not?

Unfortunately there was to be no luck for the Irish on the 17th March at the Lentemarathon in Amsterdam, but there was for the English one of us!

Race plan

I had felt as strong and as prepared as I could be come race day.  My race plan was to join an official race pacer who I could follow to achieve my Comrades qualifying goal of finishing a marathon in under 4hrs 50minutes.  Despite being told when we picked up our race numbers the day before the event that there would be race pacers, there were not!  A slight wave of panic set in on the start line as I didn’t have a Plan B, but I still felt confident enough that I could run the necessary qualifying time by following my own run/walk strategy I had used in training.

Now let me make it clear here that for anyone who doesn’t know me, numbers and mental arithmetic are not my forte.  As I clicked through the kilometres on my Garmin sports watch I was trying to calculate, in my head, the average pace I needed to maintain in order to make the qualifying time.  I didn’t want to run too slow and risk missing the qualifying time, and nor did I want to run too fast and risk not having enough energy to complete the race.  

Suffice to say that I messed up on my calculations.  With one kilometre left to run I realised I was not going to make it in time.  I crossed the finish line, but missed the qualifying time by one minute!!!  

If I could turn back time

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later after persistent questions to Dave on how I could possibly learn to pace myself that he realised I hadn’t set the average pace setting on my sports watch correctly!  If only I could turn back time!!!

Meanwhile Dave had taken the sensible option in Amsterdam to not push too hard and risk any further injury.  He chose to run slightly slower than his normal marathon pace to guarantee a finish well within the Comrades qualifying time.  He qualified comfortably despite missing out on so much of his training.  Looks like he had the Irish luck on his side!  

At least one of us had qualified for Comrades Marathon 2024, but with time ticking by fast, and our flights to South Africa booked for the end of March, I was going to have to rejig my training plan and squeeze in another attempt at qualifying when we got to South Africa.

Altitude attempt in April

What were we thinking???

As soon as we arrived in South Africa for our three month stay we were on the hunt for another Comrades Marathon qualifying option for me to do.  I really wanted to get it done sooner rather than later so that I could get back to consistent training without worrying about race preparation, tapering time, and recovery time.  Plus, if for any reason the second attempt didn’t work out, I needed time to fit in yet another attempt before the final cut-off on the 6th May.

The South African running calendar is full of races with lots of Comrades Marathon qualifying options throughout the country.  We wanted to minimise the amount of changes to our travel plans so opted to stay a little longer than originally planned in Johannesburg, and use the Irene Ultra 48km challenge on the 7th April as my qualifier.  This was only three weeks after my first attempt in Amsterdam, and less than two weeks after arriving in the highveld which has an altitude of around 1,700m/5,577ft.  Far from ideal preparation given that it was so close to the previous attempt, and that up until this point we had only ever been training at sea level!

The Comrades Marathon qualifying criteria for the Irene Ultra was to complete it in under 5hrs 50minutes.  With Dave helping to pace me this time we thought it would be doable.  Unfortunately that was not the case.  Running at the higher altitude took its toll.  We simply had not had enough time to acclimatise and breathing was a real struggle.  Plus one or two negative thoughts after the halfway point meant I slowed way down and had to resort to a lot more walking than running.  We finished the Irene Ultra together in 6hrs 1min, but that was 11 minutes outside the necessary Comrades Marathon qualifying time. 

It was back to the drawing board!

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If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again

Not to be deterred by two unsuccessful attempts at qualifying for the Comrades Marathon, I was determined to continue my training, and we flew to our next base in the Western Cape.  But with qualification closing on the 6th May time was running out for me to get that all important qualifying time.  

The best, and really the only viable option for me, was to plan to run the Buffalo City Marathon in the Eastern Cape on the 1st May (a public holiday in South Africa).  We changed our travel plans once again and were excited about returning to the city of East London where we had spent two very enjoyable years as volunteers in 2006 and 2007, and where Dave had started his running career.

Recovery from the Irene Ultra was good.  My training was all going well until five days before the Buffalo City Marathon when late on a Saturday afternoon I felt a sudden niggle in my hamstring.  A panic stricken emergency call to our massage therapist ensued, and after finishing his work with the Stormers rugby team he kindly made a late out of hours visit to treat the sore spot.  A follow up treatment on the Monday before we flew to East London made things feel a lot better, and it gave me the confidence boost I needed.

Third time lucky

The race campaign slogan for Comrades Marathon 2024 Up Run is “No Doubt – Nakanjani”, an inference to the firm belief held by those who take on the world’s biggest and oldest, and much loved ultra marathon.  Any doubts I did have about qualifying had to be put aside on the morning of the 1st May as we lined up in the darkness with about 400 other runners on the side of a road in the Eastern Cape.  This was not the time to feel any pressure!

It was the most relaxed race start we’ve ever experienced.  An impromptu song and dance from some of the local Xhosa runners set such a positive vibe for the day ahead.  

Dave and I ran comfortably together, and enjoyed the special camaraderie you get from runners in South Africa, keeping each other positive and focused.  4hours and 44minutes later we crossed the finish line in blazing sunshine.  I was able to jump for joy at the relief of knowing that on my third attempt I finally got the Comrades Marathon qualifying time I needed!  

Now all we have to do is get to the start line in Durban on the 9th June.

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Getting to the start line of the Comrades Marathon

We have tried to give ourselves the best available chance to get to the start line of the 2024 Comrades Marathon Up Run on the 9th June.  We’ve done what training we could in the time we’ve had.  It has been far from ideal, but that’s life.  We’ve overcome challenges and fears, and at times, we’ve definitely had our doubts.  We’ve qualified to run the Comrades Marathon in 2024.  

Our qualifying times determine our seeding position and where on the start line we will be.  Needless to say I will be at the back of the pack in H seeding having qualified with only six minutes spare.  Dave will start slightly ahead of me in G batch having qualified more comfortably in 4hrs24mins.

On the morning of Sunday the 9th June it will be a privilege to line up along with 20,000+ other runners at the City Hall in Durban.  We will wait with bated breath, and our fair share of nerves, as the cock crows and the starter’s gun goes off at 5.30am to start The Ultimate Human Race.  Like every other Comrade, we will do everything we can to get to that finish line before the gun goes off again at 5.30pm in Pietermaritzburg to signal the end of the Comrades Marathon.  Of that there is No Doubt! Nakanjani.

Fundraising

We are running the Comrades Marathon to help raise money for two very deserving charities that are personal to us – Chai Cancer Care, and Alzheimer’s Research UK. If you would like to donate then please click on our JustGiving link here. Anything you can afford to donate will be very greatly appreciated.

Lessons learned trying to qualify for the Comrades Marathon

Start training early

Start training as far in advance of Comrades as possible.  If like me you are starting from a zero to very low running base, or are a novice runner, then start training as early as possible, ideally a full year before race day.  That will give you ample time and chances to complete a qualifying marathon without feeling the pressure and going down to the wire like I did!

Follow a training plan

Follow a training plan and/or get a coach.  You will find training plans for all level of runners from Coach Parry, the official Comrades coach on the Comrades Marathon website.  It is worth noting here that the training plans are very much based around the calendar of South African running events. We had to amend the training plan to fit in with what qualifying options were possible for us in the Northern Hemisphere winter.  Things don’t always go to plan as we well know, so be prepared to adjust your training plan as you go. 

Train consistently

Getting out there to run regularly 3-4 times a week at the start is more important than the distance you are running.  Your runs will gradually get longer as you build the consistency.

Rest and recover

Listen to your body and know when to stop and recharge your batteries. A rest day is just as important as a training day.  We added in regular sports massages with qualified sports therapists which we felt really helped to aid the recovery process.

Join a running group

Join a running group if you can.  It is much more motivational to run with others, and perhaps you will find a running buddy who runs your pace.  We were house sitting in a tourist resort in the Canary Islands for the first four and a half months of our training and there were no running groups to join.  Training solo can be tough, especially when you’re getting up at 5am in the dark!  Arriving in South Africa and being so warmly welcomed by local running groups gave us a real boost.

Do strength training

Including 2-3 sessions a week of resistance training has made a world of difference to my bones, they physically feel stronger to me, and I truly believe the strength work has helped keep injury at bay.  We enrolled in a gym for 3 months, but we’re aware the costs can be prohibitive.  It is still possible to do most of the body weight exercises at home (or in your camper van!) with very basic equipment.  A couple of resistance bands and a few 5litre bottles of water for weights is all you need.

Stretch more

We still don’t stretch after every single run and training session, but we have gotten better.  Sometimes you’re just too tired, too cold, too hungry, in a hurry, but to my detriment I know the importance of taking that extra 10-20 minutes to stretch the muscles (my hamstring niggle is still an ongoing concern).  We use the Down Dog app which is a personalised yoga app.  You can select your practice type, time, level, focus, voice and music.  

Use a sports watch

Learn to use the functions of your sports watch in your training sessions – it is a great training tool if used properly.  I missed my first Comrades Marathon qualifying attempt by one minute which could’ve been avoided if I’d had the right settings switched on! 

Schedule races in advance

Enter any races and events that you are planning to do into your calendar well in advance.  These days many marathons and half marathons sell out far in advance of race day.  The Seville Marathon in mid-February was the one we were hoping to use as our Comrades qualifier only to find out it had sold out months in advance and had a humungous waiting list!  Ideally you should work towards completing your qualifying race before Christmas so you can concentrate solely on Comrades Marathon training from January to June.

Race day strategy

Plan your race day strategy in advance, and have a plan A, B, and C just in case things change on the day.  Had we known there were going to be no pacers at the Lentemarathon in Amsterdam, we would likely have run together to ensure we both got that qualifying time in the bag!

Acclimatise

If you’re running in a new country, a new time zone, on new terrain, or in a different season or setting, give yourself time to acclimatise to the new conditions whether that be altitude, humidity, or hot versus cold. 

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