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Running · SowetoSoweto Marathon training plan
The Soweto Marathon is 42.2 km in Soweto, usually held around 1 November — the next date is not yet announced. A 21-week block for it starts on Monday 7 June 2027, and at 1 680 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.
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The race
| Distance | 42.2 km |
|---|---|
| Where | Soweto |
| Altitude | 1 680 m |
| Next edition | Not yet announced |
Hilly, and at altitude. Do not expect a sea-level time here.
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 expected race date:
| Block starts | Monday 7 June 2027 — week 1 |
|---|---|
| Harder sessions arrive | Monday 2 August 2027 — week 9 |
| Peak weeks begin | Monday 27 September 2027 — week 17 |
| Taper begins | Monday 11 October 2027 — week 19 |
| Race day | Sunday, 31 October 2027 |
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 Soweto Marathon time
Filled in with an example. Type your own numbers and it recalculates.
| Distance | 42.2 km |
|---|---|
| Race altitude | 1 680 m |
| Even-pace halfway | 1:58:22 |
| Your fitness (VDOT) | 38.3 |
Flat-course physiology plus an altitude correction. Hills, heat and pacing are not modelled: allow for the course.
The full predictor for this race →
The altitude, for or against you
At 1 680 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 · 6:08/km |
| Training in Johannesburg (1 753 m) | 6:10/km · 6:08/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 Soweto Marathon?
For a 21-week block, on Monday 7 June 2027. 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 Soweto 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 Soweto Marathon?
Yes. At 1 680 m the plan slows race pace by about 7.9% for an athlete who trains at the coast. Somebody who trains in Johannesburg is already adapted and needs a much smaller adjustment.
What should I know about the Soweto Marathon?
Hilly, and at altitude. Do not expect a sea-level time here.
Where to train for the Soweto Marathon
Plans at this distance
- Beginner marathon plan
- 8-week marathon plan
- 12-week marathon plan
- 16-week marathon plan
- 20-week marathon plan