Posted on Oct 22, 2010 under Two Oceans Marathon |
With the Two Oceans Marathon Entry date approaching soon, we want to give you an overview for the highlight of the 2011 Marathon season in Africa. We already wrote about the Two Oceans Marathon Entry requirements and limitations in a previous post.
The Two Oceans Marathon Route:
The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon: This year’s route (the PURPLE line on the map) will be the same as the one used since 2004. Runners will veer off left onto Noordhoek Road (Chapman’s Peak Drive) at the foot of Ou Kaapse Weg after passing through Sun Valley, and then head through Noordhoek and Hout Bay to Constantia Nek.
Two Oceans Marathon Route Map
- Start point : Main Road in Newlands.
- Quarter way mark (14 km): In Lakeside, just past the Sandvlei turnoff.
- Halfway mark (28 km): On Noordhoek Road before Chapman’s Peak
- Marathon mark (42.195 km): Near the cemetery on Constantia Nek.
It is the responsibility of each runner to know the route of their race. Traffic Police and race marshals will take all reasonable steps to ensure runners safety, however runners are responsible for their well being at all times.
56 km: The route remains the same as last year. From the start in Newlands along the Main Road to Fish Hoek, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Constantia Nek, Rhodes Drive, and Union Avenue to the finish at UCT. An IAAF graded course measurer has certified the route. A sign will mark every kilometer of the route. The course is 56 km (35 miles).
Route Profile
The Ultra Marathon Route is actually quite flat for the first 28 kilometers, and then starts to climb quickly as one approaches the start of Chapman’s Peak. From Hout Bay, the route climbs again to the highest point at Constantia Nek. Thereafter the route is undulating until the finish at UCT.
Two Oceans Marathon route profile (click on image to enlarge)
Interactive Map
Click here for our interactive map (by MapIT) indicating the route, kilometre markers, refreshment stations and medical points.
Virtual Map
Click here to view the virtual route map as was set up by Bertus van Elburg. One can zoom in and out and see the route in comparison with other landmarks.
Posted on Oct 14, 2010 under Two Oceans Marathon |
Update: Entry totals on Friday 19 November 2010:
Ultra Marathon 496
Half Marathon 3732
The race is on. The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, which takes place on Saturday 23 April 2011 is opening it’s registration soon!
Entries open on Monday 1 November and runners can enter online at twooceansmarathon.co.za. Those interested in running the ultra are encouraged to get their qualifying marathon done as soon as they can and to submit their entry. The qualifying window is 1 September 2010 to 16 March 2011 for the ultra event.
Entries close on 16 March 2011 or when the 11 000 entry cut off for each distance is reached. Last year over 3 000 participants in the half marathon were turned away and the ultra had just over 9 000 runners. A limited number of entry forms will be printed and available from the end of November at leading sports shops or on request from the race office.
In 2010 over 27 000 participants took part in the various distances including the fun runs, making it the biggest running event in Africa. The flagship race, the ultra marathon, attracted 9000 competitors, while the half marathon saw 11700 runners take part – a limited field in the interests of runner safety as per advice from Cape Town City’s Disaster Management team, but it still remained the biggest half marathon in Africa. Entries had to close off four weeks prior to the scheduled closing date, which meant that Two Oceans Marathon turned away about 3 000 disappointed runners. Remember to enter early, particularly for the half marathon, to avoid missing out.
The 2011 event will also be introducing a new timing system, the RaceTec System (previously known as Winning Time), which will be used for the next five years. This is the same timing system used by the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour and offers state of the art technology that will make the processing of results and times far easier and more user-friendly.
Those runners who already have one of these chips can use it for Two Oceans, while those that do not have chips will need to purchase one at a cost of R80. The chips are usually R110 but the race office will subsidise them by R30. This system is used extensively at various other races around the country, including the 94.7 Cycle Challenge in Johannesburg.
Two Oceans Marathon increases prize money by 47%
The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, which takes place on Saturday 23 April 2011, has increased its prize money for next year’s event by 47% and will see the top male and female runners in the 56km ultra event each take home R250 000 for their efforts.
The new prize money schedule makes it one of the highest paying ultra events in the country and offers top runners an incentive to focus on winning the event in 2011. General manager Rowyn James said, “We want to offer the top athletes an added incentive to focus on running and winning the ultra next year, as well as encouraging them to have a serious attempt at the respective course records, which were set over 20 years ago.”
James added that while the prize money has always been considered generous, they wanted to take it to the next level in order to attract some of road running’s top names. The second and third place male and female runners will each receive R125 000 and R65 000 respectively. Total prize money on offer for the event is just under R1.5-million. Last year’s first prizewinners received R150 000, second place R75 000 and third R50 000.
Another exciting change for the event is the new marketing campaign “This is your moMEnt”, with the focus being on the ‘ME’ in ‘moment’. The campaign centres solely on the runners, as they are responsible for the event’s growth and success since it started 42 years ago.
“Without the runners’ hard work and dedication this event would not have got to where it is today and this campaign is a tribute to this commitment and effort,” said marketing manager Stefanie Schultzen.
The campaign represents the significance of this prestigious race, which is an impressive, professional event that attracts over 27 000 participants from all over the world, as well as a running institution and real pacesetter on the road running calendar. It focuses on the runners themselves and the amazing stories they have to tell.
Said Joy Khaole, head of Group Sponsorship for title sponsor Old Mutual, “We are thrilled with the new marketing campaign that celebrates the runners as it complements our brand message ‘do great things’. Through this special event we provide runners with the platform to push beyond their boundaries.”
