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Johannesburg City Marathon

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Mar 22, 2026 at 6:00 AM

The Lowdown

The Johannesburg City Marathon, organized by Johannesburg Harriers Athletics Club and formerly known as the Jackie Gibson Marathon, starts and finishes at the Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre in Kibler Park, Johannesburg. Runners can choose between the 42.2km marathon, a 21.1km half marathon, or a 10km race, all starting at 06:00 (10km at 07:00). The 42.2km distance is an official Comrades Marathon qualifier, making it a key fixture on the Gauteng calendar for runners chasing a spot on the Comrades start line, while the half marathon and 10km suit recreational runners and first-time marathoners building toward longer distances. The course runs through Kibler Park and the surrounding Johannesburg suburbs, offering a scenic but challenging route with meaningful elevation gain typical of the Highveld. All finishers within the 12:00 cutoff (26km cutoff at 09:30 for marathon runners) receive a medal, and walkers are welcome on the half marathon and 10km but not the full marathon. The 2026 edition took place on March 22, 2026; the next edition's date has not yet been announced.

Race Day

Weather Forecast

fall
mild

Elevation

Terrain Profile

⛰️

Relatively flat course

Participants

Field Size

👥
1,500RUNNERS

Medium-sized race

Crowd Rating

Spectator Support

👋
3/ 10

Moderate spectator support

Course Highlights
1

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve

2

Kibler Park

Race Weekend

Other distances available during the event weekend:

Half Marathon (13.1 miles / 21.1 km)
10K (6.2 miles / 10 km)
Destination

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

ZA

Est. Hotel Cost
$80/ night

Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line

Minimum Age
16years
Time Limit
6:00:00

Eligibility

  • Minimum age 16 for the marathon and half marathon
  • Walkers permitted on the half marathon and 10km only; the full marathon is runners only

Required Documents

  • Valid ASA or affiliated athletics club licence, or a day licence purchased on race day

Entry Methods

  • Online entry via Onreg
  • Manual entry on race day where available, subject to a R25 surcharge

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Entry fees are non-refundable

The 42.2km marathon distance is an official Comrades Marathon qualifying race

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