Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- More than 40,000 people were shown waiting online when the general Comrades ballot opened on 9 September.
- Only 28,000 runners can enter the 2027 race, and organisers say increasing that number would be difficult.
Thousands of runners hoping to take part in the 2027 Comrades Marathon could miss out as demand reaches record levels.
Organisers introduced a ballot this year after all 22,000 entries for the 2026 race sold out in less than 10 hours.
Instead of first come, first served, runners now enter a lucky draw for a place.
The 2027 race will be the 100th Comrades and will have a record 28,000 runners.
Most places are being offered through the general ballot, which opened on 9 September and closes on 22 September.
Race director Sue Forge said organisers had seen “unprecedented interest”.
On the first day, the online system at times showed more than 40,000 people waiting in the queue, The Citizen reported.
That does not necessarily mean 40,000 individual runners applied because some people may have joined on more than one device.
Forge said organisers would release confirmed numbers only after the ballot closes and the draw is completed.
But even with the bigger field, thousands could still miss out.
Forge said increasing the number of runners beyond 28,000 would be difficult.
The Comrades is an ultra-marathon between two cities, which creates safety and logistical limits.
Organisers must consider how many runners the route can safely handle, how much daylight is available and how spectators are managed.
Every runner must also be given the full 12 hours allowed to complete the race.
The 2027 Comrades will be a down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on 13 June.
Pictured above: The Comrades Marathon.
Image source: @ComradesRace/X
