About the race
The Balwin Sport Pretoria Marathon is a city road race that the organiser says has been part of South African athletics for nearly three decades. It offers a 42.2 km marathon, a 21.1 km half marathon, a 10 km race and a 5 km race.
The most recent edition
The organiser's page records the 2026 race on 22 February 2026, with a thank-you to runners, volunteers and sponsors under the hashtag ChallengeAccepted. Check the organiser for the next edition date.
The course
The organiser describes a double-lapper through leafy streets lined with jacarandas. It climbs to the historic Fort Klapperkop, which gives views of the city bowl and the Union Buildings, and the organiser says runners may spot zebras and wildebeest beside the road. The route then drops to Fountains Circle. Next comes a hard push up to Brooklyn, through the grounds and past the old buildings of Pretoria Boys High School, and back to the finish at the PBHS Old Boys Club. The organiser calls the race a high-altitude test and notes it is a qualifying ground for the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons.
Distances and entry
The organiser's page lists entry prices for all four distances and directs runners to enter online through Peak Timing. It states that there are no manual entries and no late entries for the 42 km, 21 km and 10 km races. Entries for the 5 km are available at the start on race day. Check the organiser for cut-off times and any qualifying standard before planning a finish time.
Where to watch
The course is a double lap, so supporters who stay at one of the landmarks can see runners twice. Fort Klapperkop, Fountains Circle and the Brooklyn climb past Pretoria Boys High School are the places named by the organiser, and the finish is at the PBHS Old Boys Club.
Weather
February is mid-summer in Pretoria. Wikipedia describes the climate of Johannesburg, on the same highveld, as having hot summer days followed by afternoon thundershowers, so runners in Gauteng often start early and keep an eye on the sky.
SourcesBalwin Sport Pretoria Marathon home · Wikipedia: Johannesburg (climate)