When runners complete their 10th Comrades Marathon, they are awarded their race number in perpetuity. They also become a Green Number Club member.
Achieving 3 wins or 5 gold medals also qualifies a runner for Green Number Club membership.
The concept of “Green Numbers” was first introduced in 1972 and applied retrospectively.
Green Number patches are awarded to runners who reach special milestones. The laurels on the patches reflect the number of Comrades Marathons completed: 1 laurel - 10 or more finishes, 2 laurels – 20 or more, 3 laurels - 30 or more; and 4 laurels - 40 or more finishes.
2024 is the first year that a patch with 5 laurels has been introduced, as Barry Holland is attempting to complete his 50th Comrades Marathon.
Green Number Club members also have special registration areas at the Expo in Durban, and in Pietermaritzburg at the Green Number Club Room in the Comrades Marathon Museum.
The Green Number Club Room has recently been revamped and the team is looking forward to welcoming members to the new "Green Room".
In more recent years a Green Number Club card has also been issued to each Green Number Club member to use as identification when purchasing Mr Price Sport Green Number Club merchandise.
Runners who were inducted into the Green Number Club in 2022 but have not received their Green Number Club card can collect it at the Green Number Club tent at the Finish Venue at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse on race day – Sunday, 9 June 2024.