Cape Town, ZA · October 2026
Cape Town Marathon
Cape Town Marathon: 42.2 km race guide, estimated elevation, typical conditions and a personal pacing and nutrition preview.
- Distance
- 42.20 km
- Elevation gain
- 141 m
- Typical temp
- 13–24 °C
- Cutoff
- 7:00:00
The short version
A genuinely hard course
- Most runners crack near km 32 — fuel before km 30, not at it.
- Full overhead sun from km 1 — sunscreen and run the shaded side.
Next edition
October 2027
Typical race-day conditions
13–24 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
HardDriven by 141 m of climbing, typical race-day heat (~19 °C). Harder than Auckland Marathon (5.7), easier than McCourt Foundation LA Marathon (5.7) — tougher than 54% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Edition-specific course details have not been human-verified
Elevation values are estimates derived from the stored route profile, not official surveyed measurements. Confirm the final route, aid-station positions and supplies with the organizer for your edition.
Elevation profile
Approximate course model
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- goandrace.com (community course route)
- Race month per official race calendar
- Open-Meteo historical climate archive (2022–2024)
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
3:19:48
Course cost
+6:03
Fuel target
60 g/h
60 g/h needs a trained gut — practise it in training, never try new fuelling on race day. Your full plan tunes this to your experience.
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 14:51
- km 24:57
- km 34:51
- km 44:45
- km 54:45
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full Cape Town Marathon plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- Difficulty score & course data
- Course-cost & toughest km
- Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- Every km split, weather-adjusted
- Nutrition & fluid timeline
- Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- Everything in Race Pass
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- Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. See a full sample plan →
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
141 m total gain · 137 m loss · max 41 m, min 1 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
3 km
Sun on your back
2 km
Side / overhead
38 km
From km 1 the sun sits high overhead — peak UV and radiant heat, so keep sunscreen on and run the shaded side of the road where you can.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 09:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Race overview
Cape Town Marathon is a 42.2 km event in Cape Town. The stored course model estimates 141 m of ascent and 137 m of descent. Elevation is an estimate, not an official surveyed measurement. The historical climate baseline is 13–24 °C with 67% relative humidity. This is not the race-day forecast. Use a recent result to build a personal pacing and fuel plan. Check the final route and aid-station services against the organizer's instructions for your edition.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the Cape Town Marathon compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (19 °C / 67 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | Cape Town Marathon finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 4:16:08 | 4:24:08 | +3.1% | 6:13/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 3:28:17 | 3:34:48 | +3.1% | 5:04/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 3:10:41 | 3:16:39 | +3.1% | 4:38/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 2:43:24 | 2:48:30 | +3.1% | 3:58/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:16:39 at 19 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 60 g
- Total carbs
- 197 g
- Fluid / hour
- 665 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
How far is Cape Town Marathon?
The distance in this course model is 42.2 km. Check the organizer's final course information for your edition.
How much climbing is in Cape Town Marathon?
The stored course model estimates 141 m of ascent and 137 m of descent. Elevation is an estimate, not an official surveyed measurement.
What weather can I expect at Cape Town Marathon?
The historical climate baseline is 13–24 °C with 67% relative humidity. This is not the race-day forecast.
When does Cape Town Marathon start and what is the cutoff?
The typical start is 09:00 local time and the stored cutoff is 7:00:00. Confirm your edition, wave and cutoff rules with the organizer.
Can I rely on the listed aid stations?
Aid-station positions and services are planning references until confirmed against your edition’s official race packet. Carry your practiced fuel unless the organizer confirms it is provided.
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full Cape Town Marathon strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
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New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.