This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s January 2025 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2025 marathon / ultra calendar here.
A summary of your choices is below:
There are seven magnificent marathons to choose from in January for your Two Oceans or Comrades qualifier (or just because you want to run a marathon).
After an extended period of abstinence over the summer holidays, you can get your marathon mielie buttered on the 18th at the Mielie Marathon. Mielie is a circular route around Welkom, the circle city, and is the flattest of the January offerings.
The last weekend of January has six options. Undoubtedly the most scenic but hilliest of these is Red Hill which provides a tour of the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula (run it to find out what happens if you keep going straight at Fish Hoek during Two Oceans instead of turning right towards Sun Valley). The race offers stunning views and plenty of coastline running.
Another standout January marathon is Ottosdal. This small town in the North West more than doubles its population for marathon weekend and is a definite for your Top 10 list. It is the only night marathon in the country and provides an absolutely superb running experience. You get a spectacular sunset on the way out and enjoy running past 1,500 handmade lanterns on the way back.
The remaining two Saturday options are the Wonderpark Akasia, Middelburg and Pamoja. Akasia is a very popular double-lap marathon in the north of Pretoria with no parking hassles since the race is run from the Wonderpark Shopping Centre. Middelburg combines suburban running with some industrial stretches in an around the Mpumalanga town. Pamoja is a new marathon in Bloemfontein.
The final option is Johnson Crane which is by far the biggest January event in terms of finishers. This Johnson has probably claimed more marathon running virgins than any other race in the country and the double-lapper around Benoni is always a well organised and vibrant event.
Note: Volksrust has moved to a new August race date.
Below are full details of each race as well as flyers, photos and route profiles (where available).
Click to enlarge or collapse sections.
January
AECI Mielie Marathon (18-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | This is a fast, uncongested, single-lap marathon around the Free State’s second largest city. The route is flat and the support tables are friendly. This will be the 46th running of the event (as such it is the oldest marathon in the States) and is a great pick for a fast January qualifier. The race offers a permanent number to her regular customers and you can get some Comrades and Two Oceans tips from local legend Louis Massyn (49 Comrades and 47 Oceans finishes) along the route. |
| Detailed Report | Mielie Marathon (The Amaizeing Race): http://runningmann.co.za/2019/02/09/mielie-marathon/ |
| Race Date | Saturday 18 January 2025 |
| Location | Welkom, FS |
| Start Venue | HTS Sports Grounds, Volks Road, Welkom |
| Route Type | Circular |
| Race Website | http://www.goudveldmultisport.co.za/ |
| Contact Details | goudveldmultisport@yahoo.com |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://evententry.co.za/events/2025-1/ |
| Pre-entries Close | ? |
| Entry Fee | R250 |
| Included Extras | – |
| Late entries | Yes (R30 extra for late entries) |
| Title sponsor | AECI https://www.aeciworld.com/ |
| Permanent Numbers | Yes (10th finish) |
| How to get there from Joburg? | 250km (2h30) drive from Joburg down the N1. |
| Accommodation Options | Check out Google for B&B options |
| What else to do there? | If anyone knows of anything worthwhile doing in Welkom (other than running a marathon) please let me know. |
| Normal Finishers | +/- 200 |
| Which year was the race started? | 1979 |
| How many previous events have been held? | 44 |
| Cutoff time | 5h30 |
| First prize value | ? |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 142 |
Timbercity Red Hill Marathon (25-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | Find out what happens if you kept running straight at Two Oceans instead of turning right towards Sun Valley. The route is a stunner that explores the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula and is the most beautiful of the January marathon options. Abridged description from race site, “Runners will line up facing away from Peer’s Cave… The route then takes the runners through Kommetjie, Misty Cliffs, Scarborough, and at the Perdekloof Picnic site, the Marathon runners will veer off towards Cape Point for a 6km loop…[after which you] continue over Red Hill. The runners join up with the Simonstown Main Road at the end of Red Hill, and continue towards Fish Hoek.” Be aware that Fish Hoek is a dry suburb so you may have to smuggle your own beer to the finish line. |
| Detailed Report | Red Hill Marathon (Fish Hoek, line & sinker): http://runningmann.co.za/2020/02/28/red-hill-marathon/ |
| Race Date | Saturday 25 January 2025 |
| Location | Cape Town, WC |
| Start Venue | Silverglade Sports Grounds, Fish Hoek |
| Route Type | Circular |
| Race Website | https://www.fishhoekac.com/ |
| Contact Details | race@fishhoekac.com |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://www.entryninja.com/events/81182-timbercity-red-hill-marathon |
| Pre-entries Close | Saturday 18 January 2025 |
| Entry Fee | R260 |
| Included Extras | – |
| Late entries | Yes – |
| Title sponsor | Timbercity |
| Permanent Numbers | Yes (10th finish) |
| How to get there from Joburg? | Fly to Cape Town; 45km drive from the airport to Fish Hoek |
| Accommodation Options | Plenty of good options close to the start. |
| What else to do there? | One could visit Boulders Penguin Sanctuary in Simonstown (a hit for the kids), take a trip to the light house at Cape Point, do some wine tasting at some wine farms close to the start and take a scenic drive over Chapmans Peak and work in a sunset picnic along the route of the famous Two Oceans Marathon. |
| Normal Finishers | +/- 1000 |
| Which year was the race started? | 1984 |
| How many previous events have been held? | 38 |
| Cutoff time | 5h30 |
| First prize value | 1300 |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 569 |
Wonderpark Akasia Marathon (25-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | A flat double-lapper around the north of Pretoria and proof that a small running club (Akasia with around 60 members) can put on an excellent event. Not much of interest along the route but this a good option for Gauteng runners to get the first marathon of the year done. Although there is plenty of parking at the Wonderpark Shopping Centre, there are about 6,000 runners across all distances so allow time for the congestion. The marathon honours Johann Van Eeden, an Akasia athlete who has completed 40 Comrades. |
| Detailed Report | -: – |
| Race Date | Saturday 25 January 2025 |
| Location | Pretoria, Gau |
| Start Venue | Wonderpark Shopping Mall, Karenpark, Pretoria |
| Route Type | Double-lapper |
| Race Website | http://www.akasiaathleticsclub.co.za/mainrace.html |
| Contact Details | altje.conradie@absamail.co.za |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://www.entryninja.com/events/81302-wonderpark-akasia-road-race |
| Pre-entries Close | Thursday 23 January 2025 |
| Entry Fee | R338 |
| Included Extras | – |
| Late entries | Yes (R30 extra for late entries; no race day entries) |
| Title sponsor | Wonderpark Shopping Centre http://www.wonderparkcentre.co.za/ |
| Permanent Numbers | No |
| How to get there from Joburg? | 80km (1h) drive but allow extra time for congestion. |
| Accommodation Options | Plenty of options in Pretoria. |
| What else to do there? | Put your body to the test by doing a comprehensive shopping expedition in the mall directly afterwards (personally I find one hour in the mall more tiring and harder on the body than running a marathon). |
| Normal Finishers | +/- 2000 |
| Which year was the race started? | ? |
| How many previous events have been held? | ? |
| Cutoff time | 6h00 |
| First prize value | 1000 |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 395 |
Ottosdal Nite Marathon (25-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | With a 5:30pm start, this is the only night marathon in South Africa. An out-and-back, traffic-free route where lanterns line the road and guide you home after the sun sets. Ottosdal is the smallest town in the country to host a marathon and the town’s population more than doubles over race weekend (there are cycling events as well for the bike curious). Enjoy the simplistic beauty of being out in nature as the sun starts to set. The profile is undulating although there are no major hills but a few good pulls that will give your legs a good workout while the declines allow your legs to enjoy a few sundowners. This race is also the meat in the marathon running weekend sandwich that allows hardcore runners to run three marathons in just over 24 hours (with Wonderpark Akasia and Johnson Crane providing the bread). |
| Detailed Report | Ottosdal Night Marathon (Testing the Limits of Delayed Gratification): http://runningmann.co.za/2019/02/21/ottosdal-night-marathon/ |
| Race Date | Saturday 25 January 2025 |
| Location | Ottosdal, NW |
| Start Venue | Ottosdal Show Grounds, Koster Street |
| Route Type | Out-and-back |
| Race Website | https://ottosdaldrafentrap.co.za/ |
| Contact Details | willa@ottosdaldrafentrap.co.za |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://www.entryninja.com/events/81117-ottosdal-draf |
| Pre-entries Close | Wednesday 15 January 2025 |
| Entry Fee | R170 |
| Included Extras | Shirt (first 700 pre-entries) |
| Late entries | Yes (R50 extra for late entries) |
| Title sponsor | None |
| Permanent Numbers | No |
| How to get there from Joburg? | 240km (3h) drive west past Potch and Klerksdorp. |
| Accommodation Options | https://ottosdaldrafentrap.co.za/accomodation |
| What else to do there? | Ottosdal is an historic boer town. There is a full weekend of activities including mountain and road biking options for bi-pedalling bi-cyclists. Stick around afterwards to see if you are the lucky draw winner of a diamond and enjoy a ‘plaaspontbyt’ (farm breakfast) the following morning. |
| Normal Finishers | +/- 300 |
| Which year was the race started? | 1994 |
| How many previous events have been held? | 28 |
| Cutoff time | 5h30 |
| First prize value | ? |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 310 |
Blue Mining Services Middelburg Marathon (25-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | Most of the initial kilometres skirt the border of Middelburg. It is manicured lawns and immaculately sculptured shrubbery (which is good news for any knights who say “Ni”) on one side of the road and African savannah on the other. Whilst there is some industrial running in the middle of the race, the organisers take you back to the finish at the school fields through the shady part of town and there are some beautiful avenues of trees in Middelburg. |
| Detailed Report | Blue Mining MMC Marathon (Your Mann in the Middelburg): https://runningmann.co.za/2024/02/23/blue-mining-mmc-marathon-your-mann-in-the-middelburg/ |
| Race Date | Saturday 25 January 2025 |
| Location | Middelburg, Mpu |
| Start Venue | Hoerskool Kanonkop, Middelburg |
| Route Type | Out-and-back |
| Race Website | https://www.facebook.com/events/628272040935571/ |
| Contact Details | mmkinfo01@gmail.com |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=6783 |
| Pre-entries Close | Thursday 23 January 2025 |
| Entry Fee | R273 |
| Included Extras | – |
| Late entries | Yes – |
| Title sponsor | Blue Mining Services |
| Permanent Numbers | No |
| How to get there from Joburg? | 160km (1h45) drive using N12 or N4. |
| Accommodation Options | Check out Google for B&B options |
| What else to do there? | https://middelburginfo.co.za/ |
| Normal Finishers | +/- 200 |
| Which year was the race started? | 2008 |
| How many previous events have been held? | 15 |
| Cutoff time | 6h00 |
| First prize value | 400 |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 439 |
Pamoja Marathon (25-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | A moderate route around the north west extremities of Bloemfontein. Be aware that you reach the summit of the biggest hill on the route (and the highest point of the race) at the 39km mark. |
| Detailed Report | -: – |
| Race Date | Saturday 25 January 2025 |
| Location | Bloemfontein, FS |
| Start Venue | Tempe Base Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| Route Type | Circular |
| Race Website | – |
| Contact Details | pamojaac@gmail.com ; mjmodibedi@gmail.com |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://form.123formbuilder.com/6778907/2025-pamoja-marathon |
| Pre-entries Close | Wednesday 22 January 2025 |
| Entry Fee | R260 |
| Included Extras | – |
| Late entries | Yes (No race day entries) |
| Title sponsor | None |
| Permanent Numbers | No |
| How to get there from Joburg? | 400km (4h) drive due south on the N1. |
| Accommodation Options | Check out Google for B&B and hotel options |
| What else to do there? | https://www.bloemfonteintourism.co.za/ |
| Normal Finishers | N/A |
| Which year was the race started? | 2025 |
| How many previous events have been held? | 0 |
| Cutoff time | 6h00 |
| First prize value | 3000 |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 324 |
Johnson Crane Marathon (26-Jan): Confirmed
| Race Description | This race lives up to the expectations that Benoni is the flattest, highest and most tedious part of the highveld: The route is back to a mostly single lap format (there is a small repeat section) through the city streets, suburbia and out into the countryside past smallholdings. Watch out for the nasty ‘slow poison’ pull from that dominates the six of the last seven kilometers. Although this is not the most interesting route (there has not been much interesting to look at in Benoni since 1994 when Charlize Theron left for Hollywood), this race holds a special place in my heart since it was my debut marathon back in 2002 (when it was still a single-lap race). I enjoyed it enough to run 10 but have not run it since 2015 (after earning my permanent number and parole). In Pre-Covid times, the event had 14,000 participants across all distances, making it one of the biggest running events in the country and by far the largest in January. It is normally very well organised with plenty for the family to do at the finish line. If you are short of clothes and cash, after the December holidays the race always has a quality shirt and goodie bag for participants. This is tge 40th running and Johnson Crane has sponsored every single edition. |
| Detailed Report | -: – |
| Race Date | Sunday 26 January 2025 |
| Location | Benoni, Gau |
| Start Venue | Willowmoore Park, Benoni |
| Route Type | Circular |
| Race Website | http://johnsoncranemarathon.co.za/ |
| Contact Details | info@johnsoncranemarathon.co.za |
| Distance | 42 |
| Online Entries | https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=6704 |
| Pre-entries Close | Monday 13 January 2025 |
| Entry Fee | R342 |
| Included Extras | Shirt |
| Late entries | No – |
| Title sponsor | Johnson Crane Hire https://jch.co.za/ |
| Permanent Numbers | Yes (10th finish) |
| How to get there from Joburg? | 30 minute drive along the N12. However traffic is very congested so you need to allow at least 90 minutes. |
| Accommodation Options | Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, The Flamingo Nest , Kaponong Hotel On Benoni Road, Hotels around OR Tambo |
| What else to do there? | Watch the planes coming in to land at OR Tambo; Try and talent search for the next Charlize Theron. |
| Normal Finishers | +/- 4000 |
| Which year was the race started? | 1983 |
| How many previous events have been held? | 40 |
| Cutoff time | 5h30 |
| First prize value | 4000 |
| Route Elevation (total climbing) | 285 |
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