Humorous Anecdotes, Observations & Accounts of Marathon Running & Agile Adventures.
The starting gun fired thirteen times before dawn on Saturday the 13th of April as wave after wave of Two Oceans ultra marathon runners set off on another voyage around the Cape Peninsula. Three weeks later and one smoking gun remains.
Continue reading “Two Oceans caught out in their own digimag lie”
Two Oceans are known to copy whatever Comrades does. Comrades’ prestigious Green Number Club was followed by Two Oceans’ Blue Number Club. When Comrades added an hour to their finish time, Two Oceans extended the same favour. When Comrades introduced qualification marathons, Two Oceans added the same criteria to take part. When Comrades introduced the Bill Rowan Medal between silver and bronze, Two Oceans quickly followed with the Sainsbury. I really didn’t think Two Oceans would copy Comrades’ cutoff debacle but here we are.
This article provides an in-depth independent investigation of organisational deficiencies, statistical analysis of previous results data and first-hand accounts of what happened at the Two Oceans marathon cutoff and top of Constantia Nek. It aims to drop a series of logic bombs amidst Two Oceans’ sea of debatable decisions and questionable explanations.
Executive Summary:
The following are unedited correspondence I’ve received from various 2024 Two Oceans ultra runners who were impacted by the the marathon and Constantia Nek cutoffs. I have just removed any identifying text like names and race numbers.
I believe that this is a valuable resource to understand that there are always humans who are impacted in different ways by these unfortunate decisions. Some are angry, others disappointed, others disillusioned – there’s a wide variety of different emotions.
I will be publishing an in-depth analysis of the cutoff issue in the next few days (I’ve just received answers to my detailed questions from the Two Oceans Organisation). The article will draw from some of these stories.
Continue reading “Two Oceans Ultra Marathon Cutoffs: Unedited Runner Stories”
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s January 2024 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2024 marathon / ultra calendar here.
A summary of your choices is below:
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s April 2023 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2023 marathon / ultra calendar here.
A summary of your choices is below:
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s January 2023 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2023 marathon / ultra calendar here.
South African marathons go on hiatus from the beginning of December until the middle of January. A summary of your choices is below:
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s November and December marathons including race descriptions, recommendations and travel information.
A summary of all your choices is below:
Continue reading “The Running Mann’s Guide to November & December 2022 Marathons”
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s April marathons including race descriptions, recommendations and travel information.
After a busy March, marathons are scarce in April with just six options (four marathons and two ultras), but there are some quality choices on the list. Continue reading “The Running Mann’s Guide to April 2022 Marathons”
Following on from the in-depth look at the Comrades Marathon Association’s decision not to refund 2020 entrants, this article evaluates the ‘refund / no refund’ decisions of South Africa’s other large marathons and ultras who’ve been forced to cancel their 2020 events during the coronavirus pandemic.
READ: Money or the Goody Bag? The Great Comrades Refund Debate article.
Continue reading “Race Relations: Cancellation Controversy in the time of Corona”
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s April and May marathons including race descriptions, recommendations and travel information.
April is ultra month, with seven ultras dominating pairing nicely with the seven standard marathons on offer. There are just six road ultras in the world with over 1,000 finishers – five are run in South Africa and three of them are held in April (my own personal favourite ultra is the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon over the Easter weekend).
It’s also the busiest May I’ve ever seen with five options including the new Midvaal Marathon and the reintroduction of the False Bay 50. The Cross Province Marathon is the only new race in April. Continue reading “The Running Mann’s Guide to April/May Marathons & Ultras”