Two Ocean Marathon 2024: How much does it cost to enter?

Entries for next year’s 53rd edition of the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and the milestone 25th running of the Two Oceans Half Marathon – South Africa’s biggest half marathon – are open for Blue Number Club runners.

That is runners who have completed 10 or more Ultra and/or Half Marathons.

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As a reminder, the 2024 Ultra Marathon will take place on Saturday, 13 April with the Half Marathon set for Sunday, 14 April.

The race weekend no longer falls on the Easter long weekend, but rather two weekends later in 2024.

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Organisers are hoping to welcome 14 000 Ultra Marathon and 18 000 Half Marathon runners to the start line in 2024.

FEES

The following 2024 entry fees have been ratified by the TOM Board. All South African runners for the Ultra Marathon need to belong to a running club and licenced accordingly:

BALLOT SYSTEM FOR LOCAL ENTRIES

The ballot (lottery/draw) system will once again be used for both the Ultra and Half Marathon for South African runners, in line with international best practice. Runners may go into the draw for only one event.

The ballot opened on Saturday, 15 July 2023 and closes on Sunday, 23 July 2023 at midnight.

At certain stages of the ballots, the draws 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.

The various rounds of the ballot draw all take place on Monday, 24 July 2023.

Runners entering via the ballot pay only once their name has been successfully drawn in the ballot.

Runners drawn in the ballot have until Monday, 4 September 2023 at 17:00 to make their payment. Failure to make payment will mean that a runner forfeits their entry. It will then be allocated to another runner.

INTERNATIONAL AND REST OF AFRICA ENTRIES

International and African entries open on Friday, 21 July 2023 (midday) and close when capacity is reached.

International and Rest of Africa runners do not enter via the ballot system, and can pay for and secure their entries straight away.

CHARITY ENTRIES

Charity entries will open in September 2023. Fees will be uploaded once final charity partners have been confirmed.

CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP RUN, TRAIL RUN AND FUN RUNS

These events will open in October 2023. Fees will be communicated then.

ULTRA MARATHON QUALIFIERS

Any officially timed and measured marathon or longer distance, run after 1 July 2023, can be used as your qualifier. Race Office will be conducting spot checks to verify qualifier information submitted.

For the Ultra Marathon the qualifying time for a standard marathon distance is 5 hours. For qualifying times for 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 runners so that faster runners are at the front; slower runners further back.

Runners are strongly advised to provide a seeding time. If not, you will start at the back.

Seeding is based on a previous 10km, 15km or 21.1km run after 1 July 2023: www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/event_race_day/seeding-2/

To have a successful Half Marathon event, runners are strongly advised to train for and run at least a 3:15 Half Marathon.

Race Office will be conducting spot checks to verify qualifier information submitted for seeding purposes.