From Instagram to Strava, running crews are surging in popularity. Over recent issues of RW, Rachel Beaton has spotlighted some of the standout run crews driving this movement. We thought it was time to bring them together on our website and give them the love they deserve. First up is Cape Town – based FullSend Running.

What: Free, community-led long runs and structured blocks
Where: Cape Town. Check out their Instagram for meeting points

When: 

• Blocks: 12 weeks to Two Oceans (when applicable) and 14 weeks to Cape Town Marathon.
• Sessions are announced weekly on Instagram (they avoid clashing with WPA race days).

How: Four pacing groups, each with three pods, 20 runners per pod.

Cost: Zero ZARs, but they run a monthly charity drive called ‘More’, and runners can give what they can!

Safety: Three safety cars, route briefings, and real-time verbal instruction.

The Vibe: Legally, FullSend is an events company founded by Mike Obery and his comrade, Heinrich Boonzaaier. Culturally, it’s a rolling city of runners with pacing pods and aid stations that would put many race organisers I know to shame, and routes that prove Cape Town is bigger than Sea Point Promenade. 

You pitch up, you’re briefed, you get paced. Fastest group targets a 3:00 marathon, slowest targets sub-5:00. Pacers are capable volunteers (“by the community, for the community”), coached and route-briefed by Obrey. If there’s a place for you, there’s a pace for you – and yes, there’s space for you.

It’s free, it’s loud, it’s diverse: cleaners, doctors, lawyers, your ex, your situationship… possibly his dog. No one cares who you are; just be a nice person, and keep up enough to make the waterpoint banter.

The Philosophy: 

• ‘Be lekker. Do good. Stay safe.’
• Community first. Break down crew/clan/club lines. Everyone trains together for the same big goals (Oceans and CT Marathon).
• Give back. Their ‘More’ initiative supports a different cause monthly – R50 or R5 000, it all counts.
• Safety is non-negotiable. Route briefings, pacers, safety cars, and Mike’s hooter if you drift off the pavement. You’ll feel looked after, but also like an adult. (Refusing a lift when you’re cooked? That one’s on you.)

The Runs: Check the FullSend Instagram for dates and days as they change weekly, or according to the specific race build-ups.

• Two Oceans: 12-week build (when the calendar allows)
• Cape Town Marathon: 14-week build (extra time for newer runners)
• Pacing: 4 groups × 3 pods × 20 runners. Marathon tempo or endurance-paced, depending on the week
• Routes: Not just the Prom: Woodstock, Salt River, Lower Main, Table View, Constantia belts, Fish Hoek, occasionally Chappies.

The Clubhouse: No permanent HQ, but the partnerships are real: Totalsports, Asics, Revive, Open Fuel and more. Expect occasional discounts, giveaways, and the sort of activation that convinces you another pair of shoes is ‘for recovery’. The clubhouse is Cape Town, because, yes, you’ll see Brad again tomorrow, on the Prom. 

The Members: “Can’t be numbered, for legal reasons,” according to Obery. “Four groups, three pods each, 20 per pod. You do the algebra. I’ll be at the water table. WhatsApp is full (a 1 025 cap!), so follow us on Instagram.” 

Where to find them: Follow @fullsend.running on Instagram for dates, routes, and weekly updates. Contact via Instagram DM

Rachel’s Takeaway: Finding a running group in Cape Town is like dating in Cape Town: lots of options, not so many good ones. FullSend is one of the good ones – a melting pot of PB-chasers, Prom Princesses, Burnt Bunnies and even a few honest, salt-of-the-earth, never-tried-a-gel-and-don’t-know-what-Strava-is runners. FullSend will keep you moving, hydrated, and mildly bullied back onto the pavement. In other words: structured chaos, maximum community, free. Send it. 

And some final encouragement from Obery, who always has a way with words: “Stay on the #@*%ing pavement!” 

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