Choosing between Cape Town Marathon and Chicago Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Cape Town Marathon | Chicago Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 30 May 2027 at 6:30 am | Sunday, 11 October 2026 at 7:30 am |
| Elevation | Rolling with notable climbs - approx. 25m above sea level. ↑ 205 m · ↓ 203 m · net +2 m | Very flat - approx. 179m above sea level. ↑ 74 m · ↓ 73 m · net +1 m |
| Typical weather | Mild autumn with coastal breezes | Cool to mild autumn |
| Typical participants | Approximately 11k finishers | Approximately 52k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | Very competitive |
The Cape Town Marathon is Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major, joining the series in 2027 as the eighth race. The scenic course starts and finishes at DHL Stadium with views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic coastline. With rolling terrain and around 205 metres of total climbing, it is the only AIMS Gold Label marathon on the continent and a landmark race for runners worldwide.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon winds through 29 diverse neighbourhoods of the Windy City. Known for its flat, fast course and enthusiastic Midwest crowds, Chicago has hosted landmark performances including Kelvin Kiptum's previous men's world record (2:00:35, 2023) and Ruth Chepngetich's all-time women's record (2:09:56, 2024). It remains a favourite for runners chasing Boston qualifying times.
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