Cape Town Marathon 2027: date, entry and training plan

Can you still enter the Cape Town Marathon 2027?

Not through the ballot: the 2027 ballot ran from June 10 to 24, 2026, results went out on June 26, 2026, and successful runners were charged the same day. The official website lists the race as sold out. Two routes remain, open since June 26, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis: official international tour operators and the race's charity partners.

According to the organizer's FAQ, 2027 entries are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be deferred to another year. Prices are not listed on that page: check them with the tour operator or charity you choose. South African runners must be at least 18 on race day.

Two starts, one finish and a course between sea and city

The Cape Town Marathon starts from two sites: the Stadium start, on Fritz Sonnenberg Road next to Cape Town Stadium, and the Beach Road start in Mouille Point; your seeding tells you which one is yours. Every event finishes on Vlei Road. The 2026 route landmarks map published by the organizer includes the city center and City Hall, the Castle of Good Hope, Woodstock, the University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Sea Point and the Mouille Point lighthouse.

• — Date: Sunday, May 23, 2027; the 5K and 10K Peace Runs and the 11 km, 22 km and 43 km trail races take place the day before, Saturday, May 22.
• — Cut-off: 6 hours 30 minutes, with intermediate cut-offs shown on the route map.
• — Timing: net time (mat to mat) for every runner except the elites.

Since 2026, the race has been held in May instead of October. The 2025 edition, still run in October, was cancelled on race morning after dangerously high winds damaged the route and the start and finish venue. Be ready for wind: on exposed stretches, run by effort rather than strict pace, and don't try to win back in one go the seconds you lost into a headwind.

When should you start training for Cape Town?

For a marathon on May 23, 2027, a 16-week plan starts on January 31, 2027 and a 12-week plan on February 28. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, most of the build falls in winter, with long runs in the cold, for a race held in the southern autumn. From North America, count on a long flight and a 6- to 9-hour time difference in the final week.

The Running Workout marathon plan builds marathon pace in blocks that get longer week after week and sends every workout to your watch through Garmin Connect. On race day, the Race workout scheduled on your watch carries your pace range. Your connected assistant (Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini) reads your actual runs from Garmin and can adjust the rest of the plan after a missed week.

• — February: gradual volume and long runs at easy pace.
• — March and April: marathon-pace blocks and the longest long runs of the plan.
• — May: taper, travel and race.

Frequently asked questions