For novices tackling their first Comrades marathon, the marathon qualifier, is a hurdle that can be successfully completed. With good planning you will soon have the marathon qualifier done and dusted.

A runner has to run a marathon under 5hrs (it used to be under 4 hrs 50 minutes) to qualify and a good first step is to check if you are fast enough to qualify.

It is also tougher for older runners, some of whom will be chasing their green number for having completed 10 Comrades marathons.  It is challenging staying fast for older runners, but it can be done.

Patience is the name of the game for novices

If you are a novice runner, and have never run a marathon before, then the best is to run the marathon the year before the Comrades. For instance, I have novice runners that ran their marathon qualifier in October or November last year, and then build up for the Comrades marathon this year. But for many runners, the last-minute cancellation of the Sanlam Cape Town marathon, meant that they go into the new year, still needing to qualify.

A novice runner should not attempt to run her first marathon in the same year as the Comrades. Attempting to run a first marathon, the ultras for training, and then the Comrades all in the first half of the year, is risking injury. Every year I am amazed when novice runners approach me in January, and say that they plan to run the Comrades in June, even though they have only run half marathons. 

There is a temptation to underestimate how tough the Comrades is, as people watching it on TV see more than 20 000 runners of all shapes and sizes doing it. But it really is tough, and none of my 10 Comrades has been easy. It is a race that deserves respect and a runner needs to show patience and allow enough time to build up for it.

For those planning for the 2027 Comrades Marathon

For those runners who have never run a marathon, I would suggest that they aim for the 2027 Comrades, and use this year to build up to a marathon. A bonus is that the 2027 Comrades Marathon will be the 100th running of the event, and it will be very special. Such runners could use the Sanlam Cape Town marathon on May 24. Another good option will be the Jeppe marathon in September. The race date has changed from February to September, and for many runners it will take the place of the Cape Town marathon as an early qualifier.

Good planning is key

Planning for your Comrades training is important and it starts with planning for your marathon qualifier and understanding the marathon qualification times. Note that runners can also qualify on ultras such as 50km and 56km . For those runners that won’t have run an early qualifier in October or November, the aim is to run the qualifier sometime between January and the beginning of March. This is despite the fact that you have until the beginning of May to qualify. Any runner that has not qualified by March, should be worried, as the Comrades high mileage training phase starts in the middle of March and by then you want the qualifier done and dusted. 

Plan B for slower runners 

There is a Plan B for runners that are unable to qualify by early March, either due to injury, or perhaps not being fast enough. The plan is to select a 48km ultra in early April  and the advantages is that the qualifying time on the 48km, is the same as for a 50km. This means that a runner doing the 48 km scores two free kilometers, and this can make all the difference for slow runners.  It also gives a runner more time to build up to qualify. The drawback is that it does mean that a runner has to race just as the highest mileage month begins. Good options are the Irene 48km on April 5 or the BNAC 48km (Benoni) race on April 19. 

Popular marathon qualifiers 

For runners in South Africa, there are several popular marathon qualifiers. The earliest marathons in the year are at the end of January (such as the Akasia and the Johnson Crane). The problem though with using them as qualifiers, is that they are early in the year, and many runners aren’t ready yet for a marathon. To run well at the end of January, means that a runner must have trained well through December and the holidays.  Stronger runners can use these January marathons as long training runs though.

The best time for running a marathon qualifier is in February up to early March. Cape runners have the Peninsula marathon on February 15 (but the wind can be a problem). The Buffs marathon on February 23 and the Cango Caves marathon on February 28 are both popular with my runners as they are fast routes.

South Africa’s fastest marathon

In my opinion, the  fastest marathon route in South Africa for a qualifier is the Elands marathon on February 28, and most of my Gauteng runners use this race. It runs from Waterval Boven to Ngodwana. The only drawback is that it can be hot and humid. The timing of this marathon is also perfect as a runner can then rest for a week, and then start the big mileage build up. On the same weekend is the Vaal marathon (March 1), and it is also a good route. 

For KZN runners, there is the Hillcrest marathon on February 9 (quite hilly). The Durban Best of the Best marathon is on March 1 and a good option. 

There are also many other marathons that can be used around the country, and the main thing to remember is to ideally plan for between February and March for your qualifier.