Thousands of runners will pound the streets of Cape Town in the weekend's Two Oceans Marathon, featuring Gerda Steyn’s quest for a seventh consecutive ultra title and a fascinating generational duel in the half marathon.
Image: Tobias Ginsberg
One of South Africa’s most iconic road-running events returns to Cape Town this weekend, with thousands of athletes set to take on the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, a race widely regarded as “the world’s most beautiful marathon” for its ocean and mountain-lined routes.
Friday's trail run took runners on an unforgettable journey over 16km or 24km of some of Table Mountain’s most breathtaking and dramatic terrain. The race weekend next shifts to the 56km ultra marathon on Saturday, followed by a 21km half marathon on Sunday. Both races start on Main Road in Newlands and finish at the UCT Rugby Fields on Upper Campus in Rondebosch, drawing local and international fields across both distances.
The ultra-marathon route takes runners on a demanding loop around the Cape Peninsula, passing through scenic landmarks including Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Hout Bay and Constantia Nek. The half marathon, while shorter, still showcases the Southern Suburbs, with runners moving along Southern Cross Drive before converging on the same iconic finish.
Residents and motorists have been warned to expect widespread road closures and traffic disruptions across key areas, including Green Point, Sea Point, the Southern Suburbs, the Deep South, Chapman’s Peak Drive and False Bay coastal routes.
Collin Kanyimo proved to be in a league of his own, crossing the finish line first in Friday's 24km trail run in an impressive time of 2:02:07.
Image: David Sullivan
Road closures for the Ultra Marathon will begin as early as 3am on Saturday, while Chapman’s Peak Drive will be closed from 6pm on Friday until midday on race day. Crowds are expected to once again line the streets to offer vocal support and creating the vibrant atmosphere that has become synonymous with the event.
Saturday’s ultra and Sunday’s half marathon both feature elite fields stacked with proven champions and boasting an impressive combined prize purse of R2.6m this year.
Saturday’s ultra is headlined by Gerda Steyn, who is chasing a historic seventh title in a row, while the men’s race features defending champion Joseph Khoarahlane Seutloali and 2024 winner Onalenna Khonkhobe in a highly competitive showdown.
The focus then shifts to Sunday, where veteran star Stephen Mokoka leads a deep half marathon field. At 41, the four-time champion remains a central figure in the race, embracing both competition and mentorship as younger athletes look to dethrone him.
Defending champion Bennett Seloyi returns to defend his crown, leading the charge for the young brigade. Thabang Mosiako, the 2024 winner, also arrives with renewed confidence after an injury-hit 2025 season and a strong 60:44 performance in Paris.
In the women’s race, Fortunate Chidzivo returns to the event for the first time since her 2022 victory, chasing a second title, while Emma Pallant-Browne adds intrigue after returning to competition just seven months after giving birth.