After a two-year Corona-Virus-forced hiatus, the 95th Comrades Marathon will finally take place on Sunday 28 August 2022.
To commemorate the occasion, the race will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv channel 209) from the start at 5am right the way through to 6pm and will be available on every DStv package from Premium all the way to Access.
COMRADES MARATHON BROADCAST DETAILS
Sunday, 28 August 2022
5:00-11:50 | SuperSport CSN (CSN)
5:00-11:50 | SuperSport Grandstand (GSD)
5:00-11:50 | SuperSport Grandstand Africa (GSDA)
5:00-18:00 | SuperSport GOtv Select 1 (GSL1)
5:00-12:00 | SuperSport Liyu (LIYU)
5:00-18:00 | SuperSport Variety 3 Africa (VR3A)
5:00-18:00 | SuperSport Variety 4 (VR4)
THE ROAD AHEAD
Runners from 70 nations around the world will descend on Pietermaritzburg to participate in the 95th edition of the world-famous Comrades Marathon, a ‘Down Run’. Besides South Africa, the UK, Zimbabwe, and India are the most represented nations with over 200 runners from each country.
The Pietermaritzburg City Hall will host the start of the race which will commence 12 hours later at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
START PROFILE
ROUTE
FINISH PROFILE
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END OF THE LINE
The official race distance of this year’s Comrades Marathon Down Run is 89.885km which means that Comrades runners will effectively run 299m shorter than they did in the 2018 Down Run, mainly as a result of the current roadworks.
Unfortunately though, not everyone will reach the Moses Mabhida stadium as may runners will fail to reach each of the six cut-off points in time to continue their pursuit of the finish line.
CUT-OFF TIMES
CUT – OFF | RUNNING TIME | TIME OF DAY | KM TO GO | KM DONE |
Lynnfield Park | 02:40:00 | (08h10) | 74,61km | 15,57km |
Cato Ridge | 04:30:00 | (10h00) | 59,90km | 30,28km |
Drummond | 06:10:00 | (11h40) | 45,91km | 44,27km |
Winston Park | 08:10:00 | (13h40) | 32,57km | 57,61km |
Pinetown | 09:30:00 | (15h00) | 21,32km | 68,86km |
Sherwood | 11:10:00 | (16h40) | 9km | 80,88km |
THE CONTENDERS
With defending champion Gerda Steyn absent from the 2022 edition, the likes of Russia’s Alexandra Morozova and South Africa’s Ann Ashworth (the 2018 champion) will start the race as favourites for the women's title. Others who will be clinging to the hopes of being crowned champion are the likes of Charne Bosman (2016 winner), Adele Broodryk, Jenna Challenor, Dominika Stelmach, Camille Herron (2017 champion), Tanith Maxwell, Yolande Maclean, Danette Walley, as well as Charlene Archer.
On the men’s side Edward Mothibi will be looking to defend the title he picked up in 2019. Mothibi’s victory denied Bongmusa Mthembu a third consecutive title (which would have been his fourth overall) and the three time champion will be looking to get back to winning ways in 2022.
Nkosinathi Mhlakwana is the runner who has most excited pundits this season and his runner-up finish at the Two Oceans Marathon underlined his credentials for the Comrades title.
Although he will be making his Comrades début, Ethiopia’s Edndale Belachew has emerged as the greatest foreign threat having won the Two Oceans Marathon in 2022. Other international challenges will come from the likes of Zimbabwe’s Marko Mambo, Finland’s Henri Ansio and Kenya’s Justin Cheshire while some of the other local like Joseph Manyedi, Gaolatlhe Gordon Lesetedi, Siyabulela Mqambeli, Jonas Makhele, Ntsindiso Mphakathi, Msawenkosi Mthalane as well as 2016 champion David Getebe will be looking to make their mark on the race.
MEDALS AND BADGES
| MEDALS | Category |
|---|---|
| Gold | First 10 Men and Women |
| Wally Hayward (Men) Isavel-Roche Kelly (Women) | Position 11 to sub 6hrs 00min Position 11 to sub 7hrs 30min |
| Silver (Men) | 6hrs 00min to sub 7hrs 30min |
| Bill Rowan | 7hrs 30min to sub 9hrs 00min |
| Robert Mtshali | 9hrs 00min to sub 10hrs 00min |
| Bronze | 10hrs 00min to sub 11hrs 00min |
| Vic Clapham | 11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min |
| PRIZE MONEY | ||
|---|---|---|
| POSITION | MEN | WOMEN |
| Position 1 | R 260 000,00 | R 260 000,00 |
| Position 2 | R 130 000,00 | R 130 000,00 |
| Position 3 | R 90 000,00 | R 90 000,00 |
| Position 4 | R 45 000,00 | R 45 000,00 |
| Position 5 | R 35 000,00 | R 35 000,00 |
| Position 6 | R 20 000,00 | R 20 000,00 |
| Position 7 | R 18 000,00 | R 18 000,00 |
| Position 8 | R 15 000,00 | R 15 000,00 |
| Position 9 | R 13 000,00 | R 13 000,00 |
| Position 10 | R 12 000,00 | R 12 000,00 |
THE HUMAN RACE
Once the professionals have crossed the line attention turns to the ‘everyday’ men and women who have chosen to take on the challenge of the Ultimate Human Race.
There is nothing ordinary about these ladies and gentlemen though and their strength, resilience and determination will be on full show for everyone to behold.
Many of the runners have overcome great personal injury, unspeakable tragedy and carry the burden of some extraordinary causes.
Not only will their 2022 race be immortalised LIVE in HD but some of their stories will be told throughout the broadcast on the day.
Danie de Wet is just one example of such individuals who’s story is a testament to the special relationship some runners have with the Comrades Marathon.
THIRSTY WORK
Staying hydrated is an integral part of any race and the organisers have the mammoth task of ensuring that all the refreshment stands are adequately stocked.
Along the 89.885km route, 43 refreshment stations will stock the following:
Coke: 30 350 litres
Fanta/Crème Soda: 10 650 litres
Coke paper cups (175ml): 450 000
Thirsti Water sachets: 1.9 million
Isofit sports drink sachets: 475 000
Asemzansi Amahewu: 45 000
Bavaria 0.0 per cent Beer : 10 000 x 150ml cans
Cooked potatoes: 1 ton
Bananas: 9 tons
Oranges: 4.5 tons