The dsm‑firmenich Running Team has finally lifted the curtain on what has been months of quiet buzz: Eliud’s World Tour is officially underway, beginning this week in South Africa. The premise is disarmingly simple—classic Kipchoge, really. Over the next three years, the marathon’s philosopher‑king will trot around the planet, ticking off seven marathons on seven continents, all under the banner of global connection and community uplift.
The opening act lands at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, a race that has grown from regional curiosity to African powerhouse in short order. Cape Town, with its postcard backdrop and increasingly ambitious course, will also host a small slice of history: Eliud Kipchoge’s first marathon on African soil. For a man who has spent two decades redefining the event everywhere else, the homecoming feels overdue—if not quietly poetic.
The World Tour leans into Kipchoge’s long‑held thesis that running is less a sport than a shared human dialect. The plan is to drop into major marathons and emerging running outposts alike, meeting clubs, schools, fans, and the everyday strivers who populate start lines far from the glare of Berlin or London. It’s part outreach, part pilgrimage, and entirely in keeping with his “no human is limited” ethos.
“For me, running has always been about more than competition,” Kipchoge said. “Running brings people together. Through this World Tour, I want to meet runners in every corner of the world, share experiences, inspire the next generation and continue spreading the message that no human is limited.”
Cape Town, with its layered history and cosmopolitan running culture, makes for a fitting launch pad. The city mirrors the project’s ambition: inclusive, global, and unafraid of scale.
Throughout race week, Kipchoge will take part in community events, youth sessions, and marathon‑adjacent gatherings—offering runners a rare chance to interact with the sport’s most influential figure. For a man who has spent years being chased by the clock, this tour is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful miles are the ones run with others.
Online Challenge
Runners worldwide can join Eliud’s run virtually through the online challenge that will launch on www.eliudsrunningworld.com. All uploaded runs are tracked in a digital hub, making it visible how runners worldwide are coming together while raising funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation.“Eliud has inspired millions through his achievements, humility and philosophy,” says Marleen Vink-Rennings of the dsm-firmenich Running Team. “Eliud’s World Tour is about taking that inspiration directly to people around the world and creating meaningful connections through running. Eliud has long said that he wants to make this a running world. Because a running world is a happy world. We are excited to begin this journey in Cape Town and put these words into action. Through the online challenge we want to create a movement, not only in Cape Town, but around the world.”
Next to his running ambitions throughout the project, Eliud’s Running World sets out to raise over 1 million dollars in funds for education and environmental projects supported through the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation. Widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, Kipchoge is a two-time Olympic marathon champion and former world record holder. His influence extends far beyond racing, inspiring runners globally through his discipline, mindset and belief in human potential. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will serve as the opening chapter of what promises to become a unique global celebration of running culture, community and possibility.
Race Day
Eliud Kipchoge will be joined by fellow dsm-firmenich Running Team teammates Mohamed Esa and Maru Teferi in the men’s field. In the women’s race, Lonah Salpeter and Desi Jisa will compete in ‘The Mother City’.
