South Africa
Lesotho
Namibia
Botswana
Mozambique
eSwatini
Zimbabwe
Tanzania
Date
Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Start 07:00
Verified
2026
Road
ASA · ASWD
Optimum Meiringspoort Half-Marathon
Verified 3 Jul 2026 · Last updated 3 Jul 2026
Half Marathon
12.5km
Verified 1h ago — details confirmed by the organiser.
About this event
The 2026 Optimum Meiringspoort Half-Marathon will take place Saturday, 10 October 2026 from 07:00, starting at Meiringspoort and finishing at De Rust NG Church, Corner Le Roux and Church Street in De Rust, Western Cape, South Africa. Distances include a 21km and 13km races.
Note that due to the flooding in the poort, this year's route will be a circle route for the 21 while the 12 will be a point to point on the 21 route. The route will have approximately 10km of tar and the balance will be on a gravel road through the Middelplaas area.
Distances & fees
Distances, start times, cut-offs and entry fees.
Saturday
10 Oct 2026
| Distance | Entry Fee | Temp Licence | Type | Start | Cut-off | Details | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Marathon | ZAR 400 | ZAR 55 | Road | 07:15 | 10:45 | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| 12.5km Race | ZAR 350 | ZAR 55 | Run / Walk | 07:00 | 09:30 | ||||||||||||||
|
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Temporary ASA licence fee — only payable if you are not a member of an affiliated running club.
Merchandise
Long Sleeve T-Shirt
ZAR 400
Cap
ZAR 160
Socks
ZAR 150
Hat
ZAR 140
How to enter
Information on how to enter this event.
Online entries open 4 Jul 2026
Entries via Entry Ninja
Serious flood damage in Meiringspoort and surrounds has necessitated a delay in the entry process which now will start a month later.
Loyalty entries OPEN on 27 June 2026 @ 06h00 for 2025 entrants and on
4 July 2026 @ 06h00 for others.
No faxed or Postal Entries will be accepted. Entries limited to 1300 on the 12.5km and 1800 on the 21.1km.
No entries available on race day.
Entry Limit
3100
Number collection
Collection venues, dates and times.
De Rust NG Church, Corner Le Roux and Church Street, De Rust
Fri, 9 Oct 2026 · 11:00–21:00
On-the-day number collection (04:30 – 05:30)
Race Day Information
Practical information for race day.
Handouts
Medals to all athletes who finishes within the cut-off time
Water Points
Water points every ~3 km along the route.
Medical
Medical support stationed on route and at the finish.
Parking
Free parking at the start venue.
Pets Allowed
No pets at the venue.
Prize Giving
NG Church Hall, De Rust at 11:00
Refreshments
Refreshments available at the finish.
Social Walkers Welcome
Walkers are welcome on both distances. No prizemoney in this category.
Timing
Electronic chip timing for all distances.
Toilets
Portable toilets at the start, finish, and on the route.
Running with Earphones
No headphones permitted on the route — race rules.
Entry Limit
3100
Route maps & elevation
Route maps and elevation profiles.
Location
Where the event starts and how to get there.
De Rust NG Church, Corner Le Roux and Church Street
Get directionsGet notified
Follow this event
We'll let you know when online entries open, the date changes, or results are loaded — no account needed.
Contact the organiser
Organiser
Meiringspoort Half-Marathon
Send a message to the organiser and they'll reply to the email you provide.
Accommodation
Places to stay near the start. Booking through this map supports RunningCalendar at no extra cost to you. Affiliate
Training programs
Hand-picked training pathways to get you to the start line ready.
Coach Parry
Structured, app-delivered plans for every distance from 5 km to Comrades — daily workouts, pace targets, Strava sync and a South African coaching community.
Affiliate · disclosed Join NowOwnMyRun · Gerda Steyn
Free, self-guided training plans built by Comrades & 2 Oceans champion Gerda Steyn — a great starting point if you want structure without a subscription.
View plansEnergy Lab
A South African running community with a built-in training app — adaptive plans whose paces recalculate as you get fitter, plus club runs, results and event RSVPs. Free while in beta.
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