CAPE TOWN – Now in its second consecutive year as the continent’s only IAAF Gold Label-status marathon, The Cape Town Marathon will this year welcome in excess of 20 000 participants from across the world on Sunday 23 September.
“Our commitment is to provide runners, supporters and spectators with a truly gold-label experience that’s on a par with the likes of London, Berlin or New York, so this year’s registration and expo centre will be housed at the world-class Century City Conference Centre,” says Olympian and race ambassador Elana van Zyl-Meyer.
Located just off the N1 highway, a few minutes’ drive from Cape Town’s CBD, the Century City Conference Centre will house the registration and expo on Friday 21 September (09h00-19h00) and Saturday 22 September (09h00-1700).
Participants in any of the five weekend runs/walks will need to attend the mandatory registration at the conference centre, where they can also collect their goodie bags and have an opportunity to experience the event expo. This year’s expo will feature exhibitions by leading brands including Asics, Saucony, Totalsports, Sun International, Nestle and Fedhealth.
“Make a morning of it, either before popping in to the office on Friday, or come with your friends and family on Saturday and spend the day,” suggests Van Zyl-Meyer. “This year our colourful and vibrant farmers’ market will be held at Century City Square, directly opposite the conference centre.”
The Cape Town Marathon will this year welcome in excess of 20 000 participants from across the world on Sunday 23 September. Photo: David Ritchie/African News Agency(ANA)
How to get there
Organisers are encouraging runners to register as early as possible on the Friday and Saturday to avoid the last-minute crowds. Free parking is available at P5 at Ratanga Junction (follow the “P5” directional signage and parking attendants will be on hand to assist), about five minutes’ walk from the conference centre.
Alternatively, ample pay parking is available in the conference centre’s P2 parking garage situated at the back of the conference centre (just follow the “P2” signs), with direct access into the conference centre. And then there’s Canal Walk Shopping Centre parking, which is a seven-minute walk from the conference centre.
For directions to the Century City Conference Centre, visit the marathon’s website at https://www.capetownmarathon.com/information/finish-area/expo/
The MyCiTi bus service provides a link from the Century City railway station to a number of conveniently located stops along the Century Boulevard ring road, and from there, a route via the West Coast line to the CBD. Transport between the CBD and Cape Town International Airport is also provided by the bus service.
For trains, the Century City stop is on the Cape Town–Bellville line via Monte Vista.
Local runners are gearing up for the Cape Town Marathon taking place on Sunday, September 23. The race is Africa’s only IAAF gold label status marathon. Photo: Armand Hough/African News Agency (ANA)
The Golden Arrow Bus Service operates direct bus services to Century City from the Cape Town CBD, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Killarney, Elsies River, Hanover Park and Atlantis. A short walk from Canal Walk Shopping Centre will take you directly to the Century City Conference Centre.
Formal minibus taxi services to Century City operate from Koeberg, Goodwood, Maitland, Belville, Mitchells Plain, Elsies River, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Langa, Gugulethu and other areas on the Cape Flats.
Metered taxis are permitted on the Century City road network, while an Uber drop-off and pick-up zone close to the conference centre.
“We look forward to welcoming runners to the registration and expo on either Friday or Saturday, and we hope that they along with Capetonians find the event to be an eclectic mix of IAAF Gold standards and Capetonian gees”, adds Van-Zyl-Meyer.