With its long, winding roads and trails featuring scenic mountain and seaside views that draw people from all over the world, it is no wonder that Cape Town is a supreme hotspot for running races.
Those looking to prove, or improve, their endurance and agility flock to the city each year to participate in its many races. Runners, from amateurs to pros, have their choice at participating in Cape Town’s vast selection of running races catering to various skill levels.
Tyger Run/Walk with Discovery Vitality
Annually in March
Participate in Discovery Vitality’s age and gender inclusive Tyger Run/Walk. Participants can choose to either attempt a 6km fun run/walk or a 15km competitive race. At 9am, once races are over, medals will be awarded to all finishers within cut-off times.
Participating runners are required to enter online and collect their numbers on the 20th of March between 1oam and 6pm. There are various collection points, allowing participants to choose whichever is closest to them. Participants are also advised to carry their own water to the event, though four refill stations will be available, two of which will have coke on the route, with Coca-Cola and water at the finish area of the event.
Walkers are welcome and event t-shirts can be purchased at the event as part of the entry process. Wheelchair athletes are urged to arrange with the event organisers in advance.
When: 21 Mar 2024 | Start time 6.45am (15km race) & 7.15am (6km fun run)
Where: Tyger Valley Centre, Corner of Bill Bezuidenhout and Willie van Schoor, Bellville Park, Cape Town
Cost: R130pp (15km) | R100pp (6km) | R195 (unlicensed athletes) | R270 per shirt | Enter via Top Events
AVBOB Tygerberg 30km
Annually in March
Tygerberg Athletics Club welcomes running enthusiasts to participate in the AVBOB 30km race. Both licensed and unlicensed athletes are welcome, and wheelchair athletes looking to participate are urged to arrange with the event organisers beforehand. Refreshment tables will have water and coke at approximately 3kms apart, though there will be no refill stations on the path.
This is a pre-entry race only, but should the maximum number of entries not be met prior to the event, a limited number of entries will be taken at number
collection and on race day. Number collection is available at Sportsmans Warehouse locations in: Rondebosch, Somerset West and Tyger Valley. Participants can make their collections on the 23rd of March from 10am to 5pm.
Cash prizes will be awarded for all first to third place finishers in the open category and the aged categories, which include categories for people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70+.
When: 24 Mar 2024 | Start time 6am
Where: Starts and ends at Parow Athletics Track, 1 De Grendel Rd, Parow North, Cape Town
Cost: R160pp (licensed athletes) | R235 (unlicensed athletes) | R270 (event t-shirt) | Enter via Top Events
SPAR Women’s Challenge
Annually in March
A competition geared toward women running enthusiasts, support the SPAR Women’s Challenge by participating in either their 10km running race, 10km walk, or 5km fun run/walk. Men are eligible to enter but are NOT eligible for position or lucky draw prizes. Men will receive no seeing preference and will not be permitted to finish within the top 20 positions. The event also features a Grand Prix Series for elite athletes to compete against one another.
Included with each entry is: an event t-shirt, a peak, a magazine, a temp license (if required), a goodie bag and a medal. Number collection will take place on Friday, 22 and Saturday, 23 March at the Sportsmans Warehouse store you selected when entering. The first 14 000 finishers will receive a medal and drawstring goodie bag, whilst the top finishers will receive their cash prizes at the prize giving beginning at 9.30am.
When: 24 Mar 2024 | Start time 7am (10km race), 7.15am (10km walk) & 7.40am (5km run/walk)
Where: Green Point Common Sports Ground, Green Point, Cape Town
Cost: R160pp | Enter via Top Events
Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon
Annually in April
The Two Oceans Marathon invites qualifying runners to participate in either a 21.1km Half-marathon, or its main event, the 56km Ultra Marathon, which takes the participants on a route around the Cape Peninsula. This Marathon is one of South Africa’s leading marathons and is often acknowledged as one of the most scenic courses in the world, as runners pass through highlights such as Chapman’s Peak, Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Constantia and Newlands.
Entries are non-refundable, and medals are awarded to all finishers within cut-off times. The Ultra Marathon event takes place on the 13th, whilst the half-marathon is held the following day. As an entrant, you must have run a qualifying marathon or a longer distance in the specified times. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers racing as individuals or in teams, as well as the top Western Province Club Athletes and the top SA men and women competitors.
When: 13 April 2024 | Start time 5am (Ultra Marathon) | 14 April 2024, starting time 6am (Half-marathon)
Where: Start at Newlands Main Road, at intersection with corner of Dean Street
Cost: R790pp (Ultra Marathon) | R420 (Half-marathon) | Enter via Two Oceans Marathon
TimBuild Spookhill Challenge
Annually in April
Spookhill is a section of Parel Valley Road in Somerset West, where if you switch your car off, it appears to run up the hill instead of moving downhill. This has become a major topic of discussion among people in the area, as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether this apparent phenomenon is an optical illusion, or just one of the world’s great unsolved mysteries.
TimBuild have elevated the Spookhill experience with a marathon that features various costumed ghouls along the route, bringing athletics and mythical elements together in the form of a 15km race and 5km fun run. Participants are to enter online and collect a number early on the event day or on the 19th of April from various TimBuild branches.
Entrants are advised to carry their own water, though water and coke will be available at refill stations along the race path. All participants who complete the race within the cutoff time receive medals, whilst the top finishers will earn themselves cash prizes.
When: 20 April 2024 | Start time 7am (15km race) & 7.15am (5km fun run)
Where: Radloff Park, Somerset West, Cape Town
Cost: R130pp (licensed runner) |R180pp (unlicensed runner) | R50pp (5km fun run) | R295 per t-shirt | Enter via Top Events
Absa RUN YOUR CITY Cape Town
Annually in May
This 10km point to point route is fast and flat, highlights iconic landmarks and boasts magnificent views while featuring lively performances from some of Cape Town’s leading performing arts groups.
Enter this 10km and get the chance to enjoy a scenic run route, an event performance t-shirt, various entrant gifts, sponsor route entertainment points, live performances at various entertainment points, refreshment stations along the route, and a bus ride from the CBD to the start point and back from the finish.
Participants also receive finisher’s medals. Runners are expected to enter online and collect their numbers at The Lookout, V&A Waterfront on the 10th of May between 9am and 7pm and 11th of May between 9am and 2pm.
When: 12 May 2024 | From 9am
Where: Route begins at Woodbridge Island, Milnerton, Cape Town
Cost: R245pp | Enter via the Onreg
Running for Transformation
Annually in June
Youth in Transformation hosts its annual fundraiser, ‘Running for Transformation.’ Join them for a 5km or 10km run in aid of your local community in Cape Town. Bring the whole family along, as there will be coffee, food, and fun activities for the kids.
Funds raised from the event will go to the various youth-based projects supported by the organisation, including the Butterfly Project and the Buntu Majalaza Scholarship to name two. Walkers are also allowed.
When: 15 June 2024 | Start time 8am
Where: SACS, Newlands Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town
Cost: R50pp – R150pp (10km run) | R50pp – R100pp (5km run) | R30 (non-runners/spectators) | Enter via Webtickets