2024 Comrades Marathon Route Description

The 2024 Comrades Marathon was an Up Run — from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. The 87km route takes runners from the coast, through the Valley of 1000 Hills, and up to the finish at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.

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The Five Big Hills of the Comrades Up Run

The Up Run is known for its challenging climbs. These are the five major hills runners face:

1. Cowies Hill

Coming relatively early in the race, Cowies Hill is the first real test. It's a steep climb that catches many runners off guard who start too fast.

2. Fields Hill

One of the most notorious climbs on the route. Fields Hill is long and grinding, testing both physical and mental endurance.

3. Bothas Hill

This climb takes runners up toward the Valley of 1000 Hills. It's a sustained gradient that requires patience and smart pacing.

4. Inchanga

After the halfway mark, Inchanga is a tough, long climb that often determines whether runners will make the cut-offs.

5. Polly Shortts

The final major climb before Pietermaritzburg. Polly Shortts is short but brutally steep — the last wall between you and the finish. Many runners walk this hill, and that's perfectly OK.

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