Race calendar

KZN road running races 2026 to 2027

Road races in KwaZulu-Natal from now to mid-2027, from 5 km races to marathons in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay, and the marathons you can use to qualify for the 100th Comrades.

Updated 11 November 2026

How to use this calendar

This is a list of road races in KwaZulu-Natal from today onwards, grouped by month. A race drops off the list once it has been run.

Confirmed dates were checked against the organiser's or entry page on 11 November 2026. Date to be confirmed means the date is expected: the race appears on public race calendars, but the organiser had not yet published the 2027 date. Confirm the date with the organiser before you enter or travel.

Comrades 2027 qualifying races in KZN

The 100th Comrades Marathon is on Sunday 13 June 2027. Comrades says runners must qualify by 3 May 2027. The standard is a marathon (42.2 km) in under 5 hours, run within the qualifying window, which opened on 15 June 2026. A better qualifying time gives better seeding at the start.

Check on comrades.com that your chosen race is accepted as a qualifier before you rely on it.

These are the standard 42.2 km marathons on the calendar that fall on or before the deadline.

DateRaceTown
Sat 28 Nov 2026Confirmed NRB Harriers Challenge Richards Bay
Sun 29 Nov 2026Confirmed Bluff Marathon Durban (Bluff)
Sun 7 Feb 2027Confirmed Hillcrest Marathon Hillcrest
Sat 13 Feb 2027Date to be confirmed RBM Marathon Richards Bay
Sun 14 Feb 2027Date to be confirmed Zabalaza Marathon Cato Ridge
Sun 28 Feb 2027Date to be confirmed Capital City Marathon Pietermaritzburg
Sun 28 Feb 2027Confirmed eThekwini Best of the Best Marathon Durban (Kings Park)
Sun 14 Mar 2027Date to be confirmed uMngeni-uThukela Water Marathon Howick
Sat 20 Mar 2027Date to be confirmed uMhlathuze Crocs Marathon Empangeni
Sun 21 Mar 2027Date to be confirmed Dolphin Coast Marathon Dolphin Coast
Sun 21 Mar 2027Date to be confirmed Harry Gwala District Marathon Ixopo
Sat 10 Apr 2027Date to be confirmed Battlefields Marathon Newcastle
Sat 10 Apr 2027Date to be confirmed Hippo Marathon Richards Bay
Sun 11 Apr 2027Confirmed Durban City Marathon Durban
Sun 2 May 2027Confirmed Durban International Marathon Durban (Prospecton to Moses Mabhida)

The Durban International Marathon on 2 May 2027 is the day before the deadline. It leaves no room for a second attempt, so if you need a spare try, run an earlier marathon first.

Not sure how to train for it? The Comrades training plan guide covers the build to the 100th Down Run, and the marathon training plan guide covers the build to 42.2 km.

Full race calendar

November 2026

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 15 NovConfirmed Umhlanga Rocks Half-Marathon Umhlanga 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 22 NovConfirmed Crescent Challenge Durban (Kings Park) 10 km, 5 km
Sat 28 NovConfirmed NRB Harriers Challenge Richards Bay 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km
Sun 29 NovConfirmed Bluff Marathon Durban (Bluff) 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km

December 2026

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 6 DecConfirmed SAPS Polmed Race Pietermaritzburg 10 km, 5 km
Sun 6 DecConfirmed iThemba Challenge Durban (Kings Park) 10 km, 5 km
Sun 13 DecConfirmed Westville Christmas Challenge Westville 15 km
Wed 16 DecConfirmed Durban Dash Durban (Kings Park) 15 km, 5 km
Thu 31 DecConfirmed 31kmOn31stDec Challenge Durban 31 km, 21.1 km, 16 km, 10 km

January 2027

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 10 JanDate to be confirmed Hilton Harriers Half-Marathon Hilton 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 10 JanConfirmed Scottburgh Half-Marathon Scottburgh 21.1 km, 10 km
Sun 17 JanConfirmed Kearsney Striders Half-Marathon Botha's Hill 21.1 km, 10 km
Sun 31 JanDate to be confirmed PDAC 25 km Durban 25 km

February 2027

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 7 FebConfirmed Hillcrest Marathon
Pre-entry only.
Hillcrest 42.2 km, 21.1 km
Sat 13 FebDate to be confirmed RBM Marathon Richards Bay 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 14 FebConfirmed WeRunDBN Love2Run Durban (Suncoast) 10 km, 5 km
Sun 14 FebDate to be confirmed Zabalaza Marathon Cato Ridge 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km
Sun 21 FebDate to be confirmed Mfundo Arnold Lushaba Half-Marathon Nyangwini 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 21 FebDate to be confirmed Sydenham Challenge Durban (Sydenham) 32 km, 16 km
Sun 28 FebDate to be confirmed Capital City Marathon Pietermaritzburg 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 28 FebConfirmed eThekwini Best of the Best Marathon Durban (Kings Park) 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km

March 2027

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 14 MarDate to be confirmed Galleria Mall Challenge Amanzimtoti 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 14 MarDate to be confirmed uMngeni-uThukela Water Marathon Howick 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sat 20 MarDate to be confirmed uMhlathuze Crocs Marathon Empangeni 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 21 MarDate to be confirmed Dolphin Coast Marathon Dolphin Coast 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 21 MarDate to be confirmed Harry Gwala District Marathon Ixopo 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km

April 2027

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 4 AprConfirmed Indian Ocean Marathon
A 50 km ultra, not a standard marathon.
Durban 50 km, 30 km, 10 km
Sat 10 AprDate to be confirmed Battlefields Marathon Newcastle 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km
Sat 10 AprDate to be confirmed Hippo Marathon Richards Bay 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km
Sun 11 AprConfirmed Durban City Marathon Durban 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 18 AprDate to be confirmed Chatsworth Ultra Marathon Chatsworth 52 km, 25 km, 10 km
Mon 26 AprDate to be confirmed Orcas Ultra Marathon Durban 50 km, 25 km, 10 km, 5 km

May 2027

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 2 MayConfirmed Durban International Marathon
6-hour cut-off. The day before the Comrades qualifying deadline.
Durban (Prospecton to Moses Mabhida) 42.2 km, 10 km
Sun 9 MayDate to be confirmed Verulam Falcons Challenge Verulam 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 16 MayDate to be confirmed Stella Royal Durban 25 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 23 MayDate to be confirmed Peace in Africa Durban 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km
Sun 30 MayDate to be confirmed Durban Street Mile Durban 10 km, 5 km, road mile

June 2027

DateRaceTownDistances
Sun 13 JunConfirmed Comrades Marathon
The 100th running, a Down Run. Entries are closed.
Pietermaritzburg to Durban About 91 km
Sun 27 JunDate to be confirmed SPAR Women's Challenge Durban Durban 10 km, 5 km

Choosing a race and training for it

Pick a race far enough away to train for properly, and work back from the date. The 10K guide is an 8-week plan, the half marathon guide is 12 weeks, and the marathon guide usually needs 16 weeks or more.

If Comrades is your goal, choose your qualifier early. Run it as part of your plan, not as an all-out effort that costs you two weeks of training.

For the long runs between races, Beloved Long Runs hosts group long runs across KwaZulu-Natal, with pace groups and water tables.

SportMentor builds a plan from the race you choose and your own training, whether that comes from Garmin, COROS, Polar, Suunto, Intervals.icu, Strava or Fitbit, or from runs you log yourself. It adjusts the plan each week to match what you actually ran.

There is no subscription. Sign up free, get a free credit to try it, and after that you pay only for what you use.

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Questions runners ask

When is the Comrades 2027 qualifying deadline?

Comrades says runners must qualify by 3 May 2027. The 100th Comrades is on Sunday 13 June 2027. Check comrades.com for the rules that apply to you before you enter a qualifier.

What time do I need to qualify for Comrades?

The standard is a marathon (42.2 km) in under 5 hours, run within the qualifying window, which opened on 15 June 2026. A better qualifying time gives you better seeding at the start. Check on comrades.com that your chosen race is accepted as a qualifier before you rely on it.

Which KZN marathon is the last one before the qualifying deadline?

Of the confirmed races, the Durban International Marathon on 2 May 2027 is the last. It is the day before the deadline, so it leaves no room for a second attempt. An earlier marathon gives you a spare try if the first one does not go to plan.

Is the Indian Ocean Marathon a standard marathon?

No. On 4 April 2027 it offers 50 km, 30 km and 10 km distances, so the 50 km is an ultra and not a standard marathon. That is why it is not in the qualifier table. Check comrades.com before using any race to qualify.

How reliable are the dates on this calendar?

Dates marked Confirmed were checked against the organiser or entry page on 11 November 2026. Dates marked Date to be confirmed are expected dates that the organiser had not yet published. Confirm with the organiser before you enter or travel.

Race dates and details are the organisers' own and can change. Confirm with the organiser before you enter or travel. This guide is general information, not medical advice.

Pick your race, then train for it

Tell SportMentor which race you have chosen. It builds a week-by-week plan from your own training and adjusts it as the weeks go by.

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