THE START
ON YOUR MARKS …
Here’ s everything you need to know about the start of the 2026 Comrades Marathon, from getting there and dropping off your tog bag, to lining up in your correct start group and batch.
Images: Comrades Marathon Association
1 START VENUE
The start of the race will be in front of the Durban City Hall, in Dr Pixley Ka Seme( West) Street, with runners facing north-west towards Pietermaritzburg. The official finish venue is the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, and the distance of the route is 85.777km.
2 THE START PROCESS
The 2026 Comrades Marathon will feature a three-group start format, with 15 minutes between each group:
• Group 1: 05h00 Batches A to G – purple square on race numbers. Approximately 9952 runners will make up Group 1 The Elite field will line up at the front of Batch A
• Group 2: 05h15 Batches H to M – orange square on race numbers Approximately 6704 runners will start in Group 2 Green Numbers and Race4Charity runners will line up in Batch H
• Group 3: 05h30 Batches N to R – blue square on race numbers Approximately 4972 runners will be in Group 3
Please note: There will be no batches I or 0, to avoid confusion between letters and numbers.
Each batch will hold around 1250 to 1400 runners, and each Group will start the race when their Group is signalled to commence running. The race announcers will keep runners informed of the programme, which Group is starting next, and when to start moving forward.
Runners in Group 2 and Group 3 will be brought up to the Start area, in a strictly
controlled process, after the last runners of the previous Group have crossed the Start line and left the Start area. There will be security officers, marshals and technical officials, and additional crowd control fencing in place, to ensure safe crowd control of the runners, as well as to ensure the smooth movement of runners for all three start groups. The event announcers will also repeat instructions throughout the process.
The CMA believes that it is important that all participating runners experience and enjoy the iconic traditions and spirit of the Comrades Marathon, including the singing of the National Anthem and Shosholoza, and the playing of Chariots of Fire and Max Trimborn’ s famous cock-crow. Group 1 runners will experience the full traditional start programme, while Groups 2 and 3 will enjoy a shortened yet equally inspirational version ahead of their respective starts. Every runner will still experience the emotion, atmosphere and iconic build-up that makes the Comrades Marathon so special.
Please note: Wheelchair participants will start 15 minutes ahead of the main field at 04h45, from the Elite batch, positioned immediately behind the official start line
ABC
3 SEEDING GROUPS & BATCHES
Participants have been allocated a Start Group and Seeding Batch based on the qualifying time submitted at entry, with seedings arranged from fastest to slowest qualifying times. All participants are required to start within their allocated Start Group and Seeding Batch and must line up in the batch corresponding to the alphabetical letter displayed before their race number.
Please note: Participants wishing to move to a slower Start Group must visit the CMA Information Centre during Race Pack Collection. A fee of R200 will apply for the reprinting of an amended race bib.
Participants may not start in a faster Seeding Batch than the one allocated to them and are responsible for entering their designated batch before the batch access points close. The electronic timing system will monitor batch access, and any participant found starting in an incorrect higher batch will be disqualified and will forfeit the right to future entry for at least two years into the Comrades Marathon.
Please note: Starting in an earlier( higher) group does not provide additional time to complete the race, as each group still has 12 hours to cover the full distance.
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