Question 1

What is the qualifying time for the 2027 Comrades Marathon?

Accepted Answer

A standard 42.2km marathon in under 5 hours, or an equivalent time over a longer distance: 48 to 50km under 5:50, 52 to 54km under 6:25, 56km under 6:45, 60km under 7:20, 64km under 7:55, 68km under 8:30, 80km under 10:25, 90km under 12:00, or 100km and up under 13:30. The race must be at least 42.2km and ASA technically compliant.

Question 2

When must I run my Comrades 2027 qualifying race?

Accepted Answer

Between 15 June 2026 and 3 May 2027. A race run before the window opens does not count, no matter how fast it was, which catches runners out every year. South Africa's marathon season peaks from October to December, so most qualifiers for the centenary are run in that stretch.

Question 3

How do I enter the 100th Comrades Marathon?

Accepted Answer

Entry ran across four windows from 25 August 2026. Green and Yellow Number holders and Amabeadibeadi charity entrants went first from 25 to 31 August, CMA members from 2 to 5 September, and general entry was by ballot application from 9 to 22 September with the draw on 23 September. Whichever window let you in, you still need a qualifier by 3 May 2027.

Question 4

How many places does Comrades 2027 have, and how many go to the ballot?

Accepted Answer

28,000 places, the largest field in the race's history, up from 22,000 in 2026. The ballot holds 52% of them, just over 14,000 places decided by a draw rather than by how fast you can click.

Question 5

How long is the 2027 Comrades down run and what is the cut-off?

Accepted Answer

The centenary is a down run from Pietermaritzburg City Hall to a new finish at Kings Park, a route of about 91km, with a hard 12-hour cut-off. A qualifier close to the 5 hour marathon limit clears the entry standard but leaves very little margin on the day, so treat the standard as a floor rather than a goal.

Qualifying distance	Standard
Marathon (42.2 km)	Under 5:00
48 to 50 km	Under 5:50
52 to 54 km	Under 6:25
56 km	Under 6:45
60 km	Under 7:20
64 km	Under 7:55
68 km	Under 8:30
80 km	Under 10:25
90 km	Under 12:00
100 km and up	Under 13:30

Comrades 2027 Qualifying Calculator

Comrades 2027 Qualifying Check

The official standards

The entry timeline

A qualifier is a race of its own.