Grab your trainers and get ready, because the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is back with a bang! Even though there will be several adjustments to this prestigious event, organisers have confirmed that it’s all systems go with regard to the preparations.
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is still planning to go ahead as scheduled! Thanks to our COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan, the City of Cape Town, ASA and National Government have given us their support to go ahead with the planning. Read below: https://t.co/yOSBV53km5 pic.twitter.com/gPVhHI6rhE
— Cape Town Marathon (@CTMarathon) August 10, 2021
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Race Director, Renee Jordaan said that upon consulting with the City of Cape Town, Athletics South Africa and National Government, they have developed and presented an extensive COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the event.
Jordaan adds that they have received “full support” to plan a “safe and enjoyable race on 17 October.”
Changes to the Marathon includes:
- Marathon entries will be limited to 12 000 runners only.
- The Start will move from Beach Road to Fritz Sonnenberg Road, with participants joining their start batches on the Cape Town Stadium Forecourt.
- A staggered start will see runners setting off in seeded batched groups, allowing for ample social distancing, between 06h15 and 06h50.
- Seeding will be based on past race results, not limited to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
- The finishing time of the runners will be calculated from mat-to-mat and not gun-to-mat.
- The final cut-off is still six-and-a-half hours, and will be based on the last group of runners starting the race.
All runners and crew will undergo Covid-19 antigen testing in the 72 hours before the race and testing will be free of charge and compulsory, regardless of vaccination status.
Runners will be tested at Cape Town Stadium before entering the Expo space to collect their race numbers. Antigen test results will be available within 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon General Manager, Barry van Blerk explained that because of Covid-19 restrictions, they are required to cancel the 5km and 10km Peace Runs.
“The good news is that these events will take place in virtual format, and runners can run the Peace Runs along their favourite running routes, no matter where they are,” Van Blerk adds.
The 5km and 10km Virtual Peace Runs will be free of charge, and runners can enter via www.capetownmarathon.com to receive App Download instructions.
All 5km and 10km Peace Run entrants will receive a refund, and an email with detailed instructions will be sent to all affected runners.
The all-new 46km Cape Town Trail Marathon and 22km Trail Run will still go ahead.
“The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon attracts thousands of athletes from across SA, Africa and the globe, and has a significant economic impact on the city. Africa is our home. This is our Race. And we can’t wait to welcome all our runners to Cape Town in October,” Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Chairman, Francois Pienaar said.
The revised entry limits mean that the marathon field is already 50% full, and it’s expected that the remaining entries will be snapped up fast so make sure to enter as soon as possible. The 22km Trail Run is sold out, with limited entries still available for the Trail Marathon.
Visit www.capetownmarathon.com for more information and to enter.
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Picture: Unsplash