In their inaugural year as the technical sponsor of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, adidas has partnered with 11 women who never thought it possible to run 42.2km, and helped them train towards this year’s Marathon, taking place on Sunday 16 October. 

The ladies are featured in the adidas Beyond My Impossible campaign, which aims to empower and encourage the female community to lean on the sport of running for the purpose of bringing positive change into their lives. Each lady has an inspiring story and a deeply personal reason for wanting to conquer their first marathon.

Get to know Zoë Brown, Ncebakazi, Kay, Leatitia, Shaakirah, Tracey, Yentle, Ashleigh, Melissa, Jana and Lenise through a series of beautifully shot 90-second individual videos, as well as a four-part documentary series detailing the 14-week journey of these courageous women.

The 11 ladies have been on a 16-week training programme, under the watchful eye of Kathleen Shuttleworth, a Cape Town-based running coach who specialises in middle to long-distance training. And even though the end goal is to complete the Marathon, there’s been a strong focus on building a sense of community, ensuring that the journey has been both supportive and enjoyable despite the challenge. 

Commenting on the spirit amongst the group, Coach Kathleen said, “It’s been such an honour coaching and getting to know the ladies. Their dedication and enthusiasm to the program have been evident from day one. They’re a truly inspiring group of women, and I can’t wait to see each lady cross the finish line!”

Follow the @adidasZA #BeyondMyImpossible #ImpossibleIsNothing conversation on Instagram, and be sure to keep an eye out for these special ladies along the route on race day – they’d love your support!

READ MORE ON: cape-town-marathon women's running