You Got In!
Now let's get you to Durban
Your 2027 Comrades journey starts here.
Personalised Comrades Marathon coaching for first-timers, experienced ultra runners and everyone in between.
From Couch to Comrades to performance-focused race preparation, Westpoint Running builds your training around you, your goal and your starting point.
THE WESTPOINT WAY
Not just a training plan. A plan built around you.
Comrades is too big to approach with a generic program downloaded from the internet.
At Westpoint, we start with where you are now and build towards where you want to be on race day.
Whether you're:
- Starting from the couch
You've got the Comrades dream but aren't yet an ultra runner.
- Building your first Comrades
You've got running experience but need a structured path to 90+ km.
- Chasing a better Comrades
You've been there before and want smarter, more targeted preparation.
- Chasing performance
Your goal isn't simply to finish. Your training needs to reflect your ambition.
Different runner. Different journey. Same finish line.
Know Your Numbers
WE DON'T GUESS YOUR TRAINING INTENSITIES.
Fitness testing helps establish appropriate training zones so that your easy running is easy enough, your quality sessions are purposeful and your progression is based on something more than guesswork.
Your program evolves as you do. Training intensity, volume, recovery and race-specific preparation are adjusted according to your fitness, progress and goals.
TEST.
UNDERSTAND.
TRAIN.
Before we build your training, we need to understand your starting point. Our fitness testing looks at three key areas all outlined below:
AEROBIC CAPACITY
How efficiently can you sustain effort?
Establishes your aerobic fitness and gives us a clear picture of your endurance engine.
Measures: aerobic capacity • heart-rate response • sustainable effort
THRESHOLD
Where does hard become too hard?
Identifies the intensity you can sustain before fatigue starts to accelerate. This is crucial for setting meaningful training zones.
Measures: threshold pace • threshold heart rate • sustainable intensity
RUNNING PERFORMANCE
What can you actually do on the road?
Combines pace, effort and physiological response to determine how you should train — from easy runs through to tempo, intervals and race pace.
Measures: pace • heart rate • effort • training zones
QUALIFIED. CERTIFIED. EXPERIENCED. PERSONAL.
Westpoint Running combines formal coaching education with first-hand experience — including 10 personal Comrades Marathon finishes — to bring proven knowledge and practical experience to every athlete.
PERSONALISED TRAINING
Your program is built around your current ability, goals, schedule and circumstances.
RACE-SPECIFIC PREPARATION
Training evolves towards the actual demands of Comrades.
FITNESS-BASED INTENSITIES
Training zones are established using fitness testing rather than arbitrary pace prescriptions.
COACHING SUPPORT
You're not simply handed a PDF and left to figure it out.
A COMMUNITY
You become part of a wider group of athletes preparing for the same extraordinary challenge.
REAL COMRADES EXPERIENCE
Local Westpoint athletes can take part in organised training runs on the actual Comrades route.
NUTRITION
Training and race day nutrition guidance and advice. Based on your training, we can also create an optimal fueling plan for race day.
EQUIPMENT
Sound advice relating to all running equipment including locking in the correct shoe for the big run.
Westpoint Running is based in Durban & coaches athletes throughout SA and internationally.
YOUR TRAINING. WHEREVER YOU ARE.
~ powered by Final Surge.
THE VIRTUAL AGE
Final Surge allows your workouts to be delivered digitally, making it possible to follow your program whether you're training in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London, Sydney or anywhere else in the world. .
PLAN. RUN. RECORD. ADJUST.
Your training can be tracked and reviewed so that coaching decisions are based on what you're actually doing — not what we hoped you would do.
YOUR PLAN
Know exactly what today's training requires.
YOUR DATA
Track your training and performance.
YOUR COACH
Use your training feedback to guide what happens next.
For the runner beginning the journey.
Structured training, guidance and progression for athletes building towards their first Comrades.
For the experienced runner.
Personalised training designed around your current fitness, race history and Comrades goal.
For the runner chasing a specific outcome.
More targeted coaching around performance, pacing and race execution.
THIS IS HOW WE WILL GET STARTED
Your running history, experience, goals and Comrades ambitions.
Fitness, training history and current ability help determine where your journey begins.
Your personalised program is delivered through Final Surge and your Westpoint coaching journey begins.
Complete our online form and get the ball rolling or simply to ask any questions you may have.
COMRADES HUB
This section is updated regularly with different information on Comrades, our blog posts and interesting data.
