Durban — There has been a significant increase in the prize money for the 2025 Comrades Marathon. According to the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), the enhancement highlights its commitment to recognising its participants’ extraordinary efforts.

The total prize purse for the 98th Comrades Marathon held on June 8, 2025, has increased to over R7.6 million, a substantial increase from previous years.

The increase will benefit top finishers in the men’s and women’s categories, age group winners and other special categories.

CMA chairperson Jeff Minnaar said: “We are thrilled to offer a larger prize purse for the 98th Comrades Marathon.

“This increase is a testament to our dedication to supporting and rewarding the incredible athletes who take on this challenging race. We look forward to seeing the heightened competition and outstanding performances that this will inspire.”

During the race launch recently, acting race and operations manager Alain Dalais confirmed that prize money for the 2025 Comrades Marathon has been increased by 10% across the board, meaning that the winner in both the men’s and women’s races will take home R874 000 which includes a ‘top up’, thanks to major sponsor Cell C.

Cell C will also sponsor a cash prize of R500 000 for the Best Pace in both the men’s and women’s races and a R50 000 Hot Spot prize.

Comrades Marathon 2025 prize money. | Thobeka Ngema

This edition will be a down run, the 49th Comrades Marathon Down Run, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 5.30am and concluding 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium’s People’s Park in Durban.

The race will be a distance of approximately 89km.

Down Run Best Pace:

Men: 2016 – David Gatebe – 03:34:08 min/km
Women: 2023 – Gerda Steyn – 03:55:98 min/km

The prize purse also includes a cash payment of R550 000 should the winners break the Best Time previously recorded for the Down Run in both the men’s and women’s races.

Down Run Best Times:

Men: 2023 – Tete Dijana – 05:13:58
Women: 2023 – Gerda Steyn – 05:44:54

Along with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the race will incentivise the first, second and third KZN men and women home with a cash prize.

There will also be prizes for the first South African man and woman.

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2025 Comrades Marathon: major prize money boost announced