LEGENDS
Two Oceans Marathon icons, commentator Harold Berman with 1986 winner Thulani Sibisi
The Voice
OF THE RACE
For 50 years, Harold Berman was the iconic voice of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, as race-day commentator and announcer, handling the start, finish and prize-giving. Here the original doyen of the road running microphone in the Western Cape gives us an intimate glimpse into what it took to become the voice that sustained the race for five decades. – BY LINDY-JOY DENNIS & SEAN FALCONER
In 1970, Harold Berman was serving as the Club Secretary of Celtic Harriers, the founding athletics club of the Two Ocean Marathon, and he played a pivotal role in the early days of the race. The first two editions in 1970 and 1971 were called the Celtic 35 Mile Road Race, but in 1972 the race became known as the Two Oceans Marathon, and Harold went on to become the man on the mic at the event for many years. In later years, he was also a founding member of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC, serving as a distinguished director, and he is currently still President of Celtic Harriers.
Having done commentary work at thousands of road races throughout the Western Cape over five decades, Harold recently retired from all commentary work, but still regularly attends races. Now well into his 70s, his love for all things running remains as strong as ever, particularly his passion for the Two Oceans Marathon, and
Harold Berman in commentary action in the early 1980s we caught up with him for a quick chat about his storied role at the event.
Q: What was the world of road running like in the Western Cape when the Two Oceans Marathon was first run in the early 1970s?
HB: In those days, track and field was still the dominant discipline within the sport, with cross country next in line of importance, while road running was still in its infancy. I can’ t remember them all, but I would estimate there were no more than 10 to 15 road races in those days, and of those, I think only three were marathons. Everything else was shorter, and there were no ultra-marathons until the Celtic 35 Mile Road Race was launched in 1970, which became the Two Oceans Marathon in 1972.
Q: When did you start doing commentary at the Two Oceans Marathon?
HB: I started in 1973. The year before, I was assisting commentator Mike Walters, thanks to my knowledge of athletics and the runners. Commentary at the event only started in 1972, because in 1970 and 1971, there was no need due to the small numbers of runners taking part.
Q: You remained a fixture at the race until 2023, including working at the 50th edition in 2019, but have subsequently hung up your commentary gloves, so to say …
HB: After 50 years of commentating at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon – and many thousands of other races, requiring very early rising on most weekends! – I decided to retire from the Two Oceans Announcing Portfolio, but not the sport. We have some great young commentators who will carry on calling the runners at the start and finish of the races.
Q: Besides controlling the start of the race and calling the names of finishing runners, what else did the role of Two Oceans commentator entail?
HB: Normally, the announcer or commentator at races becomes the‘ go-to person,’ who is assumed by runners and spectators to be able to answer to all queries about the event. Accordingly, you tend to become‘ the face of the event.’ The commentator also acts as a‘ missing person’ s bureau’ or a‘ lost-and-found centre;’ one who keeps the runners’ keys, spectacles, other valuables, and tog bags( for runners who come too late to utilise the tog bag facility). On one
“ On one occasion, I was even asked to hold someone’ s false teeth while that person ran the race!”
26 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2026