The countdown to the 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon just got even more exciting. The 2026 Up Run, from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 14 June, has been officially confirmed at 85.777km – making it the shortest Up Run in recent race history.

…it shaves 133 metres off the 2024 distance (85.910km)…

To put that into perspective, it shaves 133 metres off the 2024 distance (85.910km), which was already significantly shorter than the 86.730km route of 2019. It may be marginal on paper, but in Comrades’ terms, every metre counts.

A Nod to History – With a Caveat
Before 1969, distances were recorded in miles and often estimated rather than precisely measured, with the Up Run typically listed at around 54 miles (86.886km). That means while 2026 could be the shortest Up Run ever – possibly even the shortest race in Comrades history – there’s no way to confirm that with absolute certainty.

Precision Meets Planning
The official route measurement took place over the weekend of 25 and 26 April, led by the Comrades Marathon Association in partnership with provincial and local authorities. At the centre of it all was World Athletics-accredited measurer Mike Rooke, who used a calibrated bicycle fitted with a Clain Jones counter to map the course with pinpoint accuracy.

A convoy of vehicles and police escorts ensured the process ran smoothly, stopping at every kilometre to mark out exactly where race-day boards will guide runners along the route.

Why the Route Is Shorter
According to Race Director Sue Forge, the reduced distance comes down to smart, necessary adjustments in response to ongoing infrastructure upgrades. While the start and finish venues remain unchanged – from Durban City Hall to HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse – several key tweaks have made a difference:

• A redesigned, shorter finish straight at Scottsville.
• A contra-flow section from 45th Cutting to Cowies Hill, easing the gradient slightly.
• Retention of the Umlaas Road cut-through, saving runners roughly 870 metres.

These changes don’t just trim distance; they also improve traffic management, safety, and post-race logistics.

Records Under Threat?
With a shorter course and performance incentives on the table, the big question is: are the records in danger?

The men’s Up Run record of 5:24:49, set by Leonid Shvetsov in 2008, has stood firm despite several close calls, including Piet Wiersma’s 5:25:00 in 2024.

On the women’s side, Gerda Steyn rewrote the history books in 2024 with a blistering 5:49:46, becoming the first woman to break six hours on the Up Run. With the shortest route yet and added incentives to chase both time and pace records, 2026 could be the year we see those marks fall once again.

One thing’s certain: this year’s Up Run isn’t just shorter – it’s shaping up to be faster, tighter, and more competitive than ever.

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