10th September 20241st October 2024 by Stuart Mann

The Running Mann’s Guide to October 2024 Marathons

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This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s October 2024 marathons and ultras including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2024 marathon / ultra calendar here.

A summary of your choices is below:

October is a slow month on the running calendar with only six confirmed marathons. Those looking for a village marathon should check out the Shikhumba Marathon in the northern extremities of Limpopo. I thoroughly enjoyed this race as my comeback marathon last year but look out for Dead Donkey Hill. If the Clarens Golden Gate Marathon does go ahead I would also highly recommend this as one of the toughest but must beautiful marathons out there – all 42 very hilly kilometres are run around the Golden Gate National Park.

I’ll be at the inaugural Midvaal Madmac Marathon in Randvaal. The race is hosted by the Meyerton Athletic Club on the site of the old Boswell Wilkie Circus and they have plenty of fun lined up from canons to clowns over the single lap route.

There is zilch happening on the second weekend – definitely a gap in the market for the aspirant race organisers out there. However, one of the biggest events on the calendar occurs on the third weekend with the next edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon who are hoping to progress further towards World Marathon Major status. Entries are open until 27 September but I understand that they have almost reached their cap.

The final weekend is the busiest with three excellent options. On Saturday you have the LetsGo Potch! Marathon which is a fast and flat double lapper as well as the Run 4 Cancer 48k. This is your only ultra in October and is run point-to-point into Polokwane. On Sunday there is Goss & Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon which is a circular route these days – expect plenty of hills and humidity.

October

Clarens Golden Gate Marathon (5-Oct): Doubtful

Race Description	A hilly but beautiful out-and-back course through the stunning Golden Gate Highlands National Park (the whole route is on tar). This is the inaugural running of the event.
Detailed Report	Golden Gate Marathon (The National Park run): http://runningmann.co.za/2019/12/07/golden-gate-marathon/
Race Date	Saturday 05 October 2024
Location	Clarens, FS
Start Venue	Glen Reenen Restcamp, Golden Gate National Park
Route Type	Out-and-back
Race Website	N/A
Contact Details	maluti.run@gmail.com
Distance	42
Online Entries	?
Pre-entries Close	?
Entry Fee	?
Included Extras	–
Late entries	? –
Title sponsor	None
Permanent Numbers	No
How to get there from Joburg?	300km (3h15 drive) south
Accommodation Options	Recommended by the organisers: Mountain Odyssey – 058 256 1480/1173 & www.infoclarens.com
What else to do there?	Clarens is a small town with plenty of charm and quaint shops. The Maluti Mountains surround the town providing scenic options like horseriding, quad biking, hiking, river rafting, bushman paintings and dinosaur trails. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is also nearby.
Normal Finishers	0
Which year was the race started?	?
How many previous events have been held?	?
Cutoff time	?
First prize value	?
Route Elevation (total climbing)	?

Shikhumba Filling Marathon (5-Oct): Confirmed

Race Description	This marathon in the north-eastern extremities of Limpopo requires plenty of effort and logistical planning to get to the start line. However, once the gun fires the route is simplicity itself. You run straight along the road to Giyani for 21.1 kilometres, turn around and then run home. Other than a few untarred village roads, there are not even any intersections to distract the Shikhumba marathon runner. The scenery is your typical lowveld vista of thorny trees and dusty shrubbery whilst the route is genuinely gentle undulations with a total climbing elevation of 326m. There were a few curious villagers gawking at the crazy people running in the heat but the main spectators were free range chickens, goats, donkeys and cows.
Detailed Report	Shikhumba Marathon (Back in the saddle up Dead Donkey Hill): https://runningmann.co.za/2023/10/19/shikhumba-marathon/
Race Date	Saturday 05 October 2024
Location	Shikhumba Village, Lim
Start Venue	Shikhuma Filling Station
Route Type	Out-and-back
Race Website	http://www.shikhumbamarathon.co.za/
Contact Details	shikhumbamarathon@gmail.com
Distance	42
Online Entries	https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=6623
Pre-entries Close	Wednesday 02 October 2024
Entry Fee	R326
Included Extras	Dri-fit Shirt (first 300 entries)
Late entries	? (No race day entries)
Title sponsor	Shikhumba Filling Station https://www.facebook.com/Shikhumba-Filling-Station-445199285684891/
Permanent Numbers	No
How to get there from Joburg?	500km (5h30) drive northeast
Accommodation Options	Recommended by organiser: Xiska Guest House; Mashamba Country Lodge; Kulani Country Lodge
What else to do there?	The race is on the doorstep of the Kruger National Park so take some time out on safari after the marathon or enjoy a rich cultural experience at Baleni Rest Camp (just 5km away).
Normal Finishers	+/- 100
Which year was the race started?	2018
How many previous events have been held?	4
Cutoff time	?
First prize value	7000
Route Elevation (total climbing)	326

Township to Township Marathon (6-Oct): Doubtful

Race Description	For South Africans, this is your chance to experience a big city marathon without having to foot a big city travel bill. For international runners, this is your chance to plan a holiday in South Africa’s tourist mecca whilst enjoying a fantastic, world-class marathon experience. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is classified as Africa’s Major and 2023 will see its second year as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate. The super-speedy course boasts the fastest official marathon times run on South African soil. The early nerves are calmed by the cool sea breeze on the Atlantic Seaboard whilst the exuberant sounds of excited runner chit-chat harmonise to the beat of the crashing waves as one heads towards the V&A Waterfront. Route highlights include a tour of the city, where a cosmopolitan mix of modern skyscrapers and iconic historical landmarks like the Mount Nelson Hotel, South African National Gallery, South African Holocaust Museum, St Mary’s Cathedral, Houses of Parliament, City Gardens, City Hall, District Six and the Castle of Good Hope provide a visual extravaganza whilst Signal Hill watches over your progress. The middle section traverses the southern suburbs which includes running past Groote Schuur Hospital (where Dr. Chris Barnard performed the world’s first human to human heart transplant) and you can catch a glimpse of the hallowed turf of Newlands Cricket Ground before heading back towards the city centre. You also get to enjoy a quick detour around Rondebosch Common – providing a chance to appreciate some critically endangered biodiversity as you loop around one of the last surviving pockets of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. This area is home many top academic and sporting schools – and the route passes several of these outstanding institutions including the finest boys’ school in the country, Rondebosch. In the interests of gender neutrality, it’s appropriate to mention some of the great girls’ and co-ed schools passed along the route like Rustenberg, Westerford, San Souci, Groote Schuur and Bishops Diocesan College. The incredible panorama of Table Mountain, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, provides a constant backdrop over your journey whilst the noise, support and entertainment steadily increases along the Sea Point Promenade and all the way back to the finish line at the DHL Stadium.
Detailed Report	Cape Town Marathon (Give trees a chance): http://runningmann.co.za/2021/09/11/cape-town-marathon-moving-forest/
Race Date	Sunday 20 October 2024
Location	Cape Town, WC
Start Venue	Fritz Sonnenburg Road, Cape Town, WC
Route Type	Circular
Race Website	https://www.capetownmarathon.com/
Contact Details	raceoffice@capetownmarathon.com
Distance	42
Online Entries	https://capetownmarathon.howler.co.za/events/sanlam-cape-town-marathon-2024-dd91/tickets
Pre-entries Close	27 September 2024
Entry Fee	R560
Included Extras	Shirt; Goodie Bag
Late entries	No –
Title sponsor	Sanlam www.sanlam.co.za
Permanent Numbers	Yes (10 finishes)
How to get there from Joburg?	Fly to Cape Town; 20km drive from the airport to the Waterfront.
Accommodation Options	Southern Sun Waterfront is race hotel, Southern Sun offer special packages to runners https://capetownmarathon.com/travel/
What else to do there?	Cape Town is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Check out travel information on race website (https://www.capetownmarathon.com/travel/travel-tourism/) and the Cape Town Tourism site (https://www.capetown.travel/) for options.
Normal Finishers	+/- 13000
Which year was the race started?	2012
How many previous events have been held?	11
Cutoff time	6.5h
First prize value	$25,000
Route Elevation (total climbing)	179

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