Polokwane City Marathon adds 50km to become Polokwane City Ultra Marathon

Formerly known as the Polokwane City Marathon, organisers of the 2026 edition of the much loved Limpopo race have decided to introduce a new distance. The event which takes place on Saturday, 2 May will feature a 50km race for the first time and will now be known as the Polokwane City Ultra Marathon. According Polokwane municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Makoro John Mpe who is the driving force behind the event which is organised by the Polokwane Athletic Club and sponsored by the Polokwane Municipality, the change will afford athletes more opportunity to qualify for the Comrades Marathon as official times will be take at both the 42,2km and 50km mark.

"This dual opportunity firmly places Polokwane on the map as a serious contributor to the national road running calendar. The flagship 50km ultra-marathon is a deliberate enhancement introduced to ensure that athletes, particularly those preparing for the Comrades Marathon, have access to a high-quality ultra-distance race within our city," Mpe explained during the race’s launch on Friday 17 April.

Runners enjoying the 2025 Polokwane City Marathon which has now become the Polokwane City Ultra Marathon and will feature a 50km distance race for the first time in 2026. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

The race which is becomes Polokwane’s second ultra marathon after the Seshego 50km Marathon, will start at the new Peter Mokaba stadium and end at the Polokwane Rugby Fields, just next door. First established in 2012 (14 May) as Polokwane Mayoral Marathon with just 750 runners signing up, the Polokwane City Ultra Marathon has since grown in stature attracting thousands of both elite and social runners from across the country and beyond its borders.

"This year's registration is capped at 4 000 entries to ensure quality, safety and optimal runner experience. And it will start at 5h30 in the morning," said Mpe who is also expected to be amongst runners who will line up at the start line on race day.

Polokwane municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Makoro John Mpe (left) is expected to be amongst the participants on 2 May. Here he is pictured at a local race alongside the Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality, Cllr Mamedupi Teffo (centre) and Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba. Photo Credit: Polokwane Municipality.

A total prize purse of R200 000 will be shared among the winners, with the 50km open category offering R15,000 for first place, R10,000 for second place and R5,000 for third place for both men and women. All finishers will receive medals, with distinct medals allocated across the various race distances.