Canadians are getting ready to take on the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon

The world’s largest, and oldest, ultramarathon goes off this weekend in South Africa.

Thousands of runners will make the trek between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, a distance of approximately 89K as part of the Comrades Marathon. The event, first held in 1921, is expected to host as many as 20,000 participants. The ultramarathon begins on June 4.

The road race alternates directions each year, noted by being either a “down” or “up” year. This year’s event, which begins at 5:30 a.m. local time, will be an “up” year as runners finish in Pietermaritzburg. There is a 12-hour cutoff before the course reopens.

@ComradesRace Last long short run done #TeamCanada ?? leaving tomorrow ✈️??Are you ready for us? @CanadianRunning @RunnerBliss #KeepCalm pic.twitter.com/emEl66f5eQ

— @inthelongrun (@sherabmelvin) May 28, 2017

North Vancouver’s Ellie Greenwood notably won Comrades in 2014 covering the distance in 6:18:15.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUAQzdPDRd9/

Canadians will be representing on this challenging course over the weekend. Fifty-five Canadians made the start list of the Comrades Marathon. A full list of runners who listed their nationality as Canadian can be found below.

Canadian entries

Trevor Penford CAN calgary M GMA
Daniel Van Den Berg CAN none M GMA
Michael Aikman CAN M MAS
Les Michalak CAN Canada Burlington Runners M GMA
Michael Yasinski CAN M VET
Karine Bibeau CAN F OPN
Jean-Martin Cyr CAN M VET
Bradley Farquhar CAN M OPN
John De Swardt CAN M MAS
Ryan Macneil CAN Benoni Northerns Athletics Club M VET
Lesley Hawe CAN F MAS
Sean Abraham CAN M OPN
Peggy Martins CAN F VET
Andy Joyce CAN M VET
Tony Tersigni CAN M MAS
Xiao Liang CAN M OPN
Charles Johnson CAN M VET
Jordan Kalinowski CAN M OPN
Doug Macisaac CAN Lacombe Running Club M MAS
Derick Rautenbach CAN M VET
Julien Frachon CAN M OPN
Veronique Martel CAN F OPN
Divya Vasishta CAN F VET
Tapantosh Chakrabarty CAN M GMA
Matt (matthias) Hoffecker CAN M MAS
Joanna Rees CAN New York Flyers F VET
Roy Yee CAN M VET
Ken Walker CAN M MAS
Brian Groot CAN M OPN
Melanie Clement CAN F VET
Sherab Dhumkhang CAN F MAS
Raymond Simpson CAN M MAS
Tamara Ghazi CAN F OPN
Timothy Westaway CAN M GMA
Roy Chen-Campbell CAN M MAS
Brian Rodkin CAN M MAS
Catherine Hopkins CAN Canada F MAS
Timothy Venhuis CAN Fourways Road Runners M OPN
Victoria Baylis CAN Canada Burlington Runners F VET
Richard Felton CAN Feet on Fire Running M GMA
Mark Gilbert CAN M GMA
Lorraine Wilkinson CAN F MAS
Fred Unternahrer CAN Sarnia Roadrunners M MAS
Robert Baxter CAN M MAS
Victoria Webster CAN F OPN
Kim Jones CAN F VET
Peyasu Wuttunee CAN M MAS
Lindsay Kobayashi CAN F OPN
Marigold Edwards CAN F MAS
Edgar Viret CAN M GMA
Chris Harland CAN M VET
G Geraline Harvey CAN F MAS
Andrea Moritz CAN Canada F VET
Jan Francke CAN M VET
Norm Rotter CAN CANADA M MAS