Less than 50 entries available for Two Oceans

Runners still hoping to secure an entry into the 2014 Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon must hurry, as there are less than 50 spots available.

Online entries for the 45th Ultra Marathon opened in October last year and have been filling up at a steady pace. The field is limited to 11 000 runners.

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.

In addition to the R250 000 prize money for the Ultra Marathon winners, title sponsor Old Mutual will pay an additional R1 million to the winning male and female runner who each breaks the record for the 56km Ultra Marathon in 2014.

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 a 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.

Says Mokaedi Dilotsotlhe, General Manager of Marketing at Old Mutual, “By upping the stakes for record-breakers by R1 million for the male and female runners, we want to encourage top runners from South Africa and the rest of the African continent to come and compete in the biggest road running event in Africa. We also want runners to push boundaries and do great things as the world’s best come to take part in the world’s most beautiful marathon.”

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

How to enter

Ultra Marathon runners can enter online or download an entry form at www.twooceansmarathon.org.za.

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.