Winds dash Cape Town dreams, but Kimberley marathon potentially offers fresh hope

BLACK, unsweetened coffee is rated as one of the bitterest tastes out there. It rates right up there with citrus peel (especially grapefruit), and dark chocolate – as in unsweetened cocoa. Yet, for a certain section of coffee snobs, that smoky, nutty bitterness is the best way to start the day.

That’s a pleasant bitterness to wake up to … But then you get a very, very unwelcome, unpleasant bitterness, like that experienced by runners who had spent months preparing for Sunday’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

For these athletes, the stillness of the early Sunday morning was shattered not by the starting gun, but by the devastating, bitter news that the Cape Town Marathon had been sensationally cancelled mere hours before the start. 

Over 24,000 runners, hailing from corners all over the world, had prepared to tackle the challenging 42.195km route around the Mother City. The sudden cancellation delivered a severe blow to the organisers' aspirations of achieving inclusion in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a goal that would establish the Cape Town Marathon as Africa’s first Major Marathon.

Safety concerns were paramount

The paramount reason for the decision was safety concerns, triggered by severe winds that persisted throughout the night and into the early morning hours. This extreme weather wreaked havoc in the Green Point race venue. Marquee tents sustained damage, and branding materials were ripped off fences and scaffolding.

The urgent situation necessitated emergency meetings between the race organising team and the Joint Operations Committee (JOC). 

This committee comprised critical representatives from the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management and Safety and Security portfolios, alongside medical services and the South African Police Services (SAPS). The decision to cancel the 2025 edition was reached at the eleventh hour, at 4.45am, roughly an hour and a half before the scheduled 6.15am start. 

Communications were sent out promptly at 5am via direct WhatsApp messages to participants, social media, radio stations, and event media partners.

Colonel Christo Engelbrecht of the SAPS, speaking on behalf of the JOC, confirmed the danger: “The route is unsafe, as the wind is constantly gusting in Woodstock, and the infrastructure at the start and finish venue has been compromised. It’s unsafe for runners and pedestrians in that whole area, and that’s why the race has had to be cancelled. 

“It was a collective decision made by the whole team in the Joint Operations Committee.”

The reaction from the runners was one of profound disappointment. 

Many of the 24,000 participants were already at the venue or actively travelling into the city when the cancellation was announced. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis acknowledged the frustration and grief felt by the athletes, stating: “All the runners must be disappointed, as are we all. But I’m grateful to the event organisers for taking a decision with runners’ safety in mind after heavy winds blew down some race infrastructure this morning. The City is committed to hosting events of the highest global standards, and that includes sometimes managing difficult calls like this one.”

Emotional impact after months of preparation

Clark Gardner, the chief executive officer of the Cape Town Marathon, highlighted the emotional impact on the organisers after months of preparation: “The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is devastated at the cancellation of our very special event. We have worked for months on planning for all scenarios and conditions, but ultimately, a bigger force had the final say, and we are so sorry for the situation. 

“We wish to thank our participants, sponsors and stakeholders for their ongoing support and understanding.” 

Cancelling such a massive event was described as being “not an easy decision to make”.

Looking ahead, which will be little consolation for deflated runners, the Cape Town Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 24 next year, shifting from its usual October date.

And who knows, maybe a small fraction of the disappointed runners could turn their eyes up north to Kimberley, where the Diamonds & Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon 2025 is still on, and scheduled to take place on November 22, and online registrations open until November 18, while there are still slots in the line-up.