Ready, set, go! Runners set sights on Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

Runners from across the globe will descend on the Mother City this week in anticipation of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon which takes off this weekend.

The start and finish move to Helen Suzman Boulevard, where a staggered start will see runners setting off in seeded batched groups, two minutes apart. The staggered start process was successfully introduced to the race in 2021.

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon defending champion and record holder Stephen Mokoka, and SA national marathon champion Jenet Mbhele were unveiled as South Africa's top contenders in the men's and women's field for this year's long-distance run.

In 2021, 25-year-old elite Kenyan runner Lydia Simiyu's debut race ended in a stunning win to claim the event's first-place honours and set the marathon's course record.

The event was officially named as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate Race in August 2021, becoming the first marathon on the continent of Africa to join the multi-year assessment process. 

In order to become a Major, the 42.2km Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be required to meet certain criteria for three years and if successful, will join the elite group of races including the London, New York, Boston, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo Marathon.

- The start and finish move to Helen Suzman Boulevard.

- Runners will immediately head towards the Southern Suburbs via the elevated freeway’s N1/N2 outbound lane, offering unparalleled views of the City, Table Mountain and harbour.

- Athletes will run through District Six for the first time.

- The revised start means that runners will only pass City Hall in the 2nd half of the race, at the 30km mark.

- The Buitengracht Street bridge will no longer feature.

- The number of route cut-offs will increase to ensure that