BATRUN 2025
WHAT A NIGHT!
A Love Letter to the Batrun 2025
Waking up to the howling South Easter this morning, it’s a reminder of how lucky we were to have perfect conditions for Batrun 2025. What an absolute privilege it was to light up the aid station at the base of Platteklip, witnessing the faces of runners full of fight, joy, pain, and perseverance.
The Batrun isn’t just a race. It’s more than just a cult event—it’s a celebration of our breathtaking backyard, a tribute to the strength of our running community, and a salute to the friends of Table Mountain who preserve our city’s wild spaces. The Batrun is how we defy the dark, how we challenge our limits, and how we push beyond.
THE
HISTORY
Batrun was held in 2002 and started from the V&A Waterfront. A small group arranged by Michelle Santilhano set out to conquer Cape Town's three peaks in the dead of the night. The mist came down after Maclear's and only a handful of folk led by Christo Steyn did Lion's Head (in zero visibility), arriving back at the Waterfront as the sun was rising.
In 2003, a more "organised" approach led by Andre Proctor and Andrea Pulfrich, but again only small party starting and ending at Kloof Nek.
2016 saw a slight change in proceedings with the race moving its start/finish venue to the Gardens Rugby Club situated at the foot of Table Mountain.
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2019 the Bat was cut short by 10km and the Sprint Edition happened. Shortly after this, the event was denied a permit to run at night on TMNP. In 2022 we were given the green light to run Batrun again. A big thanks to Friends of Table Mountain for their help and to the Park for being open to allowing this iconic event to take place.
2024 saw the classic's 20th edition and we can only imagine 2025 will be another year for people to experience the iconic race at the beginning of the calendar. Nobody forgets what Batrun is but few can describe it. So best you experience it.
THE RACE
Batrun is held annually in late February or March on an evening around the full moon for those who enjoy the magic of the mountain at night with a group of like-minded folks. Non-competitive good time to be had by all.
The event is the only night run/walk within Table Mountain National Park. The challenge of this event is to ascend the three summits (Devil’s Peak, Maclear’s Beacon and Lion’s Head) in the dark in a special atmosphere that exists on the mountain at night above the city.
