Two Oceans Marathon (56km) - Race Reviews

Without doubt, the course is amazingly scenic and other runners and spectators are fantastic. However, for a race to change course on the day prior, that not only removes an iconic section, but also adds significantly higher elevation climb (+120m more in first major hill, but at over 300m it is no longer a hill but instead a mountain) is beyond frustrating and even more so when they're out of water atop this first summit. I understand this had been done in prior years due to fires and such, which I'm forgiving to as that is purely out of man's control, but the reasoning this year was due to potential for protest along the route. How are the local forces not able to corral protests? Safety for all is number one, but I just don't think this organisation is deserving to be recognised as one to travel long for if you can't trust what you're training for to happen. It's just not worth the time and money it takes to get here from places like North America if you get sideswiped with new condition only a day before. The hills here are intense and are outside of what you see in most other large international marathons and thus challenging to train for if you're not familiar with the local topography. As much as I'd like to, I would not recommend travelling across continents to run this race if you can't trust the organisers.

I still get chills when I think about crossing the finish line at Two Oceans. I came from NYC and spent a week exploring Cape Town and had a fantastic time. The course is tough but stunning and the support is excellent. There are videos of the course online and I would encourage folks to watch those in order to be prepared for the fairly substantial hills. There were water shortages on Chapman's Peak this year but it sounds like they are taking steps to fix that, and I loved the little plastic packets of water you got along the course  much easier to drink from than paper cups, and I wish they had these at US races. Overall, this race is worth the training and travel required and a definite bucket list must.

It took me about 30 hours from Los Angeles to get there. The run was well worth the efforts. In the same event, we ran along the beach side of Indian Ocean; and we ran on the cliffs over Atlantic Ocean. It is a tough course. Right after Marathon distance, there are a few miles of up hills, then, down hills almost all the way to the finish line. The event was well organized although some water stations ran out of water very early. The distance between water stations are about 2~3km, which made the lack of water situation manageable. The coke only stations were really bad idea. When you are in dehydrate condition, drinking Coke does not help, at least it were not helpful to me. Locals are very enthusiastic cheering for the runners. I had muscle cramping on the way. A lady offered me magnesium pills from her own medical box. International runners get some special treat  to have a 5K run one day before around some Cape Town landmarks. It was fun.

Can't think of an ultra anywhere in the world that can top this. A great but challenging course, particularly along Chapmans Peak, with great ocean views. Beware the hills, there are plenty of uphill and downhill sections. Great organisation - easy entry, great expo, good organisation at start. Fantastic drink stations, located regularly with plenty of goodies like Coca Cola to keep you going. Good crowd support all along most of the route, not New York style crowds but very friendly and enthusiastic, lots of people come out to watch in the populated areas and the race gets loads of coverage (including on TV) in South Africa. I would love to do this again one day.

I came all the way from Germany to do this race. Now I'm so glad that I did. After finishing the most beautiful Ultra Marathon on planet earth. I can only say that nothing else that top this. All that I have left now is London, Berlin and Rome. Since I have done Boston already. I really have to say this is a must for anyone looking to do the most beautiful breath taken Ultra-Marathon ever. Just have a go at it and most importantly ENJOY.

I think you should restore the massage stations from about the 37th k mark to attend to cramps and injuries.

The Two Oceans Marathon has long been a dream of mine, ever since first visiting Cape Town in March 2002 right after running my first marathon, my hometown L.A. Marathon. Unfortunately, however, I was never in good enough shape, until this year, to take on the challenge of a 56K ultra on a difficult course such as this one. But, with 34 marathons under my belt - 28 of them in just the prior 15 months - I finally felt like I was ready for this race. It was a thrill to line up in the darkness outside the University of Cape Town on race morning, watch the half marathoners start their race and then wait for the ultra to start 20 minutes later. With a very light drizzle, the race began, and while the first few miles were nothing spectacular, once we hit Muizenberg (?), at Mile 10, the remainder of the course was amazing. I took what this course gave me and didn't challenge the climbs at either Chapman's Peak or Constantia Nek, choosing to mostly walk these portions. This did allow me to finish the race with some fuel in the tank and I finished with a smile on my face in 6:34:59. Next time, hopefully, I will be strong enough for a sub-6, but I was still happy to get in well under the 7-hour cutoff and did watch the few heartbroken runners who barely missed the cutoff by a few seconds. Better luck next time. :)

I loved everything about this race. The course is beautiful but very hard at times. The climb up Chapman's Peak is challenging but nothing compared to the climb up Constantia Nek after you pass the 42K mark. Refreshments were very plentiful - Coke, PowerAde, water, potatoes, ice cream, chocolates - and I tried everything. I really liked the salty potato and wished they had more of these. Loved the Coke! I held off on trying it since I was not used to drinking it, but now I wish we would have this at races in the USA! Instant energy!!! Enjoyed the camaraderie of the South Africans - they are one tough bunch of runners. Many of them use this race as part of their preparation for Comrades. Excellent crowd support for most of the race - they yell, "Well done, well done" at you from mile one. Runners also were very supportive of one another. I hope to run this one again someday.

This is by far the best marathon I have ever done. The scenery is stunning. Support was unreal (the last half of race has aid stations every kilometer!). South Africa is really a beautiful place, first world. They are really revving things up for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and have huge infrastructure improvements. Restaurants are really nice and relatively cheap. With the Rand at 9 to 1 to the US dollar, most meals for two at great places came out to under $30 total! The hilly, ocean view course involves 2 substantial hills that go on for approximately 4 kilometers each. The last (Constantia's neck) occurs at the 45K mark and is brutal. The only complaint I had was, being a chip timed race, it made absolutely no sense not to have a timing mat at the start. Keep this in mind. Although you finish crossing a mat, you all start your time at the gun start. It cost me 3 minutes getting to the start. Try to get an early corral. The website for the race has a nice link to a training regimen geared for the race. It was really useful. This was my first ultra, and having some local knowledge from that link helped. I trained in flat Chicago, and managed the hills, but I recommend hill training, or at least parking garages! The free International 5K jog the day before for all non-African competitors was great fun. All in all, the most fun, beautiful, well-organized race I have ever done. Getting there from the US takes a long time and is a little more expensive than going Europe, but you make it all back quickly with the discounted prices compared to what you find on the European continent. It's a great challenge for someone trying to do a little more than a 42.2 marathon, and definitely an adventure. Just be prepared for that hill at the 45K mark!

This was my first race and I am hooked. I have never experienced a race that's so well planned. They had a great course, amazing spectators, and more than enough food and refreshments. We all can learn from them. Well done, and see you in 2009.

My experience running the Two Oceans was fantastic! With its gorgeous views of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, it truly earns the reputation of the world's most beautiful marathon. The race was well organized and the fans was great! The course is tough in spots, particularly because of the slants of the roads on the incline and declines, which were hard on the IT bands. The spirit of the fellow runners and hospitality of the fans helped through the last 14 KM (this was my first ultra and 5th marathon). The experience made training through a Canadian winter worthwhile!!! I would highly recommend it!

Needs to start at 6 a.m. before any other race.

I am a Mr. Price Celtic Harriers runner (vet category) who collapsed with heat exhaustion about 50M from the finish line, and was assisted across the line by several fellow runners, among them Ena Gous (Worcester AC), Donald Currie (VOB) and Marc Dennler (MP Celtics). I also collapsed initially at the 55KM mark and was helped by several unknown runners there as well. I remain extremely grateful to all these runners and the superb care and support from staff, family and friends in the medical tent afterwards. This tremendous sense of camaraderie has given the TOs fresh significance for me. I am recovering well and will be back in 2008!

Thanks for organizing this event. I have had the privilege of do the ultra twice now. What could make it unpleasant is starting after the half marathon (and so late). If you are a blue medal runner you finish when it can get very hot, and after all, the Two Oceans is primarily know for the ultra marathon and not the half. Sure the frontrunners of the half catch up with us at close to Gabriel Road, but they are single-filed and it is very easy for the ultra to stick to the left and let them pass on the right. It is called the Two Oceans "Marathon" - let the fun runners start later please. Thanks for your time. -Marius

I loved the course, as I do every year! I must comment on the drummers on the route! It just gave me that extra push when I was feeling so tired. Their performance at the prize ceremony was stunning. They need to be on the route every year! Thank you! It made me proud to be from Africa!

Race is beautiful and a great challenge; I would definitely recommend it. I would only suggest to organizers to offer food on the course and better nutrition after the race. Maybe ask a few euros more for registration or get a solid nutrition sponsor - it would make it so much better, instead of everybody carrying their own food all the way. Many people are not aware that roads are not flat, meaning that they have a slope on the sides, which is actually the hardest aspect of this race, and makes it horribly hard to run on declines. So be prepared for this - some training that will make your ankles stronger is good - it's an extreme feature of the race that I think adds 10+ minutes to your time. Not many spectators but people that run with you make for a great, great race - both half and ultra.

I last ran Two Oceans in 1998. Absolutely loved this course. The run up Chapman's Peak is an event you will long remember.

Last year I started my first 2 Oceans. Despite being warned about the cats eyes, I tripped and injured myself and had to retire at the 42-KM mark. This year I completed my first 2 Oceans (I'll be back...), but I saw lots of people tripping on the same cats eyes. A friend who rode Argus told me that every cats eye was covered by a Powerade cover. Why cant you do that for Oceans?

Simply superb. Should be on everyone's must-do list.

Well organized, the best views in the world. What I liked best was that the virtual coach which prepares you for the event/time you want to do - really, really works. 19,000 runners this year (2004) so be carfull not to get sucked along with a faster pace at the start. The downhill sections are the killers... a 3h45min 42km marathon = a 5h15min Two Oceans. Watch out at the end that you have someone to meet you - parking is a nightmare as is the scrum of people all looking for one another - good planning required here...

superbbbbbbb scenery

Thanks for seeding the blue and yellow numbers at the start. You are much more organised than comrades who no longer do this. It is much appreciated and is seen by me as one of the major perks of having run 10+