T he first Comrades Marathon was run on 24 May 1921. It was the brainchild of WW1 veteran Vic Clapham, who wanted to stage an annual test of physical endurance to commemorate the harsh conditions under which South African soldiers had fought and died during the Great War.
A course was mapped out between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, approximately 89km in length, that would test athletes to the limit. And, according to the race's constitution, “celebrate mankind's spirit over adversity”.
The route is as follows: Starting in Pietermaritzburg, runners pass through Ashburton, Camperdown, Cato Ridge, Drummond, Hillcrest, Kloof, Pinetown and Westville, before the final stretch into Durban. The starting point alternates between the two cities each year, creating what we now know as the“down”run towards the coast and the“up”run towards Pietermaritzburg. There…
