"It went exactly as planned" - Lipschitz rounds out marathon preparations with course record win at Outsurance Gun Run

South African long distance ace Adam Lipschitz secured victory and a new course record at the Outsurance Gun Run Half Marathon in Cape Town on Sunday, 13 September. Lipschitz emerged victorious after surging away from defending champion Joseph Seutloali of Lesotho at around the 19km clocked to cross the finish line in 01:02:21 - a six second improvement on the course record set by Seutloali during the 2025 edition of the race which finishes on the Greenpoint Common.

Seutloali earned a runner-up position with a time of 01:02:53 while the third place on the podium was secured by Seutloali's countryman Tshepo Ramashamole, who produced a respectable 01:03:13. For his efforts, Lipschitz earned R25 000 cheque. 

As he did in 2025, Lipschitz won again at the Gun Run in 2026. Photo Credit: Supplied.

His Gun Run win comes hot on the heels of a personal best 01:01:06 clocking at last month's Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Northern Ireland, and represents the third occasion this season when he has dipped under 63 minutes. The holder of a 2:08:54 marathon best revealed that the race was run to get ready for a 42km outing next month.

"I'm very happy to win today because the race served as good preparation for a marathon in three weeks time. My plan was to run a course record as I knew the shape I was in. Plus I knew the course very well and how to run it. I ran exactly how I planned to and I won," explained 32-year-old Lipschitz, who is the founder of the Durban-based Social Runners Athletics Club.

Lipschitz in action in Northern Ireland during August 2026, where he set a new 21.1km personal best. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I know Joseph is such a strong runner and so is Lloyd Bosman, who has done well in races like Two Oceans. I knew that they might be a problem. Overall, I'm excited because this shows that my shape is good. The most important thing is that I was able to delivered when it mattered most," said Lipschitz who pocketed R25 000 for his efforts.

In the women's race Comrades Marathon gold medalist and four-time Olympian Irvette Van Zyl asserted her dominance. Making a return to the race's winner's circle after having last won it seven years ago, Van Zyl crossed the finish line in 01:14:03 - 03:21 ahead of defending champion and runner-up Busisiwe Chamane. Former Totalsport Two Oceans Half-Marathon winner Fortunate Chidzivo rounded out the top three, finishing in 01:18:23.