Down - A Comrades Marathon Podcast

By Coach ParrySports Health & Fitness Fitness Running

Down - A Comrades Marathon Podcast episodes

August 17 Clement Manyathela’s Comrades Revenge
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

Clement Manyathela is one of South Africa’s best-known broadcasters, but away from the microphone, he’s become completely hooked on the Comrades Marathon.
And his journey has been anything but straightforward.
In this episode of Down, Brad sits down with Clement to talk about how he went from running just a few kilometres to taking on Comrades, why running became such an important outlet from the pressure of broadcasting, and what keeps pulling him back to one of the toughest races in the world.
40 min
August 10 Comrades Qualifier Mistake You Can’t Afford to Make
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

Submit Your Comrades Down Run for Coach Parry to analyse: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfItj9wBJzpriG1crtOvYjYjTN7ifiMMKFG-HEuCtlMUMRdIw/viewform
Today, the team dives into another Comrades Roast to uncover how a few seemingly small training decisions can add up to a costly race day.
From pushing too hard in a late qualifier to recovery, taper timing and mental energy, this episode breaks down the mistakes that could be standing between you and your Comrades goal.
28 min
August 03 You’re Starting Comrades Training Too Early
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

The road to Comrades 2027 has started, but that does not mean you should be training for Comrades just yet.
In this episode, Coach Lindsey explains what experienced Comrades runners and first-time runners should be doing in August, why qualifying too early can backfire, and the warning signs that you may still be carrying fatigue from Comrades 2026
21 min
July 27 The Comrades Strategy That Produced a Near-Perfect 6:32
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

What does a near-perfect Comrades Marathon look like?
In this episode, Coach Lindsey & Brad break down the pacing, training and race-day decisions behind Danie’s incredible 6:32 Down Run.
Danie started conservatively, maintained an exceptionally even effort and finished four minutes faster in the second half. The result was a huge PB and a performance that exceeded even Lindsey’s best predicted finishing time.
21 min
July 20 The Comrades Race Roast Every Runner Needs to See
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

Submit Your Comrades Down Run for Coach Parry to Analyse: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfItj9wBJzpriG1crtOvYjYjTN7ifiMMKFG-HEuCtlMUMRdIw/viewform
She finished her first Comrades Marathon down run with just over six minutes to spare.
But was her race actually well paced, or was she much closer to disaster than the finishing time suggests?
In this Comrades Race Roast, Lindsey and Brad analyse a novice runner’s training, pacing, heart rate and race-day execution. She completed nearly 800 kilometres in training, ran a 60-kilometre long run and reached halfway in 5:57 while chasing a sub-12-hour finish.
The data reveals where she got it right, where she took unnecessary risks and why going only a few minutes faster in the first half could have completely changed her result.
22 min
July 13 Comrades 2027 Ballot CONFIRMED (Everything You Need to Know)
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

The 100th Comrades Marathon is coming, and demand for 2027 is expected to be bigger than ever.
Comrades Marathon Association Chairperson Mark Leathers joins Brad to reveal what runners need to know about the 2027 entry process, the planned ballot, early entry access, the race cap and whether the announced race date is secure.
They also look back at the biggest issues from the 2026 race, including traffic problems, the television broadcast and the improvements being planned for 2027.
34 min
July 06 The Comrades Secret Nobody Talks About (Crazy Race Strategy)
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass
In this episode of Down, the Coach Parry Comrades Marathon Podcast, Brad chats with Dave Ingram, a remarkable Comrades athlete who has earned 13 Vic Clapham medals by walking every step of every race. Dave shares how he qualifies for Comrades, his unique training philosophy, race-day pacing strategies, and why walking with purpose can be a powerful advantage. Whether you're planning to run, walk, or use a run-walk strategy at Comrades 2027, this conversation is packed with practical insights on pacing, confidence, recovery, and finishing strong.
36 min
June 29 How To Start Training For Comrades 2027
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

Comrades 2027 is officially on the horizon, and the excitement around the 100th running is already massive.
In this episode, Brad is back with Official Comrades Coach Lindsey Parry to look at how you should approach your Comrades 2027 training, whether you ran in 2026, are returning after a long break, or are hoping to take on Comrades for the very first time.
They talk about why you should not rush back into hard training, how to structure the rest of your year, when to think about qualifying, and why consistency now matters more than chasing massive mileage too early.
If Comrades 2027 is on your radar, this is where your journey starts.
32 min
June 22 The Official Comrades Coach’s Brutally Honest Up Run Debrief
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

After 17 years away from running Comrades, Lindsey returned with a conservative race plan, serious strength training, smart pacing… and still had to battle brutal hills, blazing heat, cramping calves, and the mental chaos of Poly Shortts.
In this episode, we unpack his full race debrief: what worked, what nearly ruined the day, why strength training changed his recovery, how he ran a negative split, and the biggest lessons every Comrades runner needs to hear before the historic 100th edition.
Whether you finished, didn’t finish, or are already dreaming of Comrades 2027... this one is packed with powerful lessons, honest mistakes, and the kind of inspiration only Comrades can deliver.
35 min
June 09 The BEST Spots To Watch Comrades (Complete Seconding Guide)
Grab our Comrades Training Plans here

Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Grab your spot in our upcoming Faster Beyond 50 Masterclass here: https://coachparry.com/lkz8-Faster-Beyond-50-Masterclass

Kilometer Studios Space Bag: https://artofendurance.co.za/catalogue/space-bag/
At Comrades, the runner may cross the finish line, but the seconder can make or break the day.
In this episode, Lindsey and Hayley share what every Comrades seconder needs to know before race day: the pressure, the planning, the chaos, and the small moments that can change everything.
Whether you’re seconding for the first time or you’ve done it before, this is one to listen to before you stand on the side of the road.
51 min