The Cape Town Marathon is making a significant comeback this weekend, drawing global attention with the debut of double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge. The iconic 42.2km race, one of Africa’s largest running events, is set to take place on Sunday, May 24, after last year’s edition was cancelled due to dangerous wind conditions.
Organizers have strategically shifted the race from its traditional October slot to May, hoping for calmer and faster conditions, a move partly aimed at avoiding a repeat of last year’s unfortunate cancellation. The event has attracted a combined 44,500 entries, including 27,000 marathon runners, with an additional 17,500 athletes participating in accompanying 10km and 5km Peace Runs, as well as 22km and 11km trail runs on Saturday, May 23.
Alongside Kipchoge, the elite men’s field will feature unbeaten Kenyan marathon runner Benard Biwott, while two-time world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat, also from Kenya, headlines the women’s elite race. With cooler May conditions and reduced likelihood of strong winds, organizers anticipate that both course records (2:08:16 for men and 2:22:22 for women) could be broken this year. The Cape Town Marathon is currently a provisional World Major Marathon, requiring it to pass stage two in May for all participants to be retroactively recognized as having run a Major.
Key Players Involved
- Eliud Kipchoge: Double Olympic marathon champion making his debut at the Cape Town Marathon.
- Benard Biwott: Unbeaten Kenyan marathon runner competing in the men’s elite field.
- Edna Kiplagat: Two-time world marathon champion leading the women’s elite race.
- Cape Town Marathon Organizers: Responsible for the event’s planning, execution, and pursuit of World Major Marathon status.
Event Timeline
- May 19, 2026: Eliud Kipchoge arrives in Cape Town for his debut.
- May 23, 2026: Cape Town 22km and 11km trail runs, and 10km and 5km Peace Runs take place.
- May 24, 2026: The main 42.2km Cape Town Marathon race begins at DHL Stadium.
- Current Status: The marathon weekend is underway, with races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, and high expectations for record-breaking performances and World Major status.
