Two Oceans Marathon Explained

Date:	Easter weekend
Location:	Cape Town, South Africa
Type:	Road
Distance:	Ultramarathon (56 km)

The Two Oceans Marathon is a ultramarathon and half-marathon held annually in Cape Town, South Africa on the Saturday(Ultra) and Sunday(Half) the weekend after Easter weekend. It was previously held on Easter weekend.

Known globally as "the world's most beautiful marathon",^[1] the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through the Cape Peninsula.

Both races start in Newlands. The Ultra Marathon follows a more or less circular route through Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, over Chapman's Peak, through Hout Bay and Constantia Nek, and eventually finishes at the University of Cape Town campus. On occasions when Chapman's Peak Drive has been closed due to construction or rock falls, the Ultra Marathon has followed an alternative route over Ou Kaapse Weg.

The Half Marathon takes runners along Edinburgh Drive (the M3 highway), before turning into forest roads past Kirstenbosch (where runners meet up with Ultra Marathon participants) and finishing at the University of Cape Town campus.

Since its inaugural edition in 1970, the event has grown. Selling out every year, the Half Marathon sees some 16,000 participants (making it the biggest half marathon in South Africa), while 11,000 athletes tackle the 56 km Ultra Marathon.

In addition to the main events, other events take place the day before (Good Friday):

Approximately 6 000 runners - including toddlers and young children with their families - take part in various fun runs
Approximately 1 000 trail runners traverse the trails of the Table Mountain National Park
International participants get to run a scenic 5 km route along the Sea Point promenade as part of the International Friendship Run

The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] ^[3]

Winners

Men

Key:

Year	Winner	Time	Country
2024		3:09:30
2023		3:09:42^[4]
2022		3:09:05
	cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019		3:08:40
2018		3:09:21
2017		3:09:43
2016		3:13:33
2015	Motlokoa Nkhabutlane	3:10:27
2014	Lebenya Nkoko	3:09:52
2013		3:08:54
2012		3:08:08
2011	George Ntshiliza	3:08:31
2010	Mabuthile Lebopo	3:06:18
2009	John Wachira	3:10:06
2008	Marco Mambo	3:11:35
2007	Bethuel Netshifhefhe	3:08:03
2006	Moses Njodzi	3:06:50
2005	Marco Mambo	3:05:39
2004	Marco Mambo	3:07:41
2003	Mluleki Nobanda	3:09:21
2002	Hlonepha Simon Mphulanyane	3:09:42
2001	Honest Mutsakani	3:11:18
2000	Joshua Peterson	3:13:13
1999	Isaac Tshabalala	3:11:20
1998	Fusi Nhlapo	3:11:30
1997		3:07:17
1996		3:09:45
1995	Simon Malindi	3:10:53
1994	Phineas Makaba	3:15:06
1993	Isaac Tshabalala	3:14:29	South Africa
1992	Israel Morake	3:15:56	South Africa
1991	Miltas Tshabalala	3:16:00	South Africa
1990		3:10:51	South Africa
1989	Johannes Thobejane	3:12:20	South Africa
1988	Thompson Magawana	bgcolor=#A9F5A9	3:03:44	South Africa
1987	Thompson Magawana	3:05:31	South Africa
1986	Ephraim Sibisi	3:09:30	South Africa
1985	Siphiwe Gqele	3:11:57	South Africa
1984	Siphiwe Gqele	3:10:57	South Africa
1983	Siphiwe Gqele	3:11:54	South Africa
1982	Ben Cheou	3:11:15	South Africa
1981	Johnny Halberstadt	3:05:37	South Africa
1980		3:14:30	South Africa
1979	Vincent Rakabaele	3:08:56
1978	Brian Chamberlain	3:15:23	South Africa
1977	Brian Chamberlain	3:15:22	South Africa
1976	Vincent Rakabaele	3:18:05
1975	Derek Preiss	3:22:01	South Africa
1974	Derek Preiss	3:21:40	South Africa
1973	Don Hartley	3:24:05	South Africa
1972	Don Hartley	3:25:12	South Africa
1971	Rob Knutzen	3:42:31	South Africa
1970	Dirkie Steyn	3:55:50	South Africa

Women

Key:

Year	Winner	Time	Country
2024		bgcolor=#A9F5A9	3:26:54^[5]
2023		3:29:06^[6]
2022		3:29:42^[7]
	cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019		3:31:29
2018		3:39:31
2017	Maryna Damantsevich^[8]	3:37:13
2016		3:44:44
2015		3:41:23
2014	Nina Podnebesnova	3:40:07
2013	Tabitha Tsatsa^[9]	3:39:54
2012		3:41:55
2011		3:33:58
2010	Olesya Nurgalieva	3:41:52
2009	Elena Nurgalieva	3:40:43
2008	Olesya Nurgalieva	3:34:53
2007		3:35:11
2006	Tatyana Zhirkova	3:36:19
2005	Elena Nurgalieva	3:38:12
2004	Elena Nurgalieva	3:37:51
2003	Simona Staicu	3:37:32
2002	Natalia Volgina	3:38:02
2001	Natalia Volgina	3:44:53
2000	Sarah Mahlangu	3:48:58
1999	Angelina Sephooa	3:38:09
1998	Angelina Sephooa	3:49:59
1997	Angelina Sephooa	3:45:45
1996	Maria Bak	3:45:16
1995	Fehér Enikő	3:49:31
1994		3:51:37
1993	Pat Lithgow	3:57:11	South Africa
1992	Monica Drogemoller	3:49:16	South Africa
1991	Monica Drogemoller	3:50:23	South Africa
1990	Monica Drogemoller	3:42:39	South Africa
1989		3:30:36	South Africa
1988	Monica Drogemoller	3:44:29	South Africa
1987	Liz Eglinton	3:53:52	South Africa
1986	Adelene Joubert	3:52:59	South Africa
1985	Beverly Malan	3:55:51	South Africa
1984	Helen Lucre	3:52:20	South Africa
1983	Beverly Malan	3:57:32	South Africa
1982	Beverly Malan	3:59:08	South Africa
1981	Gail Hurry	4:11:31	South Africa
1980	Gail Hurry	4.14:05	South Africa
1979	Diane Alperstein	4:22:58	South Africa
1978	Janet Bailey	4:34:28	South Africa
1977	Marie-Jeanne Duyvejonk	5:03:52
1976	Marie-Jeanne Duyvejonk	5:01:07
1975	Ulla Paul	5:14:51	South Africa

Halfmarathon

Key:

Year	class=unsortable	Men's winner	Time (h:m:s)	class=unsortable	Women's winner	Time (h:m:s)
2024		01:04:40		01:13:52
2023		01:03:58		01:14:17
2022		01:03:31		01:14:49
	cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019^[10]		1:03:17		bgcolor=#A9F5A9	1:10:26
2018^[11]		1:04:08		1:16:18
2017		bgcolor=#A9F5A9	1:03:15		1:13:53
2016		1:03:38		1:13:14
2015		1:04:00		1:14:48
2014		1:04:16		1:14:00
2013		1:03:36		1:12:43
2012		1:04:52		1:15:02
2011		1:03:59		1:11:57
2010		1:03:54		1:12:39
2009		1:03:42		1:13:34
2008		1:03:31		1:15:04
2007		1:03:05		1:13:16
2006		1:02:54		1:13:35
2005		1:03:26		1:15:58
2004		1:04:02		1:16:46
2003		1:03:46		1:15:48
2002		1:04:15		1:15:27
2001		1:05:53		1:17:37
2000		1:05:31		1:18:24
1999		1:04:35		1:19:53
1998		1:05:35		1:17:01

External links

Official web page
Two Oceans 56 km. ARRS. Retrieved on 2016-10-13.
Two Oceans 21 km. ARRS. Retrieved on 2016-10-13.

Notes and References

Hamlett, Alison (2008-08-20). 20 Races to do before you die. Runner's World. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
Web site: 2020 Two Oceans Marathon cancelled amid COVID-19 Pandemic.
Web site: Two Oceans Marathon 2021 − Event Update - Two Oceans Marathon . www.twooceansmarathon.org.za . 3 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20210317020837/https://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/press_releases/two-oceans-marathon-2021-event-update/ . 17 March 2021 . dead.
Web site: Givemore Mudzinganyama storms to victory in the men's section of the Two Oceans marathon . 2023-04-15 . SowetanLIVE . en-ZA.
Web site: Botton . Wesley . 2024-04-13 . Gerda Steyn shatters record to win fifth Two Oceans title . 2024-04-14 . The Citizen . en.
Web site: Gerda Steyn smashes her own Two Oceans record . 2023-04-15 . TimesLIVE . en-ZA.
Web site: Schenk . Heinz . Sensational Gerda Steyn obliterates course record to claim third Two Oceans title . 2022-04-18 . Sport . en-US.
Web site: Gongqa, Damantsevich win Two Oceans Marathon titles.
News: Two Oceans winner loses title. 2013-12-05.
Web site: 2019 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon (2019) Results . 2022-04-22 . SportSplits . en.
Web site: 2018 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon (2018) Results . 2022-04-22 . SportSplits . en.