Media Release – 10 August 2021
Planning Full Steam Ahead For Sanlam Cape Town Marathon - With Major Safety Adjustments
The organisers of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon have confirmed that the planning for the event is full steam ahead and that the plans have seen a major overhaul to ensure the safety of all participants.

“Following extensive consultations and detailed review with the City of Cape Town, Athletics South Africa and National Government, we developed and presented an extensive COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the event, and received their full support to go ahead with our planning of a safe and enjoyable race on 17 October,” confirms Renee Jordaan, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Race Director.

The Risk Mitigation Plan includes several adjustments to this year’s event format.

Changes to the Marathon

• Marathon entries will be limited to 12,000 runners only.
• The Start will move from Beach Road to Fritz Sonnenberg Road, with participants joining their start batches on the Cape Town Stadium Forecourt.
• A staggered start will see runners setting off in seeded batched groups, allowing for ample social distancing, between 06h15 and 06h50. 
• Seeding will be based on past race results, not limited to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
• Runners’ finishing time will be calculated from mat-to-mat and not gun-to-mat.
• The final cut-off is still six-and-a-half hours, and will be based on the last group of runners starting the race.

Compulsory COVID Antigen Testing
In order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, all runners and crew will undergo COVID-19 Antigen testing in the 72 hours prior to the race. Testing will be compulsory regardless of vaccination status, and free of charge.  Runners will be tested at Cape Town Stadium before entering the Expo space to collect their race numbers. Antigen test results will be available within 15 minutes.

Trail Runs Going Ahead; 5km & 10km Peace Runs Go Virtual
“Due to COVID restrictions, we are sadly required to cancel the 5km and 10km Peace Runs, but the good news is that these events will take place in virtual format, and runners can run the Peace Runs along their favourite running routes, no matter where they are. The all-new 46km Cape Town Trail Marathon and 22km Trail Run will still go ahead on 16 October,” says Sanlam Cape Town Marathon General Manager, Barry van Blerk.

The 5km & 10km Virtual Peace Runs will be free of charge. Runners can simply enter via www.capetownmarathon.com to receive App Download instructions.

All 5km and 10km Peace Run entrants will receive a refund, and an email with detailed instructions will be sent to all affected runners.

Says Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Chairman, Francois Pienaar: “After a trying 18 months, we are grateful for the support from our major stakeholders that allows us to work towards staging Africa’s only World Athletics Gold Label marathon and the ASA Marathon Champs. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon attracts thousands of athletes from across SA, Africa and the globe, and has a significant economic impact on the city. Africa is our home. This is our Race. And we can’t wait to welcome all our runners to Cape Town in October.”

Trail running enthusiasts can soon enter the inaugural Cape Town Trail Marathon by Ryan Sandes. Since 2007, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has invited athletes from around the world to explore the unique streets and cultures of one of the best globally-rated cities in the world. This year, in collaboration with ultra-distance trail running sensation, Ryan Sandes, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will not only be taking place in the city streets, but on the trails of the world-renowned Table Mountain National Park.

The Cape Town Trail Marathon by Ryan Sandes, is, as the name suggests, designed by Sandes himself. Sandes is one of South Africa’s most accomplished ultra-trail runners and has a remarkable track record both in South Africa and internationally, having won an ultra-race on every continent. He has been trailblazing since 2008, with one of his most impressive victories being his win at The Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run in California during 2017.

Sandes is really excited to collaborate with Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and to showcase his favourite trails on Table Mountain. Sandes says “I have been fortunate to run all over the world and there is no place like Cape Town. My dream is for the Cape Town Trail Marathon to become one of the must do iconic events on the global trail running circuit.” Knowing the mountains of the Cape Peninsula like the back of his hand, Sandes has mapped out the Cape Town Trail Marathon along 46 kilometres of the best stretches of trail between Green Point and Kirstenbosch.

“With 46km and 2200m of elevation, runners will traverse above the city and experience the flora, fauna and sweeping vistas of the Table Mountain National Park and Atlantic Ocean. The trail weaves through one of the world’s most diverse and rare floral kingdoms, the Cape Floristic Region, and many of the species seen on this trail, cannot be found anywhere else on Earth” added Sandes.

The 46km route has received SANParks approval and as another bonus to the runners the Cape Town Trail Marathon will be the first trail run to go through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, with special approval from SANBI. The prize money for both male and female trail runners will be R50 000 for first place, R20 000 for second and R10 000 for third.

Age category winners will win high-end products from the marathon sponsors. In addition to the Cape Town Trail Marathon, the 22km trail race returns, to cater to runners who prefer slightly shorter trail distances. The 12km trail race will not be returning in 2021, due to limitations on the Table Mountain National Park trails. Both the 46km and 22km trail races will take place on Saturday, 16 October 2021 and the entries will be capped at 500 runners per race.

Entries will open at midday on Friday, 30 April. With limited entries available, runners are encouraged to enter as soon as possible, to avoid disappointment.