With 21,633 runners preparing to tackle the 2026 Comrades Marathon Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, race doctor Dr Jeremy Boulter and Netcare 911 have urged participants to prioritise hydration, avoid racing while ill, and seek medical assistance immediately if warning signs develop.
As 21,633 runners make their final preparations for the 2026 Comrades Marathon, veteran race doctor Dr Jeremy Boulter and Netcare 911 have shared important health and safety advice ahead of Sunday's race.
Qualifying runners will set off from Durban in the early hours of Sunday for the 85.777km Up Run to Pietermaritzburg. The ultramarathon features an elevation gain of about 1.8km and a 12-hour cut-off time.
Dr Boulter, who has coordinated the race's medical, emergency, first aid and physiotherapy services for the past 48 years, said the physical demands of this year's event are expected to be similar to previous Up Runs.
"Even seasoned Comrades runners tend to find the race starting in Durban more challenging, and much depends on the weather conditions on the day," he said.
