The 2026 Comrades Marathon has come and gone and the world's oldest and largest ultra-marathon once again produced a remarkable day of achievement, endurance and inspiration.

The numbers behind the Comrades Marathon are staggering, but they only tell part of the story. Every litre of water handed out, every kilometre conquered and every medal earned reflects the passion and perseverance that make this race so special. Nearly a century after the first Comrades was run, the event continues to unite elite athletes, social runners and supporters in a shared journey unlike any other. By the numbers, Comrades is massive — but in spirit, it is even bigger.

Here are some of the numbers that tell the story of the race.

1 – If competitors miss the 12-hour cut-off by one second, they don’t earn a medal

2 – Tonnes of baby potatoes provided for runners at water tables

5 – The number of times Gerda Steyn has won the race, becoming just the second woman in Comrades history to win five times

05:15:56 – The Comrades Up Run record achieved by George Kusche this year

8:05 – The average pace required to finish just inside the 12-hour cut-off

9 – Bruce Fordyce’s legendary 9 victories cemented his status as the undisputed king of Comrades, setting a historic record that still remains unbroken.

10 – Completed Comrades needed to earn the prestigious Green Number

20 – The number of finishes required to earn a double Green Number

36 – The most finishes by a woman, achieved by Kleintjie van Schalkwyk in 2026

45 – The percentage of the domestic field that came from Gauteng

49 – The most consecutive Comrades finishes to date, achieved by Barry Holland

50 – The only person to finish the Comrades Marathon 50 times is Louis Massyn, who achieved the historic milestone in 2025 at the age of 74, finishing just minutes before the 12-hour cut-off

50 – 2026 was the 50th official Up Run

75 – The number of countries represented at the 2026 Comrades Marathon

85.77 – The race distance this year which was the shortest Up Run in recent history, surpassing the previous shortest route of 85.91km in 2024 by 133 metres

99 – The number of Comrades Marathons that had been run by 2026, with the centenary race due in 2027

3 797 – Total number of women finishers

5 000+ - The estimated calories burned by a runner during the event

14 479 – Total number of men finishers

18 276 – Total number of finishers

20,047 – The number of South African entrants

22 000 – The entry cap for the 2026 race

30,350 – The total litres of Coke consumed during the race

90 000+ The approximate number of steps taken by a typical runner to complete the race

2.2 million – Water sachets used by competitors during the event

Following shortly after timing the Cape Town Marathon – now officially recognised as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Majors race – and the Two Oceans, the FinishTime team recently turned their attention to the enormous task of producing results for the Comrades Marathon.

In 2026 FinishTime were once again the official timekeepers for the Comrades Marathon, one of their biggest and most important events they handle during the year.

The planning and implementation of all the services that FinishTime provides for Comrades begins months before race day and continues well after the final runner has crossed the line. Managing the timing operation across the 89km route on public roads is a major logistical undertaking, requiring multiple timing points along the course.

FinishTime has a team of around 60 staff members overseeing a wide range of operations, from timekeeping and data management to numerous other essential services.

To give you and idea of the enormity of this undertaking, here is a brief overview of some of FinishTime’s responsibilities for the Comrades Marathon.

Race Timing:
Co-ordinate start times
Monitor timing check points
Monitor cut-off times
Medal hand out
Seeding
Batching
Timing chip programming
Live results
Results and prize giving sign off

Data management:
On-line entries
Athlete profiles and history
Medical questionnaire

Other Services:
Maintain and monitor the Comrades App
Video monitoring
Syncing all race clocks
Number printing and assigning
Registration process on mobile phones
Number collection
Proxy collection

The FinishTime sporting calendars below come with a warning to check with the event organisers to ensure events have not been postponed or cancelled.

More event information, a regularly updated events calendar and results of all events timed by FinishTime can be found at www.finishtime.co.za and all results of events timed by FinishTime at results.finishtime.co.za

THE SANLAM CAPE TOWN  MARATHON: May 23,  2027

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has officially been confirmed as the eighth race in the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors series, making it the first World Major marathon on African soil.The Abbott World Marathon Majors is the world’s premier marathon series. Until recently, it included Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon and Sydney Marathon. The 2027 edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, scheduled for 23 May 2027, will officially be the first Cape Town Major.

IRONMAN 70.3 DURBAN June 7, 2026

Durban, situated in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is a natural paradise known for its sun-kissed beaches and subtropical climate. Easily accessible from all the main airports of South Africa, Durban is a multi-cultural showpiece international destination. The IRONMAN 70.3 Durban is the perfect peak-season race for international athletes, and mid to late season race for South Africans. A fairly flat and fast course, this race is a first-timer and club favourite.

THE COMRADES MARATHON: June 14, 2026

The Comrades Marathon is the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon, held annually in South Africa. The 89km race alternates between "up" and "down" runs between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, requiring a strict 12-hour cut-off. The 2026 race is scheduled for June 14 as an up-run, with 22,000 entries selling out in record time due to its immense popularity.