South Africa’s fastest growing mobile operator, Cell C is going the extra mile to inspire top performances in this year’s edition of the Comrades Marathon by incentivising the breaking of the fastest average pace record by our leading male and female athletes.
In a bold move perfectly suited to the nature of the Comrades Marathon, where the total distance covered by athletes on race day changes year-on-year, Cell C has put up a total of R1 million in prize money for the man and woman who covers the total race distance in the fastest average pace ever recorded. In other words, rather than incentivising the breaking of the fastest time (irrespective of the race distance covered), Cell C will reward athletes who achieve the best pace-related performance ever recorded.
Currently, the fastest average pace run by a male winner on the Up Run is that of Vladimir Kotov, achieved in 2000 when the race distance was 87,3km. The fastest average pace run by a female winner on the Up Run is that of Gerda Steyn, achieved in 2019 when the race distance was 86,3km.
A detailed record of the 5 fastest average paces achieved by Comrades Marathon runners (provided by Stuart Mann) is set out below.
Name | Year | Race Distance | Time | Average Pace |
1. Vladimir Kotov | 2000 | 87,3 | 05:25:33 | 3:43,75 |
2. Leonid Shvetsov | 2008 | 86,9 | 05:24:49 | 3:44,17 |
3. Dmitri Grishin | 1998 | 87,3 | 05:26:25 | 3:44,34 |
4. Bruce Fordyce | 1988 | 87,5 | 05:27:42 | 3:44,71 |
5. Alexi Volgin | 2000 | 87,3 | 05:27:08 | 3:44,83 |
Name | Year | Race Distance | Time | Average Pace |
| 2019 | 86,8 | 05:58:53 | 4:07,99 |
2. Caroline Cherry | 2015 | 87,7 | 06:12:22 | 4:14,70 |
3. Elena Nurgalieva | 2006 | 86,7 | 06:09:24 | 4:15,64 |
4. Elena Nurgalieva | 2004 | 86,8 | 06:11:15 | 4:16,77 |
5. Marina Zhalybina | 2006 | 86,7 | 06:12:58 | 4:18,11 |
CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo says, “This incentive is perfectly suited for an event like the Comrades Marathon, given the ever-changing race distance. The aim of this accolade is to stimulate improved performances by our leading men and women as opposed to a pure time-based incentive.”
Ngcobo adds, “The R500,000 incentive is made possible by the Cell C sponsorship and takes the total prize money to be awarded for breaking the best time to R1-million. We are grateful to this leading mobile operator for joining us in putting Runners First and celebrating our top performers in this year’s 49th Up Run.”
Note: The Men’s Up Run Best Time of 05:24:49 is held by Leonid Shvetsov in the 2008 Comrades Marathon while the Women’s Up Run Best Time of 05:58:53 is held by Gerda Steyn in the 2019 Comrades Marathon.