TRAC N4 Elands Marathon
Waterval Boven, South Africa · Saturday 1 March 2025
The Elands Marathon takes place in Waterval Boven, a town in South Africa's Mpumalanga province that sits on the edge of the escarpment. The setting is characterized by high-altitude grassland and indigenous forest, with the landscape shaped by dramatic geology and clean mountain air. This is proper highveld country, remote enough to feel away from everything but accessible for those willing to make the trip. The terrain around the race reflects the region's natural beauty without being overtly manicured or touristy. The course itself is a trail marathon that stays relatively flat to gently rolling, which means you won't face any serious climbing despite the high elevation. Running at altitude between 936 and 1465 meters, you'll feel the thinner air more than the grade of the hills. The trail surface gives the race a different character from road marathons, with more technical footing and a closer relationship to the landscape. Expect to move through grassland and forest sections, with the kind of rolling terrain that's forgiving on the legs but demanding on concentration. This is a race where pace matters less than reading the ground beneath your feet and managing the cumulative effect of altitude over 42 kilometers.
Difficulty Calculator
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Adjusted Time
4:34:02
Time difference: +34.0 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain79m
Elevation High1465m
Elevation Low936m
TRAC N4 Elands Marathon 2025 Course Analysis
TRAC N4 Elands Marathon is a full marathon held in Waterval Boven, South Africa, scheduled for Saturday 1 March 2025. The course is run on trail surface with 79m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 1465m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official TRAC N4 Elands Marathon website.
Elevation Profile
This is a very flat course with only 79m of total elevation gain across the full distance. The course ranges from 936m to 1465m above sea level — a 529m elevation range that makes it one of the flatter races available. Runners targeting a personal best will appreciate the minimal climbing.
Surface Type: Trail
TRAC N4 Elands Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
How Difficult Is TRAC N4 Elands Marathon?
Our difficulty rating for TRAC N4 Elands Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare TRAC N4 Elands Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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