The organizers of the Two Oceans Marathon have officially confirmed the qualification period deadlines, time standards, and participant distribution requirements for the Ultra and Half Marathon events in 2027.
All registered runners must complete an officially recognized qualifying competition between May 1, 2026, and March 7, 2027, to guarantee their spot at the starting line.
To participate in the main Ultra Marathon Two Oceans Marathon, athletes must run a standard marathon distance of 42.2 km in under five hours. Ultra distances exceeding 42.2 km will also be accepted, provided that runners meet specific time thresholds indicated on the official TOM website.
To ensure full compliance and validity of all submitted data, all qualifying events must adhere to strict measurement standards recognized by Athletics South Africa (ASA) and World Athletics (WA).
Chris Goldsmith, Chairman of TOM, emphasized the importance of early planning, noting that race day is the culmination of months of preparation. He stated that the organizers aim to provide runners with all necessary information for confident preparation. Goldsmith stressed that these deadlines are critical, especially for Ultra Marathon participants who need to meet qualification criteria, as well as for Half Marathon runners wishing to secure the correct distribution group.
He strongly urged all participants to pay attention to these key dates and submit their applications well ahead of the established deadlines.
Wade Bromfield, TOM Events Director, added that tracking these important dates is an integral part of a successful journey to the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon. He advised participants, whether they are aiming to achieve a qualifying time for the Ultra or submitting previous race times to optimize Half Marathon distribution, not to postpone this until the last minute.
The organizing team expressed excitement about welcoming runners from around the world to Cape Town in 2027 and strongly urged everyone to check their timelines and ensure all registration details are up to date.