Cape Town marathon cancellation leaves runners with mixed emotions

by Staff Bona

The sudden cancellation of Sunday’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon due to dangerous high winds left thousands of runners disappointed but sparked an immediate show of community spirit and corporate responsibility. 

As athletes gathered for what was meant to be Africa’s premier running event, organisers made the difficult decision to prioritise safety over spectacle. 

Social media became the immediate sounding board for the mixed emotions following the cancellation. One participant captured the prevailing sentiment: “We like so many others are gutted for everyone involved that the marathon had to be cancelled due to extremely high winds making it unsafe. But there is beauty in the imperfect and the spirit of Cape Town shone through this morning as everyone rallied together to make the most of an unfortunate situation.”

 

 

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This perspective echoed earlier comments from social media influencer Brent Lindeque, who noted “The official Cape Town Marathon may have been cancelled… but not the vibe,” while Theo added “You can cancel the marathon, but you can’t cancel the people of Cape Town’s energy and enthusiasm.” 

However, the practical consequences of the cancellation remained at the forefront for many runners. One commenter reminded others that “People lost their money, people lost their time and dedication preparing for the race,” highlighting the significant personal investment many participants had made in the event. 

The safety considerations received thoughtful analysis from some quarters. As one observer noted, “If the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon had gone ahead and people got injured or worse, lives lost, the conversation would’ve been, ‘The winds were so strong, why didn’t they cancel? They knew it was dangerous to race in such weather.’ It’s such a difficult position to be in.” 

While the cancellation disrupted months of training and preparation for participants worldwide, the response has revealed both understanding and resilience within the running community. 

In a significant recovery move, title sponsor Sanlam announced it would provide all 2025 entrants with complimentary entries for either the 2026 or 2027 event, regardless of the marathon’s potential inclusion in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. 

Written by Lulama Klaasen 

First published by Cape {Town} etc 

Also see: From Shrek Raves To Marathons: The Best Things To Do In Cape Town This Weekend