Breaking News: Two Oceans Marathon Entries Opening!

The Two Oceans Marathon (TOM) is pleased to announce that entries for the 51st edition of the iconic Cape ultra and its accompanying half marathon will open on 11 February 2022 at 12pm (midday). The event will take place on Easter Weekend, with the Half Marathon taking place on Saturday 16 April, and the Ultra being run on Sunday 17 April.

This long-awaited announcement about entries will be welcome news to all the thousands of runners hoping to once again run the World ‘s Most Beautiful Marathon, after the race had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions in South Africa. However, runners need to act fast, as entries will close again at 5pm on 20 February, and then all entries will go into the Ballot System, with successful entries to be drawn on 21 February.

Due to the expected demand, the Ballot System will be used for both the Ultra and Half Marathon, in line with international best practice. At different stages of the balloting process, the draw for successful entries will be weighted in favour of various categories of runners, including Blue Number Club members, Yellow Numbers (those doing their 10th, 20th, etc) and club runners (versus non-licenced runners). Runners entering via the ballot only pay once their name has been successfully drawn in the ballot, and please note that runners may only enter one event, either the Ultra or the Half Marathon.

Ballot Draw Dates

All draws take place 21 February 2022, at the following times:

  • Ultra Marathon Draw 1: 10am
  • Ultra Marathon Draw 2: 2pm
  • Half Marathon Draw 1: 10am
  • Half Marathon Draw 2: 2pm

International and African runners do not enter via the ballot system, and can pay for and secure their entries straight away once entries open on 11 February. These entries will close when capacity is reached.

After general entries close on 20 February, the only way to get into the 2022 Two Oceans Marathon or Half Marathon will be via a Charity Entry, procured through one of the official charity organisations affiliated to the event, and these entries will open on 22 February at 10am. (Entry fees for Charity Entries will be uploaded once final charity partners have been confirmed.)

How To Enter

Go to the race’s homepage at www.twooceansmarathon.org.za when entries open and click ‘Enter Here.’ Create a profile if you do not yet have one on the system and then follow the prompts. If you already have a profile, log in and do the entry process.

Entry Fees

The 2022 entry fees have been ratified by the TOM Board and approved by Western Province Athletics. Take note that all South African runners for the Ultra need to be licensed and belong to a running club.

Entry Type

Ultra

Ultra T-Shirt included

Half Marathon

Half T-shirt is R195

Licensed SA Runners

R700

R375

Unlicensed SA Runners   

N/A

 

R435 (R375 + R60 for temp licence)

Africa Runners

R860

R690

International Athletes

R2575

R1800

Ultra Marathon Qualifiers

For health reasons, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, qualifying for the TOM Ultra is mandatory, and TOM strongly encourages runners to complete a physical road race as their qualifier. However, any officially timed and measured marathon or longer distance, whether in the form of an officially organised physical or virtual race, run after 1 July 2021, can be used as your qualifier. In the case of a virtual marathon, an official time would be as generated by a smartwatch, a timing app on a smartphone, or a timing platform. Unfortunately, you cannot simply run on your own and time yourself, your qualifying time must have been generated during a virtual event, and the Race Office will be conducting spot checks to verify qualifier information submitted.

For the Ultra Marathon, the qualifying time for a standard marathon distance (42.2km) is 5 hours. For qualifying times run on distances greater than a standard marathon, please go to www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/event_route_info/seeding

Half Marathon Seeding

In the Half Marathon, qualifying times are used to seed you so that faster runners line up at the front, with slower runners further back. We strongly advise that you to provide a seeding time, otherwise you will unfortunately start towards the back. Seeding is based on a previous 10km, 15km or 21.1km run after 𝟏 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏: www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/event_race_day/seeding-2/

Startline Seeding

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the race will likely to be using multiple batches of 500 runners, starting two minutes apart, and runners will be seeded accordingly. It is not possible to give exact seeding tables as yet, but your seeding time will be used to place you in a batch appropriate to your running speed, and you will be advised of your batch closer to race day.

COVID-19 Protocols Relevant to Entering

On the advice of the TOM medical team, the below COVID-19 protocols will be observed. Kindly note that these may change with new development in the COVID-19 pandemic and the medical science related to it, as well as Disaster Management Act regulations:

  • You will have to upload proof of vaccination. If you are not vaccinated, you must present proof of a negative PCR/antigen test within 48 hours prior to attending any physical event, including Expo and your actual Race, at your own cost.
  • Please log in to your profile not more than 48 hours prior to any physical TOM event, including Expo/Race Pack Collection, to complete your COVID-19 pre-screening online. (We will send you reminders.)

Should you answer ‘yes’ to any COVID-19 risk factor during pre-screening, or fail the temperature check at Expo and Race Pack Collection, you will need to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test, at your own cost, taken not more than 48 hours prior to the physical event in question. Failure to do so will, unfortunately, result in you forfeiting your entry. Therefore, please remember to keep updating your profile and contact information.

In the Event of Race Cancellation…

In the event of the TOM 2022 being cancelled due to COVID-19, all runners who have paid will have their entries deferred to the next running of the Two Oceans Marathon.

For more information on entries or other race information, please read our FAQs at https://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/event-info/faqs/ or contact us at 021 2000 459 (general queries) or 087 133 2285 (race-related queries), or email info@twooceansmarathon.org.za.

Our January Favourite is Back!

After a one-year absence, Bedfordview Athletics Club in partnership with Dis-Chem Pharmacies is proud to once again bring you the Dis-Chem Pharmacies Half Marathon. Taking place on Sunday 16 January 2022, this will be the 20th edition of this long-time favourite on the Johannesburg racing calendar.

Having seen this year’s race cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the club is incredibly excited to be able to invite runners to once again visit the famous 21.1km course – some will say infamous – which winds its way through Bedfordview, Morninghill and Primrose. Though challenging, runners will be rewarded with spectacular views, particularly as the road crests and dives down Primrose Hill.

Unfortunately, the Centrum 5km dash will not take place in 2022, due to the entry limitations, and spectators and supporters will not be allowed at the event, especially at the race venue itself. However, there will be marshals stationed along the route, to offer runners words of encouragement as well as make sure all are kept safe on route. Also, due to the current restrictions, the race will only offer four water points, and runners are therefore encouraged to break out the hydration packs and bring their own water.

More Entries Than Originally Expected

Traditionally one of the biggest half marathons on the Central Gauteng calendar, the race will be restricted in numbers of entries this year, but as Race Director Charn Swart explains, this is already more than originally expected. “Under current guidelines from Athletics South Africa, we originally applied for a live event with 2000 runners, but they looked at our event plan and granted permission for 3000.

“Then, after entries were launched, we negotiated further with ASA and are delighted to announce we have received the go-ahead for a further 500 live entries! Our live event plan is viable for 4000 entries, so we are confident that we are able to cope with the approved 3500 entries safely, within, all current restrictions.”

More good news is that a further 500 virtual entries will be available for runners who cannot get a live race entry. The Virtual run will be untimed and unsupported and can be run from 17-23 January 2022. All 4000 entrants will receive a Dry-fit event T-shirt.

Charn is obviously just thrilled to see the race back on the calendar. “Hosting this race means a lot to our club. Runners are eager to compete after months of training without a real purpose, and we are also hopeful that races like ours will encourage new runners to get involved in road running, especially when they get a taste of the enjoyment of taking part in shorter distances. Most importantly, this gives running clubs a chance to recover financially after losing members that left due to there being no races on the calendar, and it also brings in much-needed revenue earned from hosting the race.”

Ready to Pick Up Your Race Pack?

As with all events, the topic of vaccinations is front of mind, and will come into play with the Dis-Chem Half Marathon as well. The event is open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated runners, but your vaccination status will determine when you can collect your race number and T-shirt. The three days of registration will be:

Thursday 13 January

Dis-Chem Nicolway

09:30-17:00

Friday 14 January

Dis-Chem Park Meadows

10:00-17:00

Saturday 15 January

Virgin Active Bedfordview

09:30-15:30

  • Fully vaccinated runners will be able to collect their race packs on any of the three collection days, and they will need to produce their vaccination certificate (note, not an SMS) and ID.
  • Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated runners will only be able to collect their race packs on Saturday 15 January – the day before the race – and will need to provide a valid negative Covid PCR test result not older than 48 hours. Alternatively, they can undergo an on-site Rapid Antigen test at race pack collection, at their own expense.
  • All athletes will be screened and have their temperature taken at collection venues and on race day.

On the topic of vaccinations, both Charn and Stan Goetsch of headline sponsor Dis-Chem are encouraging all runners to get vaccinated. By being vaccinated, mass events can operate again, knowing that all runners entering the event space have the ability to fight COVID-19. As Stan says, “While it is difficult to plan with certainty in these uniquely challenging times, Bedfordview Country Club Athletics and ourselves are looking ahead to once again witness the joy, the spirit and the excitement of the challenge of a live road running event at this traditional season opener.”

Charn leaves us with this, “Runners will have the best possible experience that we can offer on the day, within the COVID-19 protocols necessary to host a race.” So, will you be one of the lucky runners taking to the streets of Bedfordview? Then make sure you get your entry in right away, as they will be snapped up quickly!