The most comprehensive sport event listing in South Africa
Marquee races worth pinning to your calendar — top road and trail runs, cycling and MTB events, triathlons, OCR, open-water swims and BMX from every corner of South Africa. Pick your next start line below.
Road Running
Road Running
Road Cycling
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Road running events affiliated to Athletics South Africa (ASA) usually require an annual ASA club licence or a temporary day licence. Cycling, mountain biking and BMX events sanctioned by Cycling South Africa (CSA) usually require an annual CSA licence or a one-day temporary licence. Triathlon events sanctioned by Triathlon South Africa (TSA) require an annual or day licence.
Trail running, OCR and open-water swimming events typically do not require a national-body licence at all.
Where a day licence is required, organisers almost always sell it alongside the entry — so you can buy both in a single transaction at registration. Always check the specific event’s entry terms on its event page before you register.
Entry fees vary by sport and distance. Typical 2026 ranges are: parkruns are free; 5K–10K road races R40–R150; half marathons R150–R350; full marathons R250–R600; trail runs R250–R800 depending on distance; ultra-trails R600–R3 000+; mountain bike events R250–R800; and Ironman-distance triathlons R3 000+. Each event card on Starting Line shows the from-price up front so you can budget before you click through.
Starting Line keeps a live, sortable list of every endurance event happening across South Africa this Saturday and Sunday — road and trail running, road and mountain cycling, triathlon, OCR, swimming and BMX. Filter by province or sport to narrow the list down to your region, or expand the window to the full month ahead.
Road races are timed events run on tarmac, usually licensed by ASA, and range from 5K to ultramarathon. Trail runs take place on dirt paths, mountains and forest tracks — they vary far more in elevation and surface, are typically not ASA-licensed, and place a stronger emphasis on self-sufficiency. parkruns are free, weekly, lightly-timed 5K runs held in parks every Saturday morning at hundreds of South African venues. All three appear in the Starting Line calendar.
South Africa runs a year-round race calendar — there is no single start date — but volume peaks in the cooler months. Road running is busiest March through September, with the Two Oceans (April), Comrades (June) and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (May) anchoring the calendar. Mountain biking and triathlon volume peaks in summer (October–March). Cooler-weather trail ultras concentrate in winter (June–August).
Filter Starting Line by your province and choose the shorter distances to find approachable events. parkrun (5K, free, every Saturday) is the easiest place to start for runners new to the sport. From there look for fun runs, charity 5Ks and entry-level 10Ks in your nearest city — these typically have generous cut-off times, a relaxed atmosphere and on-the-day entries.
