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Running · Pietermaritzburg to DurbanComrades Marathon training plan
The Comrades Marathon is 90 km in Pietermaritzburg to Durban, next held on 13 June 2027. A 24-week block for it starts on Monday 28 December 2026. For an experienced runner on 60 km a week with a 3:45 marathon behind them, the plan expects a finish around 9:35:36.
Build my own Comrades plan — freeThe date, distance and altitude are filled in for you. See the whole block free before you unlock it.
The race
| Distance | 90 km |
|---|---|
| Where | Pietermaritzburg to Durban |
| Altitude | 600 m |
| Next edition | Sunday, 13 June 2027 |
The 100th Comrades: a down run of about 90 km, Pietermaritzburg to Durban, with a 12-hour cut-off. A qualifying marathon is required before entry.
Your calendar to race day
A 24-week block, laid out against the 13 June 2027 race date:
| Block starts | Monday 28 December 2026 — week 1 |
|---|---|
| Harder sessions arrive | Monday 1 March 2027 — week 10 |
| Peak weeks begin | Monday 10 May 2027 — week 20 |
| Taper begins | Monday 24 May 2027 — week 22 |
| Race day | Sunday, 13 June 2027 |
Volume rises no more than 10% a week and every fourth week is lighter. The full week-by-week table for this distance is on the distance page.
Race-day targets
| The race | 5:23/km for the first third, then hold or lift Start slower than feels right. On a long day the race does not begin until two thirds in, and every place lost in the first hour comes back. Nothing lost in the last hour ever does. |
|---|---|
| Expected finish | 9:35:36 — Run 9:35:36 |
Worked out for an experienced runner on 60 km a week with a 3:45 marathon behind them. Yours come from your own time trial.
The medals
| Wally Hayward | Finish under 6:00:00 · Men, 11th place to sub-6:00 |
|---|---|
| Isavel Roche-Kelly | Finish under 7:00:00 · Women, 11th place to sub-7:00 |
| Silver | Finish under 7:30:00 · Men from 6:00, women from 7:00 |
| Bill Rowan | Finish under 9:00:00 |
| Robert Mtshali | Finish under 10:00:00 |
| Bronze | Finish under 11:00:00 |
| Vic Clapham | Finish under 12:00:00 · The 12-hour cut-off |
Check the official race rules for the year you run. Choose a medal when you build your plan and every target is set from it.
Predict your Comrades time
Filled in with an example. Type your own numbers and it recalculates.
On that marathon, aim for Bronze; Robert Mtshali is possible on a very good day.
Every medal, and what it takes
| Medal | Finish under | Pace | Marathon needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wally Hayward (men) | 6:00:00 | 4:00/km | about 2:20:43 |
| Isavel Roche-Kelly (women) | 7:00:00 | 4:40/km | about 2:44:11 |
| Silver (men from 6:00) | 7:30:00 | 5:00/km | about 2:55:54 |
| Bill Rowan | 9:00:00 | 6:00/km | about 3:31:05 |
| Robert Mtshali | 10:00:00 | 6:40/km | about 3:54:32 |
| Bronze | 11:00:00 | 7:20/km | about 4:18:00 |
| Vic Clapham | 12:00:00 | 8:00/km | about 4:41:27 |
Comrades predictor, with every medal →
The coast, for or against you
At 600 m, an athlete who trains at altitude will find the same effort produces a quicker pace on the day — and the danger is going out too fast because it feels easy. Steady race pace for an experienced runner on 60 km a week with a 3:45 marathon behind them:
| Where you train | Pace in training · pace on race day |
|---|---|
| Training at the coast | 5:23/km · 5:26/km |
| Training in Johannesburg (1 753 m) | 5:50/km · 5:26/km |
Roughly 2% per 300 m above 500 m, corrected only for the difference between where you train and where you race. A planning estimate — individuals vary.
Common questions
When should I start training for the Comrades?
For a 24-week block, on Monday 28 December 2026. Starting later still works — the plan shortens the base phase to fit — but inside about six weeks the block stops being able to add fitness and becomes about arriving healthy.
What finish time should I expect at the Comrades?
For an experienced runner on 60 km a week with a 3:45 marathon behind them, about 9:35:36. Past the marathon this follows how real Comrades and Two Oceans fields finish (about 2.5× a marathon for Comrades), not the pure fitness model, which is far too optimistic that far out. Heat, fuelling and pacing the first half still decide the day. Your own prediction comes from your own time trial.
Does altitude matter at the Comrades?
Not for coastal athletes. At 600 m there is no correction to make. Athletes who train at altitude, in Gauteng or the Free State, should expect the same effort to produce a quicker pace on the day.
What should I know about the Comrades?
The 100th Comrades: a down run of about 90 km, Pietermaritzburg to Durban, with a 12-hour cut-off. A qualifying marathon is required before entry.