42.2 Kilometers of Determination: My Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Journey

On the morning of 24 May 2026, there was no better place to be than DHL Stadium in Cape Town. For many reasons, it was a memorable setting, but I will share just a few. First, it was race day for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. With the shorter events having taken place the previous day — the half-marathon, the 10 km and 5 km Peace Runs, and the 22 km and 11 km trail runs — it was now time for the main event. That may especially excite running enthusiasts, but there was more to take in. The traditional dancers brought a vibrant energy to the occasion. The music, the atmosphere and the warmth they created were through the roof.

Three of us were representing Team JW Seagon that day: Innocent Chengek, Amon Kipkorir and me. We had posted the fastest half-marathon times among all JW Seagon runners at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in October 2025, and that earned us a place at the Cape Town Marathon. None of us had raced a full marathon competitively before, but that did not mean we were unprepared. We had put in six intense months of training, both as a group and individually, and the moment to test ourselves had finally arrived. Our final session was a 10 km shakeout run the day before the race. Even then, I was struck by the beauty of Cape Town. The beach stood out most — the white sand and the breeze were incredibly calming.

When the time came, we took our places in our respective waves, ready to start. Innocent and Amon were in the wave before mine, but I caught up with them about 10 km into the race. With only around a quarter of the distance behind us, everything still felt smooth, especially because of the lower altitude. Running there felt a little easier than what we were used to back in Nairobi. The hills, however, were another matter. The route featured several long uphill stretches, and while they did not seem too demanding at first, their effect built steadily as the race went on. The streets were lined with spectators cheering us on and even handing out snacks. Some held hilarious banners too. My favourite read: ‘Run if you are balding.’

Most runners talk about hitting the wall in a marathon — and for some, it feels like the wall hits you. We were no exception. My moment of reckoning came at around the 26 km mark. My breathing was steady, but my legs were telling a very different story. As this was my first full marathon, I learned a few important lessons. The biggest was perseverance. In that moment, deep in the race, it mattered more than anything else. I also learned very quickly that no number of half marathons can fully prepare you for a full marathon. The two are worlds apart, quite literally, and proper training is essential. Somewhere along the way, we split up as our energy levels began to differ. From that point, it was time to fight solo.

As I approached the 38 km mark, I hit the wall a second time. I could see Amon ahead of me, but I knew I was not going to catch him, miracle or not. With four kilometres left, I knew I had to dig deep and stay strong. Back in Nairobi, our Managing Director, Shakeel Hassanali, was following our progress on the Cape Town Marathon app. His message — saying he was confident we would all finish in under four hours — arrived at exactly the right moment. Reading it renewed my energy, and I held on all the way to the finish line. I completed the race in 3 hours 57 minutes, while Innocent clocked 3 hours 53 minutes. Amon posted an impressive 3 hours 42 minutes. That made the achievement even more meaningful, given that none of us had competed in a full marathon before.

Once the race was over, it was time to explore Cape Town. We had a wonderful time sampling the local cuisine and taking in more of the city. It was a beautiful experience, to say the least. Since we had to fly back home the next day, there was so much we wanted to do and far too little time to do it all. We also needed to rest, so we had to keep our adventure short and head home. This was not my last marathon — it was the beginning of many more. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity.

Written by Bonface Ndege