BDO Peninsula Marathon and Half Marathon – Simon's Town

The BDO Peninsula Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 21, starting and finishing in Simon’s Town as it did in 2009.

The new route was introduced last year to avoid the construction around the World Cup Stadium in Cape Town, where the race has started for the past 41 years. Race organisers have confirmed that the race will revert to the old route for 2011, with the possibility of it starting in the actual stadium.

The event offers participants a standard marathon and a half marathon, which both start at 06h00. The marathon starts in Simon’s Town Main Road, Cairnside, just before the old margarine factory and Dido Valley Road opposite Scratch Patch. The half marathon starts outside the station in Simon’s Town in Waterfall Road, off St George’s Street. Both events finish at the Naval Sports Grounds.

Road running has seen a resurgence in 2010, with many of the races attracting record fields. Runners are therefore advised to get to the event early to ensure they find parking, at either the start or finish, and to avoid the congestion that was experienced at last year’s start. If runners park at the finish, they must allow adequate time to jog down to the start. Parking details can also be found on the website.

Participants can enter online at www.topevents.co.za or pick up an entry form from various New Balance outlet stores and other sports stores around Cape Town or at road races leading up to the event.

Always a popular event with local runners, the new marathon route offers participants a scenic yet challenging marathon that takes them over Red Hill from the Simon’s Town side and around Cape Point. The marathon is an official qualifier for the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and many runners use it to qualify and also as their long training run.

Number collection takes place on Saturday, February 20, at the River Club Golf Driving Range, Liesbeek Parkway in Observatory from 10h00 to 17h00. Directions can be found on the entry form and on the website.

Entries close on Sunday, February 14 and no late entries will be taken on race day. The first man and woman to finish the marathon in New Balance shoes will each receive a voucher to purchase a new pair.