About the race
The Peninsula Marathon, also called the Cape Peninsula Marathon, is a point-to-point road race from Green Point to Simon's Town. It is organised by Celtic Harriers, a club in Claremont, Cape Town, and offers a full marathon and a half marathon.
History
A 2023 article from Western Province Athletics says the race began in 1964, founded by Celtic Harriers legend Alex Jones, and that 19 runners finished the first year. It describes the race as the oldest marathon in the Western Cape and billed as Africa's fastest. The 2023 edition was the 55th running. The article says the race had been outsourced to an event management company until Celtic Harriers took it back that year, under new race director Glenn Muller.
The course
The marathon starts in Main Road, Green Point, and the half marathon starts in Children's Way, Bergvliet. Both finish at the Naval Base in Simon's Town. The marathon started at 05:15 and the half at 07:00 in 2023.
Entry basics
In 2023 entries were taken on the Entry Ninja platform and closed on 9 February, with no late entries on the day. The same article says the race is a popular choice for runners hoping to qualify for the 56 km Two Oceans and 90 km Comrades ultramarathons. Check the Celtic Harriers site for the next edition date and entry window.
Getting back to the start
Because the race ends far from where it begins, the 2023 organisers arranged buses with Golden Arrow to carry runners back to their starts. More than 700 runners had bought bus tickets by early February that year, and the City of Cape Town's traffic department commended the plan.
Where to watch
The organisers urged the public to come out and cheer the runners along the route. The finish at the Naval Base in Simon's Town is the clearest meeting point, and the starts at Green Point and Bergvliet are the others.
The club
Celtic Harriers was established in 1906 and calls itself the fifth oldest running club in the Western Cape. It also founded the Two Oceans Marathon and organises the Don Lock Memorial Road Race. It lists the Balwin Properties Cape Peninsula Marathon among its events.
Weather
Wikipedia describes Cape Town's climate as Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers. February is late summer, and the 05:15 start for the marathon, as used in 2023, puts the early kilometres before the heat of the day.
SourcesCeltic Harriers · WPA: 55th Peninsula Marathon (2023) · Wikipedia: Cape Town (climate)