CMA Confirms No Extra Entry Window After Massive Comrades Sell-Out. Image: The Citizen/Rajesh Jantilal/AFP.
(The Post News)- The 50th Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and the 99th version of the renowned marathon, the 2026 Comrades Marathon, sold out entirely in less than ten hours on Monday.
Last Monday, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) made over 2,600 entries available only to its members and members of the Green Number Club, a group of runners who had won three times, won five gold medals, or finished the race at least ten times.
Eager racers swarmed the system when general entries opened on Monday at 10 a.m., and all of the ultramarathon’s remaining seats were swiftly filled.
The CMA wrote on Instagram, “The massive response demonstrates the amazing dedication and devotion you feel for The Ultimate Human Race.”
A number of disgruntled runners vented on social media about the short registration period and the restricted quantity of general entries. As has happened in prior years, some also hoped for an extension of the admission period.
CMA Reaffirms One Entry Window
Although it promised to provide a thorough analysis of the entry numbers shortly, the CMA reaffirmed that there will only be one entry window open for the 2026 edition.
The association also declared that the deadline for submitting qualifying information, such as club data, license verification, and seeding improvements, is May 4, 2026. The opportunity for substitutions will be open from March to April of 2026.
The qualifying requirements are still the same: to be eligible to start, runners must finish an accurately timed 42.2-kilometer marathon in less than five hours.
The victors of the Tshwane and Durban events will square off in the 5 km event at this Sunday’s inaugural Boxer Super Run Johannesburg, which promises to be an exciting match.
Luan Munnik, the Boxer Super Run Tshwane champion from the previous year, is excited to compete against the best in the nation since the short distance offers a unique mix between track and road experts, establishing a fair playing field.
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