The TRUTH About Comrades Pacing Buses

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As we look ahead to Comrades Marathon 2026, Brad sits down with Stuart Mann from runningmann.co.za to unpack race-day data on pacing buses: how “sticky” they really are, who actually finishes with them, when they help (and when they don’t), and what this means for your race strategy. We also touch on negative vs positive splits, medal targets (e.g., Bill Rowan sub-9, Robert Mtshali sub-10), and a surprising look at where runners fall off—or latch on—late in the race.
Plus: an emotional update on last week’s guest, Pie-Pacifque, and his remarkable story.

🎯 You’ll learn
- Whether you should run in a pacing bus or run your own race
- Where buses gain/lose runners and why the 12-hour bus behaves differently
- Why the sub-9 bus stands out—and where the 10-hour Wave 1 struggled
- How half-hour “buffer” pacing (e.g., 11:30 for a sub-12) can raise finish odds
- The reality on negative splits (down vs up) and how ego sneaks in
- Practical tips to avoid congestion and tailor pacing to your strengths (ups vs downs)