In 2018 the 103km route was being launched by 100 social runners from the 9 provinces of South Africa under the theme "100km by 100 runners for Mandela 100 years".

The nearest City is Mthatha, a suggestion of accommodation can be found on our The Race Page.

Online registrations take place on our website: theicon'sjourneymarathon.com. Online registrations open 31 May and close 1st June 2025.

Manual registrations are available at ABSA Branches, Eastern Cape only.

Yes the organizers will arrange transport in the form of buses and taxis. Each runner must carry cash to pay before getting onto the transport. A fare rate will be negotiated for the athletes.

Yes, the 103km route is a distinctive heritage run where participants have a unique opportunity to touch the birth places of some of South Africa’s most notable struggle icons on this global heritage route event including Dr O.R. Tambo, President Nelson Mandela and Chris Hani.

It is the longest offroad event in South Africa. The route touches 3 x district Municipalities (Chris Hani, OR Tambo & Amathole District Municipalities). It touches 2 x Kingdoms (Abathembu & AmaXhosa Kingdoms). It cuts across over 150 rural villages. Along the route you touch National & World heritage sites.

15 hours. 03h00am - 18h00pm

It's easy, simply click on the ENTER NOW button on our home page. Choose the event you wish to enter and follow the steps to our checkout page to pay online and receive your entry tickets in your email inbox.

It is a requirement of ASA and CSA that participants of running and cycling races of over 10km require a license, either a permanent one (purchased through your club) or a temporary one.

Temporary licenses are available for purchase by clicking on the event you have entered.

Start & Cut-off Times:

103km - 03h00am start in Clarkebury to cut off time 18h00pm at Nelson Mandela Museum. Cut off is 15 hours.

There are cut off points every 21kms along the route as detailed below:

• 21km - 3hrs (06h00h)

• 42km - 6hrs (09h00)

• 63km - 9hrs (12h00)

• 84km - 12hrs (15h00)

• 94km - 13h30min (16h30)

• 103km - 15hrs (18h00)

35km - Qunu via Qokolweni to Nelson Mandela Museum.

• 06h00am -12h00pm.

• Cut-off time 6hrs.

14km - Xolilizwe Sangoni High School to Nelson Mandela Museum.

• 06h30 - 09h00.

• Cut-off 2h30min.

7km - Tyumbu bridge to Nelson Mandela Museum.

• 06h30 - 08h00.

• Cut-off 1h30min

No collection of Race Packs on race day for all events. Entrants to collect Race Packs at the Expo from 23_26 July 2025.

Medals to all finishers of our physical events to be collected on race day. Please see our FAQ for all virtual event information.