Africa / South Africa / Cape Town
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 2027
At the starting line
A race worth the journey.
Cape Town's road marathon takes runners through the city and finishes in the Green Point stadium precinct. Its urban course and coastal setting combine a major city race with views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic.
Know the course
Race route
Explore the course and the climbs before you get to the starting line.
Marathon
Awaiting organizer routeRoute not published yet
We’ll add a course when an organizer route or a clearly identified historical GPS track can be verified.
Elevation data not available
Organizer course source · Checked
Event history
First held in 1994
The organizer dates the first Cape Town Marathon to 1994 at Mutual Park. The race moved through different venues and organizers before the Sanlam era began in 2014 at Green Point.
Previous winners
The last ten completed editions where results can be verified. Overall men's and women's winners for this distance.
| Edition | Men | Time | Women | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mohamed Esa | 2:04:55 | Dera Dida | 2:23:18 | Results ↗ |
| 2024 | Abdisa Tola | 2:08:16 | Glenrose Xaba | 2:22:22 | Results ↗ |
| 2023 | Adane Kebede Gebre | 2:11:29 | Tsige Haileslase Abreha | 2:24:17 | Results ↗ |
| 2022 | Stephen Mokoka | 2:09:58 | Meseret Dinke Meleka | 2:24:02 | Results ↗ |
| 2021 | Stephen Mokoka | 2:10:01 | Lydia Simiyu | 2:25:44 | Results ↗ |
| 2019 | Edwin Koech | 2:09:20 | Celestine Chepchirchir | 2:26:44 | Results ↗ |
| 2018 | Stephen Mokoka | 2:08:31 | Helalia Johannes | 2:29:28 | Results ↗ |
| 2017 | Asefa Mengistu Negewo | 2:10:01 | Betelhem Moges | 2:30:22 | Results ↗ |
| 2016 | Asefa Mengistu Negewo | 2:08:41 | Tish Jones | 2:36:13 | Results ↗ |
| 2015 | Shadrack Kemboi | 2:11:41 | Isabella Ochichi | 2:30:20 | Results ↗ |
Ten completed regular-course editions through May 2026. The 2025 race was cancelled because of wind. The distributed, handicap-adjusted 2020 elite challenge is excluded from this regular-course winners table.
Runner perspectives
Selected summaries of public runner reviews. These describe the editions and distances noted, and experiences may change.
She appreciated efficient bib collection, clearly organized corrals and frequent aid stations. Wind on exposed bridges, more hills than expected and the late out-and-back made the run challenging.
Jessie Benson · Read review ↗2024Marathon
After her marathon debut she described the race as beautiful and said she intended to return to defend her title; this is an elite winner's perspective published by the organizer.
Glenrose Xaba · Read review ↗2024Marathon
Typical race weather
May in Cape Town
- Average daytime high
- 18.1°C
- Average overnight low
- 15.2°C
- Average monthly precipitation
- 51 mm
May averages suggest mild daytime conditions with a relatively modest day-to-night temperature change in this coastal model cell. Inland sections and nearby slopes can differ from these coastal estimates. Average daily highs are 18.1°C and overnight lows 15.2°C. Average precipitation totals about 51 mm over the whole month. Rain preparation is sensible, but the total does not give the chance or timing of rain during the race. These are historical regional averages, not a forecast or race-hour temperatures; the coast, hills and start line may differ.
Climate source ↗ · NASA POWER / MERRA-2 grid near Cape Town (-33.93°, 18.42°); not a weather station · May 2001–2020 (20 years)
Historical averages describe typical conditions, not the forecast or the temperature at the starting line.
What to wear
- Racing: consider a technical T-shirt with shorts or light tights; removable sleeves or a thin long-sleeve layer may suit a cooler forecast.
- Waiting at the start: bring a removable light layer; use a rain shell or poncho if rain is forecast.
- After finishing: keep a dry top and an extra layer in your finish bag.
- These are editorial clothing suggestions. Check the forecast close to race day and adapt to your own comfort.
Check the forecast close to race day and adjust your clothing to the start time and your own comfort.
Guide sources checked on .
Checked on 4 Oct 2026 · Event source
Map pins locate the host city, not the start line or race course.