Break the Marathon record and win big
Runners set for record-breaking efforts
Elite runners in the 2017 Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon will once again be racing towards a large incentive.
In addition to the prize money that will be won, the title sponsor, Old Mutual, has put a R1million bonus prize on the table for the first male and female who break the respective Ultra records.
Head of Brand at Old Mutual, Karen Thomas, said the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon is a highlight on the South African running and social calendar
“It’s a massive event that continues to grow. What really elevated the race to another level was the bonus incentive we introduced for the runners who break the record.
“More international runners have been drawn to the race since the bonus was introduced, and it’s added an extra element of excitement to the day. At Old Mutual we believe in the benefits of perseverance and commitment, so the bonus incentive is our reward to runners who wow the world with their dedication and determination. It’s no easy feat to break this record, but we believe that with proper planning, grit and focus, it can be done.”
The R1 million bonus was first introduced to the Ultra Marathon ahead of the 2014 event, which sparked new motivation among elite runners to break the records originally set by Thompson Magawana and Frith van der Merwe.
Thompson set the men’s record of 3:03:44 in 1988, while Frith set the women’s record a year later, in 1989, when she completed the race in 3:30:36.
The closest any runner has come to the record since then is Zimbabwean Marko Mambo, who ran a 3:05:39 in 2005. Russian Olesya Nurgalieva ran the second fastest women’s time in 2008 when she crossed the finish line. Two Oceans Marathon NPC General Manager, Carol Vosloo, said breaking these records will be a hard-won battle.
“The records were set on a downhill finish, which means runners now face the challenge of having to contend with an ascent to the finish line at UCT.
“We don’t think it’s impossible to break these records, but Old Mutual’s Virtual Coach, Norrie Williamson, estimates that only runners with lightning-fast marathon times of 2:07 for the men and 2:23 for the women will have a fighting chance.”
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