Entries for 2015 Two Oceans open soon
Entry limit of 11 000 runners once again expected to be reached.
Online entries for the 2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon open at 10am on Wednesday, 29 October 2014.
The opening of entries has been moved from the originally anticipated date of 15 October in order to make further changes to the online entry system to increase safety measures and counteract increasing instances of internet fraud.
The 46th Ultra Marathon will take place on Easter Saturday, 4 April 2015, and the entry limit of 11 000 runners is once again expected to be reached.
To qualify for participation in the Ultra Marathon, runners must have completed at least one full marathon (42.2km) after 1 July 2014 in under five hours. However, runners do not have to pre-qualify to enter and can submit their qualifying times at a later stage.
South African Ultra Marathon entrants are also required to belong to a registered running club and have a valid running licence. No temporary licences will be issued to Ultra Marathon runners.
Old Mutual’s R1 million challenge
In addition to the prize money that can be won by the Ultra Marathon winners, title sponsor Old Mutual has once again issued its R1 million challenge to the winning male and female runner who respectively breaks the record for the 56km Ultra Marathon in 2015.
The men’s record of 3:03:44 was set in 1988 by road running legend Thompson Magawana, while Frith van der Merwe set the women’s record a year later in 1989 when she ran 3:30:36.
The closest any runner has come since then is Zimbabwean Marko Mambo, who ran 3:05:39 in 2005, and who has won the race three times. Russian Olesya Nurgalieva ran the second fastest women’s time in 2008 when she crossed the finish line in 3:34:53.
This will be the 16th year that Old Mutual sponsors this prestigious road race.
Online queueing system introduced for Half Marathon entries
In an effort to alleviate pressure on the online entry system, and to give runners a fair chance to enter, the organisers are introducing an online queueing system as already used by the likes of Computicket and the Cape Town Cycle Tour. The Half Marathon is limited to 16 000 entries.
Blue and Light Blue Number holders may enter from 10am on 5 November 2014 (by invitation only).
Runners with valid SA running club licences may enter from 10am on 13 November 2014.
General entries will open at 10am on 19 November 2014.
Entries will be limited during these three entry waves to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to secure their spot at the start line.
Entries into the popular Trail Runs (10km & 22km) will open at 10am on 4 December 2014. Trail entries are limited and sold out within minutes in 2013, and it is expected to happen again this year.
Entries to the Fun Runs that take place on Friday, 3 April 2014, will open on 24 November 2014 and close on 22 March 2015.
For more information on the entry process, dates and deadlines, please visit www.twooceansmarathon.org.za.
Runners can also join the online conversation on www.facebook.com/TwoOceansMarathon, @2OceansMarathon on Twitter and Instagram (or by following and using the #OMTOM2015 hashtag).
