The Two Oceans is set to reintroduce trail runs for the upcoming edition.
Image: Ian Landsberg Independent Media
Trail running enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the Two Oceans Marathon will once again incorporate trail races this year after a five-year hiatus, initially caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Toni Cavanagh, the Two Oceans Marathon chairperson, told Independent Media that they have spent the past few years working hard to restore the event to its former glory.
“When we came back, our focus was to bring the race back to its former glory because, after Covid, it was a little difficult, given that businesses were less inclined to provide major sponsorships. So, we focused on the two main events — the ultra and the half marathon — and we’ve seen them grow every year.”
Now that the 56km and 21.1km races are fully operational again, Cavanagh says they felt it was the right time to reintroduce the trail events.
“Those two events sell out quickly, and we are getting record numbers. Now, we are bringing back the trail races, and entries have opened for both the 12km and 22km events. We delayed opening entries due to recent fires, which had us concerned, but thanks to the efforts of firefighters and volunteers, the trails have been rehabilitated.
"Each of the races will be limited to 500 participants. A lot of meticulous planning has gone into this, and we are working closely with the city to ensure everything goes smoothly.
“With about 23 days to go, everything is now in place, and we will be confirming the final route with SANParks. Our goal is always to ensure a safe race while still offering a challenging and exhilarating trail run. We are working closely with SANParks to make this a reality.”
The Two Oceans Marathon is arguably the biggest running festival, taking place over a full weekend — from Friday, April 4, to Sunday, April 6 — with the trail events setting the stage for an exciting weekend of running.
The Expo opens on April 2 for registrations.