The official 100 day countdown to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon starts today, 14 June, roughly a week from Sanlam’s centenary birthday.
In a 100 days Cape Town as well as international and provincial guests will come together to challenge themselves or support loved ones and fellow athletes in an epic physical spectacle and celebration of the Mother City.
This year, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon sees a shift to a new era that is one of sustainability, upliftment, pride and unity. Having won the prestigious Aims Green Award in 2017 and being awarded South Africa’s only IAAF Gold Label status in 2017, they have sets their sights on unifying South Africa, caring for nature and running for change.
Endurocad ambassador, Elana Meyer praised the event, saying: “The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is an exceptional opportunity for our athletes to run in a gold label race, right here, on our own soil. This is an opportunity that so many haven’t had before.”
Exciting changes to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon include the exhibition being held at the Century City Conference Centre and a new route that promises to showcase Cape Town and be enjoyable for runners a long the way.
Janet Welham, Race Director said at the 100 days Sanlam Cape Town Marathon conference, “We can proudly say that the route is beautiful. We kept all the best parts from last year and added even more.”
The new areas showcased along the route are, Rondebosch Common, Cape Town University, Newlands Cricket Stadium and Groote Schuur Hospital.
This year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will offer a 42.4km marathon, 10km peace run, 22km peace trail run, 12km peace trail run and 5km peace run. The event is expected to attract close to 30 000 participants and supporters, 10% of which will be international visitors and 38% attending from outside of the province.
This year’s event is focusing on an initiative to #Run4Change with the 5 main objectives being raising funds for over 50 charities, promoting a healthy lifestyle, being sustainable and caring for our environment, promoting peace and unity and creating an opportunity for further development in both Cape Town and South Africa.
It will attract high ranking athletes and celebrity runners alike from gold medal Olympian Stephen Mokoka to SA celebrities such as Elana Africa, Chesters Williams, Joel Stransky, Desire Ellis, Nicole Capper and Francois Pienaar.
This year participants and runners are also encouraged to dress up for their causes, challenge other people to participate and enjoy the exciting new additions of 15 supporter areas and 100 activations along the route.
Pictures: Facebook