THE ROUTE
7 OFFICIAL PACESETTERS
The official Comrades Marathon Pacesetters are experienced, selected and accredited runners who volunteer to help you reach your finishing time goal by running at a consistent pace( where reasonably possible) toward the target time on their pacesetter flag. Participants are welcome to join or leave one of these official‘ pacing buses’ at any time during the race, but are asked to please stick to one side of the road so as not to fill the road and thus block the way for other runners.
However, remember that you are in charge of your own race and your goal, and you are responsible for your own health and safety. The official Pacesetters are not medical personnel or race officials, cannot give personal coaching advice, and cannot guarantee your finishing time. If you feel unwell or uncomfortable, leave the group and find the nearest medical station or marshal. By choosing to run with a pacesetter you accept that you do so voluntarily and at your own risk.
8 LITTER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste bins will be positioned at all refreshment stations, and participants are strongly encouraged to dispose of all litter responsibly by making use of these provided bins. Any participant observed intentionally littering along the route will be disqualified and barred from future participation.
9 TOILETS AND URINALS
Portable toilets, urinals and female-only facilities will be positioned at regular intervals along the route. Participants are requested to use these facilities responsibly and leave them in a clean condition for fellow runners. Female-only facilities will be monitored by security personnel, and any participant found misusing these facilities will face disciplinary action.
Please note: Female participants will be able to collect sanitary items from the eight physiotherapy stations located alongside the Netcare 911 medical stations situated along the course.
8 MEDICAL FACILITIES / PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSISTANCE
There will be eight dedicated Netcare 911 medical and physiotherapy stations situated along the course( as shown on the route map on the next pages). Netcare 911 ambulances with medical personnel will be circulating along the route. Should you require urgent medical assistance, please attract the attention of a marshal or race official, who will be able to call emergency medical staff to your aid. The official medical emergency contact number is 082 911.
11 RACE PHOTOGRAPHERS
Action Photo SA is the official race photographer of the 2026 Comrades Marathon, and will have a large team of photographers deployed at various points on the route and at the finish to capture your race photos, which can then be purchased after the race. The CMA does not sanction any other photographs that you may receive electronically, or by any other means. All queries regarding race photographs must be directed to Action Photo SA: info @ actionphotosa. com.
Please note: By participating in the event, you consent to the CMA’ s free and unencumbered use of any and all photographs in which you may appear as a participant.
To be recognised as an official finisher of the 2026 Comrades Marathon, participants must pass through a series of designated cut-off points within the stipulated cut-off times listed below. The cut-off points will be clearly signposted and may not necessarily correspond with the location of official timing mats or other course markers.
The cut-offs will operate on a‘ Traffic Light’ Cut-off System: As runners approach a cut-off point, they will be provided with a simple colour-based pacing guidance warning system:
• Green Zone – GO: Runners reaching a cut-off point within the green zone remain comfortably within the required pacing strategy needed to complete the race within the official 12-hour limit.
• Amber Zone – WARNING: Runners entering the amber zone are approaching the final reasonable pacing threshold. While they may continue, they must maintain or improve their pace to reach the next cut-off point or finish within the allotted time.( Rescue bus officials may advise runners who are unlikely to sustain the required pace to board official rescue vehicles.)
• Red Zone – CUT-OFF: Runners arriving at a cut-off point in the red zone will not be permitted to continue and will be required to board one of the official Runner Rescue Buses waiting at the cut-off point, and will be transported to the finish in Pietermaritzburg.
Important: Although the race will commence in three Start Groups( 05h00, 05h15 and 05h30), all official cut-off times will be calculated from the final Group 3 start at 05h30.
CUT-OFF LOCATION
Pinetown Underpass
Winston Park( Caltex Garage)
Drummond( Halfway)
Cato Ridge( N3 subway)
Umlaas Road( before new R56 intersection)
Mkondeni( intersection Poinsettia Road & Shortts Retreat Road)
DISTANCE COMPLETED
12 TIME LIMITS AND CUT-OFFS
DISTANCE TO GO
2026 CUT OFF SCHEDULE
Estimated best pacing to make cut-off
18,5 67,3 2:50:00
Green Times GO
Amber Times WARNING
Red Times CUT-OFF
TIME OF DAY( based on last group start at 05h30)
2:55:00 3:05:00 08h35
29,5 56,3 4:34:00 4:35:00 4:50:00 10h20
43,0 42,8 6:23:00 All green 6:30:00 6:40:00 12h10
is GO and under the
56,9 28,8 8:16:00 slowest 8:25:00 8:35:00 14h05 pacing
required for the distance to go. 67,0 18,7 9:42:00 9:45:00 9:55:00 15h25
79,1 6,7 11:09:00 11:15:00 11:25:00 16h55
Finish Line 85,777km 12:00:00 12:00:00 17h30
13 FINAL FINISH CUT-OFFS
The final race cut-off is 12 hours after each official Group start time. Participants must cross the finish line inside Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse before the respective 12-hour limit expires. Participants who fail to cross the finish line within the official time limit will be required to retire from the race immediately.
14 RUNNERS RESCUE BUSES
Participants who have been cut off at one of the official cut-off points will be required to board one of the Runner Rescue Buses waiting at that cut-off point to transport them to the Finish precinct. Additional Rescue buses will circulate along the route to pick up participants who retire or withdraw from the race. Participants are required to comply with any instruction from race referees, race officials or medical personnel relating to their safety, medical condition or withdrawal from the event.
When boarding a rescue bus, a participant’ s race number will be recorded. Once a participant has boarded a rescue bus they will be flagged as DNF and may not rejoin the race. Any participant found rejoining or completing the race after boarding a rescue bus will be disqualified, and will be refused future entry into the Comrades Marathon.
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Turn to the next pages for a detailed map of the 2026 Comrades Marathon route, including a handy guide to refreshment stations, physiotherapy stations and cut-off points.