2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon Entries Close
 
(Cape Town, 5 February 2015)  Entries for the 2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon have once again closed in record time – a month before the official closing date.  

The 46th Ultra Marathon, taking place on Easter Saturday, 4 April 2015, will see about
11 000 Ultra runners navigate their way around the 56 km route that enjoys international acclaim as the world’s most beautiful marathon.

Participants who have not yet updated their qualifying race results are reminded to do so by 4 March 2015. All Ultra Marathon runners are required to have completed at least one full marathon (42.2km) after 1 July 2014 in under five hours.  

South African Ultra Marathon entrants are also required to belong to a registered running club and have a valid running licence, and are reminded to check and update their club details before 4 March 2015.  No temporary licences will be issued to Ultra Marathon runners.

The good news for runners who missed out on securing an Ultra Marathon is that substitution entries have now officially opened, giving athletes who can no longer participate the opportunity to “hand over” their entry to another runner.

The substitutions process is explained on www.twooceansmarathon.org.za.

Haile Gebrselassie to support Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon

Further exciting news for the race organisers is that Olympic great, Haile Gebrselassie, will visit the Mother City in April.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Haile Gebrselassie support the world's most beautiful marathon,” says Stefanie Schultzen, Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon marketing manager.

“It has always been our dream to have him at our race, and we are over the moon that our technical sponsor adidas will be bringing him out to South Africa.”  

Ms Schultzen adds that the 41 year old international icon will be supporting the events forming part of the Two Oceans Marathon, which will include a visit to the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon Expo.  He will not be running.

Old Mutual’s R1 million bonus

In addition to the prize money that can be won by the Ultra Marathon winners, title sponsor Old Mutual once again offers a R1 million bonus to the winning male and female runner who respectively breaks the record for the 56km Ultra Marathon in 2015. 

The men’s record of 3:03:44 was set in 1988 by road running legend Thompson Magawana, while Frith van der Merwe set the women’s record a year later in 1989 when she ran 3:30:36. 

The closest any runner has come since then is Zimbabwean Marko Mambo, who ran 3:05:39 in 2005, and who has won the race three times. Russian Olesya Nurgalieva ran the second fastest women’s time in 2008 when she crossed the finish line in 3:34:53.

This will be the 16th year that Old Mutual sponsors this prestigious road race.

For more information, visit www.twooceansmarathon.org.za.  Runners can also join the online conversation on www.facebook.com/TwoOceansMarathon, @2OceansMarathon on Twitter and Instagram (and by following and using the #OMTOM2015 hashtag).