Seen Here: Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON poweredby BYD. Photo Credit: Chris Hitchcock
CAPE TOWN — 21 September 2026 — Runners who secured places in the 2027 Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON powered by BYD ballot are being urged to take note of key qualifying and seeding deadlines as preparations intensify for one of South Africa’s most anticipated road-running events.
The 2027 edition will see thousands of athletes converge on Cape Town for the iconic 56km Ultra Marathon and 21.1km Half Marathon, with qualifying and seeding requirements playing an important role in determining runners’ eligibility and start-batch placement.
For Ultra Marathon entrants, the official qualifying window opened on 1 May 2026 and closes at midnight on 7 March 2027.
Runners must complete and submit an approved qualifying race within this period. A standard 42.2km marathon must be completed in under five hours, while longer-distance races must meet the applicable qualifying-time standards.
Qualifying races must be officially measured and timed, with distances complying with measurement standards recognised by Athletics South Africa (ASA) and World Athletics.
The organisers have advised runners competing over distances beyond 42.2km to consult the official qualifying criteria for the applicable time requirements.
Seen Here: Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON poweredby BYD. Photo Credit: Chris Hitchcock
Half Marathon runners urged to submit times early
For athletes entered into the 21.1km Half Marathon, the critical date is 28 February 2027 at midnight — the deadline for submitting an official seeding time.
Runners must submit an official time from a recognised 10km, 15km or 21.1km race to ensure they are allocated to the appropriate start batch on race day.
Both qualifying and seeding times can be submitted through the event’s official website by logging into the runner’s profile.
Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the TWO OCEANS MARATHON NPC, encouraged entrants to familiarise themselves with the requirements well ahead of the deadlines.
“Race Day is the culmination of months of preparation, and we want to make sure that runners have all the information they need to prepare with confidence,” said Goldschmidt.
He stressed that the deadlines are particularly important for Ultra Marathon runners working towards qualification and Half Marathon entrants seeking appropriate seeding.
Cape Town prepares for a week of running
The 2027 Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON will unfold across several days, offering athletes a range of road and trail-running experiences before the two flagship races.
The programme gets underway on Wednesday, 31 March 2027, with the 8km Night Run, followed by the 4.5km International Friendship Run on Thursday, 1 April.
The Trail Run takes place on Friday, 2 April, from the UCT Rugby Fields, with runners able to choose between 12km, 18km and 24km distances. The trail event has a capacity of 1,500 participants.
The Half Marathon follows on Saturday, 3 April, with the 21.1km race finishing at the UCT Rugby Fields.
The event reaches its traditional climax on Sunday, 4 April, when runners take on the gruelling 56km Ultra Marathon, also finishing at the UCT Rugby Fields.
Wade Bromfield, Event Director of the Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON powered by BYD, said advance planning would help runners and organisers prepare for a smoother race experience.
“Whether you are working towards your qualifying time (ULTRA MARATHON) or submitting a seeding (HALF MARATHON), please don’t leave it until the last minute,” Bromfield said.
Seen Here: Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON poweredby BYD. Photo Credit: Devin Paisley
A global running destination
Widely known as “the world’s most beautiful marathon”, the Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON has established itself as a major fixture on the international running calendar.
Its flagship races combine Cape Town’s coastal and mountain landscapes with the challenge of long-distance road running, attracting athletes from South Africa and around the world.
The event is owned and managed by TWO OCEANS MARATHON NPC, which oversees its heritage, brand and long-term strategic direction, while Stillwater Sports serves as the staging and commercial partner.
For international and Rest of Africa participants, Marathon Tours & Travel provides destination-running support and international entry services.
With the 2027 race weekend fast approaching, organisers are urging successful ballot entrants to treat their qualifying and seeding requirements as an integral part of their race preparation.
For thousands of runners, the countdown to Cape Town’s most iconic running weekend has already begun — and for Ultra Marathon hopefuls, every kilometre between now and March could determine whether they make it to the start line.
Key 2027 deadlines:
- 🏃 Ultra Marathon qualifying window: 1 May 2026 – 7 March 2027
- ⏱️ 42.2km qualifying standard: Under 5 hours
- 🏅 Half Marathon seeding deadline: 28 February 2027
- 🌙 Night Run: 31 March 2027 — 8km
- 🤝 International Friendship Run: 1 April 2027 — 4.5km
- ⛰️ Trail Run: 2 April 2027 — 12km, 18km and 24km
- 🏃♀️ Half Marathon: 3 April 2027 — 21.1km
- 🏔️ Ultra Marathon: 4 April 2027 — 56km
Official event information: Totalsports TWO OCEANS MARATHON
