On Sunday, 18 October 2026, Blaise Peter will line up on Strand Street for the Slave Route Challenge Half Marathon, the 21.1 km race inside the first‑ever Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town.
"I've never done a marathon before. This is my first time," he said when we spoke ahead of the race. "I just started running a few months ago."
Blaise is the founder of BitFitness, a community that ties Bitcoin to sport, fitness and education. He is using the race to raise sats and get Bitcoin noticed by thousands of runners.
Why Blaise Chose the Nelson Mandela Marathon
"Nelson Mandela is just someone I resonated with growing up," Blaise said. "So let this be my first competition, just to open doors for other competitions to come."
The event donates all profits to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and according to the organisers, every runner carries the same bib number: 466/64, Mandela's prison number.
The Slave Route Challenge started in 2011 and passes the Castle of Good Hope, Bo‑Kaap and District Six, honouring the enslaved people who built the city. The route also takes in Koesister Hill, and Blaise has been warned it is a demanding course.
Training for the Slave Route Challenge Half Marathon
According to BitFitness, Blaise confirmed his entry on 1 October and ran 10 km in the rain at 05:30 the next morning. His plan is to build to 15 km, push to 18 or 20 km if he feels strong, and cover the full distance twice before race day to test his timing.
"I just want to max my limits," he said. He has been training in the heat, which he hopes will help on the hills.
He is documenting each session on @BitFitness21M.
Running for Bitcoin Adoption in Somerset West
Blaise lives in Somerset West, outside Cape Town, and wears Bitcoin clothing wherever he goes. "I know people have a lot of questions for my clothes," he said, "at the gym, around the market, around the shopping mall."
Race day brings a much bigger crowd: when entries opened in May, organisers expected 20,000 runners and walkers.
He knows of nobody in the Somerset West Bitcoin community who has run a race like this. "Maybe I have to be the first person to actually inspire or motivate somebody out there," he said, "to step up their game and do whatever it is they want to do."
"It has always been about adoption," he said. "You never can tell who I'm going to meet on the race day."
From Paxful Vendor to BitFitness Founder
Bitcoin Africa Story profiled Blaise in December 2024. Originally from Anambra State, Nigeria, he came into Bitcoin through trading and became a gift card vendor on Paxful before attending Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town in 2024, the conference's first year. After it, he stopped treating Bitcoin as a trade and started holding his own keys.
He returned for the January 2025 edition as a volunteer on the Machankura stage, wearing a shirt that read "Bitcoin for Sport and Fitness." At the January 2026 edition, he spoke on the Btrust stage.
Blaise wants BitFitness to charge for coaching in sats, award sats as tournament prizes, and eventually open a gym where members pay in Bitcoin.
Raising Sats on Geyser for Race Day
Race entry is already paid. BitFitness has set up a Geyser goal for the 21 km run to raise 2.1 million sats for shoes, training gear, energy bars, recovery tools and team merchandise for race day.
"Mentorship is also what we are seeking, not just money," Blaise said. He wants advice from experienced South African runners on how to run his first half marathon well, and pointers on which companies to approach. Brands that want their logo on BitFitness vests and gear on race day can reach him on X at @BlaisePeter6.
Alongside his training, BitFitness is running a 21‑day community challenge: squats, push‑ups, planks and other bodyweight work, with nothing heavy while Blaise tapers. "It's just a way to carry the community along," he said.
People who aren't racing can train with him and keep each other accountable. Details are on @BitFitness21M.
How to Support BitFitness
Send sats through the Geyser goal, follow @BitFitness21M and @BlaisePeter6, and share their posts. Bitcoin Africa Story will follow up after race day.