Race Shape › Races › Kaapsehoop Marathon
Running · KaapsehoopKaapsehoop Marathon training plan
The Kaapsehoop Marathon is 42.2 km in Kaapsehoop, next held on 14 November 2026. A 21-week block for it starts on Monday 22 June 2026, and at 1 600 m the race-day paces have to come down for anybody who trains at the coast. For a club athlete on 45 km a week with a 1:55 half marathon behind them, the plan expects a finish around 3:57:48.
Build my own Kaapsehoop Marathon plan — freeThe date, distance and altitude are filled in for you. See the whole block free before you unlock it.
The race
| Distance | 42.2 km |
|---|---|
| Where | Kaapsehoop |
| Altitude | 1 600 m |
| Next edition | Saturday, 14 November 2026 (expected — not yet confirmed with the organiser) |
Not yet confirmed by the organiser, so it is shown as expected rather than fact. Last checked 2026-09-11. Check the official entry page before booking anything.
Your calendar to race day
A 21-week block, laid out against the 14 November 2026 race date:
| Block starts | Monday 22 June 2026 — week 1 |
|---|---|
| Harder sessions arrive | Monday 17 August 2026 — week 9 |
| Peak weeks begin | Monday 12 October 2026 — week 17 |
| Taper begins | Monday 26 October 2026 — week 19 |
| Race day | Saturday, 14 November 2026 |
Volume rises no more than 10% a week and every fourth week is lighter. The full week-by-week table for this distance is on the beginner marathon plan page.
Race-day targets
| The race | 5:41/km for the first third, then hold or lift Even pace beats a fast start on every course ever measured. If you feel comfortable at halfway you have got it right, and you have permission to spend what is left. |
|---|---|
| Expected finish | 3:57:48 — Run 3:57:48 |
Worked out for a club athlete on 45 km a week with a 1:55 half marathon behind them. Yours come from your own time trial.
Predict your Kaapsehoop Marathon time
Filled in with an example. Type your own numbers and it recalculates.
| Distance | 42.2 km |
|---|---|
| Race altitude | 1 600 m |
| Even-pace halfway | 1:57:47 |
| Your fitness (VDOT) | 38.3 |
Flat-course physiology plus an altitude correction. Hills, heat and pacing are not modelled: allow for the course.
The altitude, for or against you
At 1 600 m, a coastal athlete who races to their training pace will blow up. Somebody who trains high arrives adapted. Steady race pace for a club athlete on 45 km a week with a 1:55 half marathon behind them:
| Where you train | Pace in training · pace on race day |
|---|---|
| Training at the coast | 5:41/km · 6:06/km |
| Training in Johannesburg (1 753 m) | 6:10/km · 6:06/km |
Roughly 2% per 300 m above 500 m, corrected only for the difference between where you train and where you race. A planning estimate — individuals vary.
Common questions
When should I start training for the Kaapsehoop Marathon?
For a 21-week block, on Monday 22 June 2026. Starting later still works — the plan shortens the base phase to fit — but inside about six weeks the block stops being able to add fitness and becomes about arriving healthy.
What finish time should I expect at the Kaapsehoop Marathon?
For a club athlete on 45 km a week with a 1:55 half marathon behind them, about 3:57:48. Assumes a flat course, reasonable conditions and a sensible first half. Your own prediction comes from your own time trial.
Does altitude matter at the Kaapsehoop Marathon?
Yes. At 1 600 m the plan slows race pace by about 7.3% for an athlete who trains at the coast. Somebody who trains in Johannesburg is already adapted and needs a much smaller adjustment.
Where to train for the Kaapsehoop Marathon
Plans at this distance
- Beginner marathon plan
- 8-week marathon plan
- 12-week marathon plan
- 16-week marathon plan
- 20-week marathon plan