Online entries for 2014 Two Oceans now open

Organisers of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon – recognised the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon – have announced that online entries for next year’s event are open as from 10am on Tuesday, 15 October.

The 45th Ultra Marathon will take place on Easter Saturday, 19 April 2014, and the entry limit of 11 000 runners is 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 2013 in a time of less than 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 R250 000 prize money that can be won by the Ultra Marathon winners, title sponsor Old Mutual will add an additional R1 million to the winning male and female runner who respectively breaks the record for the 56km Ultra Marathon in 2014.

The men’s record of 3 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds 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 hours, 30 minutes and 36 seconds.

The closest any runner has come since then is Zimbabwean Marko Mambo, who ran 3 hours, 5 minutes and 39 seconds 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 hours, 34 minutes and 53 seconds.

Says Ralph Mupita, CEO for Old Mutual Emerging Markets, “We want to encourage top runners from around the world to come and compete in the biggest road running event on the African continent”.

This will be the 15th year that Old Mutual sponsors this prestigious road race.

Phased approach to 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 have introduced a phased approach to the 2014 Half Marathon entries, which includes application into an entry draw in January 2014:

• From 17 October 2013, runners are encouraged to update their personal profiles and medical details on the entry system, while new entrants can create their profiles.

• Blue and Light Blue Number holders may enter from 10am on 5 November 2013 (limited to 1 000 entrants).

• Runners with valid SA running club licences may enter from 10am on 11 November 2013 (limited to 5 500 entrants).

• Previous Two Oceans Half and Ultra Marathon and Trail Run finishers may enter from 10am on 14 November 2013 (limited to 2 000 entrants).

• New entrants, previous participants who finished outside the cut-off and those who missed their original entry batch may submit their applications into the entry draw from 10am on 22 January 2014. A random electronic draw on 23 January will select 6 000 entrants who may proceed to pay for their entry.

• Entries into the popular Trail Runs will open at 10am on 2 December, with an entry limit of 400 runners for the 10km and 22km trail runs respectively. Trail enthusiasts are advised to enter early, as both distances sold out within hours of entries opening last year.

How to enter

Ultra Marathon runners can enter online or download an entry form at www.twooceansmarathon.org.za  from 10am on 15 October 2013.

The Two Oceans Marathon website has been upgraded to ensure a better user experience for athletes, and is jam-packed with information around the various events hosted under its banner.

“Designed to Run” is the theme that supports the 2014 Two Oceans Marathon marketing campaign – a coincidental hat-tip to Cape Town’s status as the World Design Capital next year.