Course & Elevation
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is South Africa's major city marathon, held on a Sunday in late May. On 23 May 2027 it becomes the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major, the first on African soil, after passing its second and final assessment at the 2026 race on 24 May. The marathon starts and finishes in Green Point near the Cape Town Stadium, with the finish on Vlei Road, and the 2027 programme includes Peace Runs on the Saturday and trail races. Its history goes back to 1994, when it was organised by Celtic Harriers and staged from Mutual Park in Pinelands; from 2005 to 2013 it ran under Western Province Athletics and Athletics South Africa, and Sanlam became the title sponsor in 2014. The race used to be held in October and has been moved to May. The course records are 2:04:55 for men (Mohamed Esa, 2026) and 2:22:22 for women (Glenrose Xaba, 2024). The 2026 edition was won by Mohamed Esa ahead of Eliud Kipchoge, who finished 16th.
Course Facts
Weather
Typical climate for the race month — an estimate, not a forecast or a race-day record
15°C
Temperature
81%
Humidity
24%
Rain Chance
Late May in Cape Town is mild and often wet: highs average about 21°C and lows about 10°C, with humidity around 81% and rain on around seven days of the month.
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