Two Indian Runners Share Their Comrades 2026 Experience

The Comrades Marathon was held just last week, and once again, it showed why runners across the world call it The Ultimate Human Race.

Comrades is not your regular marathon. It is a nearly 90 kilometre ultra marathon in South Africa, known for its history, climbs, crowd support and the kind of mental strength it demands from every runner on the route.

After the race, we got in touch with two Indian runners who were part of the Comrades 2026 experience, Sebastian Mariagnanam Nadar and Sandeep Chand, to understand what the race felt like from the inside.

Sebastian, also known as @GuinnessFitSaby on Instagram, is a 7 time Guinness World Record holder, ultra marathon runner, marathon coach and Fit India Ambassador from India. He has completed several marathons and ultra marathons, including the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Tata Ultra Marathon, Ladakh Marathon and now two back to back Comrades Marathons.

For him, returning to Comrades in 2026 was not just about adding another medal. After completing the race in 2025, he wanted to come back for the famous Up Run and test himself again on one of endurance running’s toughest stages.

Sandeep Chand, 41, also came into Comrades with years of sport and endurance behind him. He had been into fitness since school and was active in track and field during college, taking part in events like javelin throw and the 4x400m relay. Over the years, he moved towards endurance sport, completing Ironman 70.3 Goa 2024, seven marathons including four Tata Mumbai Marathons with a personal best of 3:13, and one Tata Ultra Marathon finish.

For Sandeep, the road to Comrades came through Runaholics, a Pune based running group led by Dr Yogesh Satav. Through the group, he learnt more about the race, the training it demands and the kind of preparation needed to stand at the start line.

Both runners described Comrades as much more than a long race.

Sebastian spoke about how the race tested his body, patience, mind and ability to keep moving when things got difficult. His plan was to start steady, respect the climbs, manage nutrition well and focus on effort instead of pace.

Sandeep had a clear goal of finishing within 8 hours and 40 minutes. But he was also carrying a prolonged knee injury, which made him unsure of how his knee would respond on the hills. His strategy was to stay controlled on the climbs, manage hydration and nutrition well, and use the flat and downhill sections smartly.

Till around 65 km, Sandeep was feeling comfortable. His heart rate was stable, his nutrition was in place, and a sub 8 finish looked possible. Then fatigue, pain and cramps hit his left hamstring, forcing him to slow down and take walking breaks.

But both runners had one thing in common: the crowd stayed with them.

Spectators lined the route, cheering runners by name, no matter where they came from or how fast they were going. For Sebastian and Sandeep, that energy made the difficult sections feel a little less lonely.

At the finish, the race became emotional in different ways.

Sebastian’s second Comrades medal made him think of his late father and the support of his mother, who would wake him up at 2 or 3 in the morning for long runs and take care of his nutrition and injuries.

Sandeep called his friends and family after finishing, then stayed back at the finish line to cheer for fellow runners.

For both of them, Comrades 2026 was more than a race. It was a test of patience, pain, people and the kind of belief that only shows up after many kilometres on tired legs.

Follow their journeys on Instagram: @GuinnessFitSaby and @chand_rajwar2701