It all started on 5 June 1903 when the Spartan Harriers committee decided it was time to organise a long distance walk and benchmarked its success with the popularity of walking races in the United Kingdom.

Spartan Harriers wanted to be the pioneers of such a race in the South Peninsula and planned for the route to kick off from Montagu Bridge to Somerset West and back.

The route was however changed and on a very rainy 13 August 1903, a grand total of 61 competitors set off from Greenmarket Square in Cape Town, becoming part of South African history.

Spartans have been involved in the Cape Times FNB Big Walk for a century now.

Currently the Cape Times FNB Big Walk consists of 8 different routes starting at different points in the Cape Peninsula with all paths leading to Hartleyvale Stadium in Observatory.

The routes consist of timed 80km, 50km, 30km, 25km and 20km and untimed 15km, 10km and 5km.

In 2004, 101 years later, 24241 people took part in the Cape Times FNB Big Walk on Sunday 10 October.

The event was a huge success with many people still enjoying the carnival atmosphere until late afternoon.

All proceeds from the Cape Time FNB Big Walk go to two charities namely the South African Guide-Dogs Association and Habitat for Humanity.

Cape Times FNB Big Walk

Date: 9 November 2008
Location: Cape Town

Molo says: “With all these ‘on the road’ events there is absolutely no need to hit the gym, just get all your friends and family and join us on the tar for lots of hard work and fun and all for a good cause.”

Subscribe to our free monthly Editor’s Picks Newsletter for all the information you might need on all the road runs and Marathons that Cape Town as well as the Western Cape has to offer for the rest of 2008.

Check out the accommodation options that we have and if you can’t seem to tear yourself from the road read our things to do on the road that doesn’t include running or walking.

Find available bed & breakfast accommodation in Observatory Cape Town in our online availability Western Cape B&B directory.

Simply select ‘Cape Town’ and ‘Observatory’ in places to find B&B’s with availability during the Cape Times Big Walk.