The 2025 Comrades Marathon (90 km), South Africa
Ultramarathon # 23
My Comrades Marathon # 4
Date: June 8, 2025
My Time: 11:07:13
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Completing the 90 km of the Comrades Marathon is not an achievement, it’s the ultimate human experience. You have to do it to get the full picture.
I completed my 4th Comrades Marathon with my son Cédric Diallo. My plan was to run barefoot the 90 km to celebrate my 70 years and show the efficient way to stay fit, and physically and mentally very healthy as we age. I prepared for the challenge by logging in the 12 months leading to the race 7,921 km (4,922 miles), including 715 km in February, then 752 km in March, 735 km in April and finally 931 km in May, ending the month with 3 marathons and a 32 km walk in 4 days. I did barefoot most of the distance, wearing minimalist shoes only when socially or biologically required.
My purpose is to show, by leading by example, that, since the human body is anthropologically designed for the lifestyle of our hunter-gatherer ancestors—that is, for running and walking barefoot long distances—the closer we get to our natural way of life, the happier, fitter, and healthier we will be physically and mentally. In other words, it’s the best way to prevent running injuries, and—most importantly—the loss of our physical or cognitive abilities as we age.
I started the race barefoot, but after 5 km I felt that it was better to put on the minimalist shoes for the rest of the distance. I crossed the finish line without pain, injury or fatigue, which illustrates that, for individuals of Homo sapiens—the best and single persistent-hunter species—, completing the Comrades Marathon is not an achievement, it’s the most rewarding human experience. All we need is to get ready and do the race as naturally as possible, i.e. either barefoot or with minimalist shoes.
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
My Comrades Marathon # 4
Date: June 8, 2025
My Time: 11:07:13
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Completing the 90 km of the Comrades Marathon is not an achievement, it’s the ultimate human experience. You have to do it to get the full picture.
I completed my 4th Comrades Marathon with my son Cédric Diallo. My plan was to run barefoot the 90 km to celebrate my 70 years and show the efficient way to stay fit, and physically and mentally very healthy as we age. I prepared for the challenge by logging in the 12 months leading to the race 7,921 km (4,922 miles), including 715 km in February, then 752 km in March, 735 km in April and finally 931 km in May, ending the month with 3 marathons and a 32 km walk in 4 days. I did barefoot most of the distance, wearing minimalist shoes only when socially or biologically required.
My purpose is to show, by leading by example, that, since the human body is anthropologically designed for the lifestyle of our hunter-gatherer ancestors—that is, for running and walking barefoot long distances—the closer we get to our natural way of life, the happier, fitter, and healthier we will be physically and mentally. In other words, it’s the best way to prevent running injuries, and—most importantly—the loss of our physical or cognitive abilities as we age.
I started the race barefoot, but after 5 km I felt that it was better to put on the minimalist shoes for the rest of the distance. I crossed the finish line without pain, injury or fatigue, which illustrates that, for individuals of Homo sapiens—the best and single persistent-hunter species—, completing the Comrades Marathon is not an achievement, it’s the most rewarding human experience. All we need is to get ready and do the race as naturally as possible, i.e. either barefoot or with minimalist shoes.
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
Dr. Sidy Diallo was feeling great on the second half of the 2025 Comrades Marathon.
At sunrise during the 2025 Comrades Marathon Dr. Sidy Diallo had still 80 km (50 miles) to go.
Dr. Sidy Diallo completed the 2025 Comrades Marathon with no pain, injury or fatigue.
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2025 Comrades Marathons Certificate
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 5 Comrades medals: 4 race medals and the back-to-back medal
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 2025 Comrades Marathon Results
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 2025 Comrades Marathon Garmin data
The 2025 Comrades Marathon Down Run Course
Sunrise in Durban, South Africa
Durban Waterfront and Beaches, South Africa
Dr. Sidy Diallo logged 7,921 km (4,922 miles) in the 12 months leading to the 2025 Comrades Marathon.
Dr. Sidy Diallo concluded his preparation for the 2025 Comrades Marathon with 3 marathons and a 32 km walk in 4 days.