The Cape Town Marathon route is very flat to meet World Athletics ’ requirements – the event is the only Gold Label marathon in Africa – and flat routes are often boring , but the spectacular backdrop of Cape Town ’ s iconic mountains offsets the lack of gradient tedium . And on the topic of landmarks , they say that if you think the way to a man ’ s heart is through his stomach , you ’ re aiming too high . But if you do need a new heart , you can pop into Groote Schuur Hospital early on during the race – that ’ s where Doctor Chris Barnard performed the first successful human heart transplant on 3 December 1967 .
The organisers offer plenty of innovation , like the complementary sunblock stations along the route and at the finish courtesy of CANSA ( the Cancer Association of South Africa ). Fortunately , I didn ’ t need much , as the Wild Olive on my back provided ample shade . Beating cancer is a battle I hope I never have to face , but I did manage to beat 4503 runners , while 5069 runners beat me – the most finishers in any standard marathon in South Africa in 2019 .
Check your heart rate as you run past Groote Schuur Hospital
The race does , however , make sure your stomach is well taken care of at the feeding stations . A marathon running myth is that you lose weight running a marathon , but not if Woolworths has anything to do with it . I spent about five minutes stuffing my face with Woolies ’ finest at this table . In fact , I needed to run another marathon the following weekend to work off all the extra calories ! Meanwhile , the organisers do their best to cater for all tastes and diets – a difficult task , considering the fickle nature of the typical Cape culinary connoisseur – which includes having Coke Zero for Banting athletes .
Free sunblock for those without shade on their backs
If you get tired of looking at Cape Town ’ s impressive scenery , there are sure to be some interesting runners to grab your attention . In 2019 I bumped into the # ReadingRunner , the late Advocate Marukgwane Moremogolo , and during our chat , he complained that he ’ d only read 12 pages of The Longest March , as the course was too fast and flat for good reading . ( The Longest March , by Fred Khumalo , is the story about 7000 Zulus who walked from the Johannesburg gold mines back to Natal 120 years ago .) You see , Advocate Marukgwane did most of his reading on the uphills , so hopefully he got a chapter done on the nasty climb up Strand Street towards the end of the race . Very sadly he lost his battle with cancer earlier this year .
The weight-gaining Woolies support table
Although I ’ ve lived in Joburg more than half my life now , I still consider myself a Capetonian living in Johannesburg . My heart belongs in Rondebosch , and I always love running through the suburb which is home to the best boys ’ school in the country , Rondebosch Boys ’ High School , as well as many great girls ’ and co-ed schools like Rustenburg , Westerford and Bishops . ( If we moved back to Cape Town , I ’ d definitely send my daughters to Bishops ). RIP Advocate Maru , the sorely missed # ReadingRunner
As you can see , there are a few ‘ good reading ’ hills as you return to the city centre . There were plenty of hunched backs trundling up Strand Street to the Bree Street turn , although Siya ( on the left ) and his sapling were unbendable !
Heading through Rondebosch , my ‘ hometown ’ As steep as it gets during the Cape Town Marathon ...
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