Reports were that no one who finished in the last 30 minutes of the Two Oceans half marathon received a medal – that means that they were at least 2410 medals short. Two Oceans’ published entry cap on the 2025 half was 17000. Their permit with the City of Cape Town allowed them to have 17,000 runners. However, there were 17,677 official finishers plus an additional 400 runners who started the race but did not finish before the 3h30 final cutoff.
The 17,000 permit limit is sacrosanct and cannot be breached without major implications. In 2019 Two Oceans exceeded their permit limit on the ultra (which was celebrating its 50th edition that year) almost resulting in the permits not being granted in 2020 and relations between Two Oceans and the City of Cape Town have been strained ever since.
I confirmed the above with the City of Cape Town. According to Luthando Tyhalibongo, Spokesperson for the City of Cape Town, “The event organiser applied for, and was approved to host 17 000 runners and 5 000 spectators (at the finish venue) for the Two Oceans Half Marathon on Sunday 6 April 2025.”
The 2024 half marathon had 14,642 finishers. Subtracting this year’s 17,677 finishers from the 14,642 finishers in 2024 gives a figure of 3,035 – approximately the number of half marathoners who left UCT without their hard earned medal.
Whilst longer races like the Comrades Marathon have an entry-to-starter drop off rate of 20-22%, the half marathon typically has about a 15% drop off in entries-to-finishers. Uplifting last year’s 14,642 finishers by 15% provides an estimated entry number of 17,570. However, according to official Finish Time data, the 2025 half marathon had 20,687 entries.
How Two Oceans allowed almost 21,000 entries when their permit is limited to 17,000 beggars belief. One can only assume a combination of greed and incompetence was involved. The Two Oceans Board is Chaired by Toni Cavanagh, an occasional runner who has completed the last of her four Two Oceans half marathons in 2019, has a best time of 2:45:31 and appeared to have embellished her running credentials in a 2024 press release announcing her rise to the Chair.
I then sent a series of more detailed follow-up questions to the City of Cape Town relating to the finer details of this issue and the implications for the future of Two Oceans. Whilst the individual questions weren’t answered, a short while ago I received this response from Tyhalibongo:
The City’s Events Permitting Office has been able to confirm that at the Two Oceans Marathon race management allowed more participants to take part in the half marathon on Sunday, 6 April than what was approved in the official permit, which is in contravention of the Events By-law. The contravention of stipulated permit conditions places at risk the safety of people taking part in events and disregards the amount of work behind the scenes in terms of the necessary logistics and safety measures. The City is following due process and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC was notified this morning. The Events permitting Office will also be taking action on the breach of permit conditions as stipulated in the Events By-Law.
Luthando Tyhalibongo, Spokesperson for the City of Cape Town
Basically this means that Two Oceans Board, who are the directors of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC, are in serious trouble and have placed the overall future of the event in serious jeopardy.
Questions to the Two Oceans Board (specifically to Chair Cavanagh and Vice Chair Angelo Kriger as well race manager Hilton Kearns) remain unanswered. I did however receive this brush off response earlier this morning, “Good morning Stuart, Thank you for your email and the detailed list of questions regarding the 2025 race week. We’ve received your feedback and will review it carefully. Please note that any further communication on this matter will be addressed through our official media references and formal channels. We will respond once we have had the opportunity to thoroughly assess the points raised.”
Certain actions by Board members in the build up to the event indicate that the Board was fully aware of the problem that they were facing. At 3am on the morning of the race they announced that due to the heatwave starting times for batches were being adjusted and the route shortened. None of this made logical sense as removing a 165m dog’s leg near Kirstenbosch would not mitigate potential heat risks. It is understood that there was a medical issue at this point during the previous day’s ultra marathon and the ambulance tried to take this route and was blocked. This seems a more likely explanation for the route change.
The 3am announcement brought forward the start times of the early batches and reduced the time between waves from one to two minutes whilst the latter batches were increased to be five minutes apart. The final wave still left at 7am as per the original plan. Once again, these changes do not make logical sense if the objective was for runners to finish early and mitigate the risk of an alleged heatwave.
Each batch is supposed to contain 1,000 to 1,100 runners. However, independent observers reported that the later batches had much larger numbers. This appears to be a more likely reason for increasing the time between waves from two to five minutes – because otherwise there would be the risk that the much larger later batches would not have cleared the start line before the next wave was due to start.
The temperature at the finish line at the final cutoff at 10:30am on Sunday morning was 23 degrees – hardly heatwave conditions. I am also investigating reports that the “heatwave warning” was inflated in an attempt to try and scare off runners and thereby reduce the number of starters.
I have received confirmation from the South African Weather Service that they did not receive any direct correspondence from Two Oceans before or during the event. In 2024, the Two Oceans Board gaslit runners after the event in the ‘you should have read the digimag’ cutoff scandal (for which the Board later issued an unreserved apology after being caught out in their lies).
READ MORE: Two Oceans caught out in their own digimag lie
This is just one of a litany of problems at the 2025 Two Oceans. Other serious problems include the trail runs being unmarked, unmarshalled and the emergency number being non-operational on race day (leading to at least one serious medical issue) and, despite the alleged heatwave, removing water tables from the ultra marathon. During one critical point in the race between 38 and 44km there was no water available at all.
Whilst the vast number of problems experienced at Two Oceans 2025 affect the reputation of the world’s second largest ultra marathon, violating the 17,000 runner limit on the permit threatens the future of the race. The City of Cape Town is known for not messing around and it remains to be seen how the Two Oceans Board’s flagrant violations will be handled.
A selection of additional reactions from disappointed runners are available below.
READ MORE: Where did all the runners go? The Comrades cutoff debacle.
Follow Running Mann:
The whole saga is an unbelievable disgrace. The race organisers clearly have not learnt any lessons from previous mistakes, and have wantonly put the whole future of the 2 oceans events in jeopardy. With repucussions for the whole tourist industry for Cape Town and beyond.
This is not the first time they have exceeded their runner limit, they would have been aware of of any likely reaction from CoCT, but they still went ahead. Unbelievable but true. My only thought is, that this, coupled with all the other basic errors that they have made, is for a vote of no confidence should be made, and those found to be unsuitable for their positions on the ROM be removed and replaced with competent people who put the runners under their trust first, and can do a competent job of organizing a race (that is if permission is granted for another event)
Stewart
I’m the race director for Bay to Bay, the dishonesty with the number of entries has serious implications for us in terms of the permit conditions. While we do take a few extra entries our finishers are within our allowable limit. We dont have a sponsor and cannot afford the expensive mitigation measures the CCT may impose. WPA should have stepped in at some point with regard to the the request for temporary license numbers and should have provided advise, but they to stand to profit from the extra runners whether they turn up for the event or not.
This whole episode is a disgrace to the sport and an insult to members of the Two Oceans NPC like myself who are generally ignored along with our Blue Number status.
The race has become totally commercialized and the runners and the ethics and traditions take second place.
I have 11 Ultras and 10 half’s to my name garnered over 30 years and felt a sense of pride but now I feel as if I really don’t want to be associated with 2 OM any longer given this latest debacle.
I know many people who had a half entry but couldn’t use it because “life happens” and the subs window closed 3 March, a full calendar month before the race weekend.
Stuart, I know you will say that a boycott is not the answer, but sooner or later the running community must realise that continuing to throw our money at these boards is very much like continuing to vote for a party that promised us houses in 1994.
The standard of two oceans marathon is going down guys,why you don’t copy from sanlam cape town marathon.
I’m from Pretoria I love two oceans marathon I spent almost 3000 for transport except accommodation and food.
This being my First 2 Oceans, I was very excited for what race day had waiting. Many had warned me about the two big hills but nobody warned about dehydration. When you’re on the road for more than 4 hours at the start of Constantia Nek, it is morally irresponsible for the organisers to keep the water 6KM apart. Only by the grace of a few friends seconding me up Constantia, did I have something to drink and cool down. Many people I spoke to up Constantia and at the end were highly frustrated that there was not a water point there. Race organisers in my opinion should consist of people who have at least run a handful of Oceans and can understand what runners go through on the day. The Board needs to do better.
On the Ultra Saturday the was only two busses for the tog bags and the queues were too long with no one monitoring so people were panicking and jumping to the start. The water tables were too far apart and cups systems is not working as was queues to get water unbelievable.
What happens now with the finishers6who did not receive medals?
Red hill, Bay 2 Bay and Cape Town marathon organisers, please teach the ‘circus’ mob of 2 Oceans how to manage.
I ran my second Tom this year and already thinking of not returning.
I was sent to 3 different places for my number which was finally found at the original collection point, 45 mins later.
The goody bag had 2 items in it.
We ran 57kms instead of 56km whilst the 21k race was shortened?
Cups at waterpoints don’t make sense….it caused unnecessary congestion and chaos. This however begs the question: Are they serious about runners well being?
It’s a fact: greed has become the driving force and TOM is becoming commercialized.
Two Oceans and Comrades are the two pinnacle races in South Africa. I have 12 Oceans and only 3 Comrades but I’m running my 16th Boston (also my 6th NYC Marathon now that I qualify) nobody runs out of medals and water at these two pinnacle international races. I remember one Oceans was a hot one and there was a water shortage (the plastic sachets) but the locals came out with hose pipes to helped and the “Vaalies” gave us local runners a hard time but the moral was great. I get asked about these races from folks who are trying to complete the 7 Continents and steer them away from both Oceans and Comrades now. It’s a pity they had to hand over the race to private corporation and not keep it club. Chet must be spinning. He organized such a great race and I have great memories of all my 12. My first running with my Dad Les Hooper on his 10th.
The only way to save this iconic event is to ensure that the board members and the organising committee are removed. We can’t afford the sort of tolerance that allows incompetents to run things. This is the TOM, not the ANC!
So, the right thing to do is to courier medals to the runners that crossed the finish line for the 21km. More runners were allowed and benefited from the relaxation and race organizers to ensure that safety was not compromised, including sufficient water table supplies.
People p*ssed off about not getting medals, which I’m sure will be sorted out, so please can we shift focus to the VERY REAL PROBLEM of races running out of water!! Is this because they are sneaking in more entries than they have a permit for? It first happened to me towards the end of the Knysna half, no, the end of the forest! Luckily some random spectators offered me water and that kept me going to the finish line. Then it happened again at Landmarks! Then I started carrying my own. However, running out of WATER at a 56km race is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE and TOM should be taken to task over this, it’s absolutely paramount to drink water while running long distance and surely there’s legislation about providing adequate water along a road race?
Two Oceans – the world’s most arrogant ultra (and half).
Trump that, Donald.
Hi Kim, I well remember that occasion many years ago, when there was a grave shortage of water for the back runners. It did not affect me, as I was reasonably quick in those days. When I got to Fishoek, it was clearly apparent to me that there was insufficient water for the back runners, the station was manned by a good friend and he told me that this was all that they could deliver.
Later the lack of water was blamed on the front runners who lt was alleged had taken armloads of water. I knew that was not true, and pursued the issue. I was later told in confidence that the issue was as a result of strike action at the sachet filling plant, and the organisers did not want to reveal that.
This was easily the worst set of organisation I have experienced in 10 years of participation. I ran my 10th half this year and have to say that the only thing that makes me want to enter again was the experience of the fellow runners on the road on the day. I ran/walked with so many amazing people, each with their own back story. I really loved the conversations. As I crossed the line, albeit is a rather unspectacular time, I got pulled from the line and “welcomed to the blue club” quick photo with an awesome number 2403 (the same number as Bruce Fordyce – except his is green and for a slightly longer distance) and I got a cup of coke. My business is communication and without a doubt this year’s event has been chock full of poor communication. Under resourced office to handle email enquiries, telling us numbers would be communicated during the second week of March, only to get my number from the timing app, ahead of the third week email. An expo that opened 50 minutes after the scheduled 10am opening, confusion and directionally challenged handling of people directing me first to the actual blue number collection. Trying to force people to walk through the expo, before many realised they could just cut across and short circuit it. A goodie bag, which had a one roll-on, while it is not about the bag, an event like this must surely attract more than one roll-on? While my race day was okay, the lead up to it left much to be desired. Reading your piece sheds a lot of light on what the root causes could be. Hopefully someone steps in to make this event really great again
Firstly Steward well done on the fact checking and the information gathered. This info i am sure resolved allot of questions for people.
The Sports and Recreation Act that has been put in place was structured in such a way that every event will be certified as safe for ALL that attend the event. This is also as a minimum standard that should be adhered to and other risk factors should be considered when planning also. One thing organisers miss is when event numbers are reported the logistical and administrated support numbers are also not added. Which should add to the numbers that are being applied for.
The amount of people participating, spectating and working at the event increase risk even just with 500 to 1000 people extra.
Industries like medical, traffic, security are also put under pressure as they are always approached last when the organiser is making a budget, and then are told “oh but we dont have a budget that big can’t we make a plan or can you sponsor your services or do we need so many staff and vehicles?” And here these industries also need to put theyre foot down and say ” NO this is not correct and we need to have this resource in place” Which the SASREA Act does give them not the organiser to have those legal rights.