With over 50 million inhabitants, South Africa is one of the five largest countries in Africa!
The largest cities in the country are Cape Town and Johannesburg. Especially Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations in Africa. One of the most beautiful running events on our planet is also held there.
In terms of sports, rugby and soccer are very important in South Africa. While the black population prefers soccer, rugby and cricket are increasingly played by the white population in South Africa. In addition, there are some strong swimmers in South Africa. The country also regularly produces good long-distance runners. However, most of them do not reach the level of the top athletes from Kenya or Ethiopia.
The biggest running events in South Africa
South Africa hosts several running events that attract thousands of runners from abroad to the region. The "big three" are the Two Oceans Marathon, the Comrades Marathon and the Big Five Marathon.
Perhaps the most beautiful race in the world
Many runners describe the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town as the most beautiful race in the world. So it is not without reason that it has made it into the selection of the most beautiful marathons in the world, although strictly speaking it is not a marathon. Because the main race goes beyond the marathon distance and has a course length of 56 kilometers. But that's a good thing, because it allows participants to enjoy even more of this fantastically beautiful route in Cape Town and along the Atlantic Ocean. Around 8,000 runners will be competing in the ultra marathon. There are even more for the half marathon.
The largest ultra race in the world
With 15,000 starters, the Comrades Marathon is the largest ultrarun in the world. There is no other running event that goes beyond the marathon event and has so many participants. The approximately 90-kilometer ultra run was held for the first time in 1921. There are two different runs, which alternate annually. The Up Run runs from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and the Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The Down Run is a bit easier due to the slightly sloping terrain. The fastest athletes only need a little more than five hours for the more than double marathon distance.
Running past wild animals
An absolutely exceptional event is the Big Five Marathon in Kruger National Park. At this Albatrose Adventures event, you'll move through the national park, past wild animals.
Other spectacular adventure runs in South Africa include the Wildcoast Wildrun, the Addo Elephant Trail Run and the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon.
Triathlons in South Africa
South Africa also hosts a number of triathlons. Over the long distance, there is the IRONMAN Nelson Mandela Bay in Kings Beach. Over the middle distance IRONMAN 70.3 races are organized in East London, Kings Beach and Durban.
All Running Races in South Africa (sorted by date) can be found in the following overview:
Running competitions 2026 in South Africa
IRONMAN African Championship - Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa
 | 19.04.2026 ✔ |
| |
 | Port Elizabeth |
 | Langdistanz |
Cape Town Marathon (Kapstadt Marathon)
| 24.05.2026 ✔ |
| |
| Kapstadt |
| 43 km / 42,2 km / 22 km / 11 km / 10 km / 5 km |
Ultra-Trail Cape Town - UTCT
| 20.11.2026 ✔ |
| |
| Kapstadt |
| 100 mi (7.8570 Hm) / 100 km (4.750 Hm) / 55 km (2.600 Hm) / 35 km (2.200 Hm) / 23 km (1.100 Hm) |
Go to the running calendar South Africa
More sports in South Africa:
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