From “Runspirited”: Running the Comrades Marathon: First steps for U.S. runners

In South Africa, the Comrades Marathon (roughly 88K, 55ish miles) is the standard by which running is measured. I’ve heard runners say more than once that the general feeling is, “You’re not a real runner until you’ve run Comrades.” 

Founded in 1921, Comrades is the oldest ultra in the world. It is also the largest, with thousands of participants lining up each year. And, it is a celebration of running like no other. The event captures the attention of people all over the country: supporters are thick along most of the course, and for those who can’t be there in person, there’s 12 hours of live coverage to watch on television. The closest comparison for Americans is Comrades is the Super Bowl of South Africa, but with runners. And, unlike the Super Bowl, you can be a participant. …