South Africa hosted the first Comrades Marathon in 1921.
The Comrades Marathon was founded by World War I veteran Vic Clapham as a memorial to soldiers who died during the war. The inaugural race ran from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and covered about 89 kilometres, making it an ultramarathon rather than a standard marathon.
The event alternates direction between the two cities in different years. Its route crosses the KwaZulu-Natal hills and includes famous climbs such as Polly Shortts, Inchanga, Botha’s Hill, and Cowie’s Hill.
Although the race is often casually called a marathon, its distance is far beyond 42.195 kilometres. It is one of the world’s best-known mass-participation ultramarathons, and its traditions include strict cut-off times and a distinctive medal system linked to finishing performance.