INSPIRATION
participate at Two Oceans.
1.
As the oldest female Light Blue Numberholder in the 2026 Half, Sibongile Cele, will be running the race in her Blue Number for the first time after earning it in 2024. Interestingly, she ran her 10th TTOM Half exactly 20 years after her first in 2004, as she has sometimes needed to relay on accommodation in the Runners’ Village to be able to
How does it feel to be one of the oldest BNCs in the 2026 event? I really feel honoured, just like I felt honoured in 2024 when I received my Blue Number. I couldn’ t participate last year, but this year I said I’ m definitely coming to run with my Blue Number! It took me 20 years to get to my 10th because I live in KZN, and some years we had a problem with organising the bus and the accommodation. And some years, the Runners’ Village accommodation was only for first-time runners, and some of us were not first-time runners any more. But we came back again when we could.
2.
Sibongile Cele
Age: 81 10 Half Marathon medals – Light Blue Number 2161 2026 TTOM: Half Marathon
What’ s your main goal for race day, and what are you looking forward to most in the 2026 race? I want to improve my finishing time, because I was not happy with a 3:22 last time. Sometimes at the Two Oceans, you can’ t run your pace, because it’ s very congested. You can’ t your foot down because of all the runners in front of you.
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Do you approach the TTOM any differently now than when you started running the event? Yes, a little bit, because of the seeding system and wanting to start running higher. Before, we started as just one group.
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What does a typical training week look like for you?
Most of the time I run twice a week, or once if I am busy with other things ta home and my errands, and the distance I do is about 19 kilometres from home to the beach and back.
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Mag.
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Do you have any race-day rituals that you always stick to? I just take things that other runners take, like Beroca and Slow
What is your standout memory of your Two Oceans career? I can’ t remember the year, but it was pouring – just raining, raining, raining. The start was not far from a small shop, and the owner of the shop, a woman, was charging us two Rand each for a garbage bag. When we started running, we didn’ t feel the rain, but it soon got very hot under those bags! We were all laughing that day, and it was just fun, really.
7.
What are your thoughts on the Blue Number Club?
I really appreciate that the Two Oceans recognises our efforts and our participation in the race, because some clubs don’ t do that. Some clubs only recognise one race, the Comrades Marathon, but Two Oceans does a good job for us runners.
8.
What’ s your secret to staying strong and injury-free as you get older?
I don’ t really have any secrets, but I do make sure I take calcium!
Kaare has a remarkable TTOM record of 41 medals, and he has lined up in an unbroken sequence of 44 TTOM events since 1980, except for the two years when the event was cancelled due to COVID. He earned his Light Blue Number in 2025, so will be running in Number 2338 for the first time this year, as usual with wife Marlene running nearby.
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How does it feel to be one of the oldest BNCs in the 2026 event? It’ s a privilege. A big privilege!
What’ s your main goal for race day, and what are you looking forward to most in the 2026 race? I just want to get to the finish in one piece and enjoy my race. No rushing, no sweat, just enjoy it.
3.
Do you approach the TTOM any differently now than when you started running the event? Well, I’ m not running the Ultra anymore, but I still stick to what I used to do... putting one foot in front of the other and getting to the end, please. I keep it like that because it has always worked for me.
4.
Kaare James Age: 82 31 Ultra Marathon medals – Blue Number 196 10 Half Marathon medals – Light Blue Number 2338 2026 TTOM: Half Marathon
What does a typical training week look like for you? At this age, if it’ s three times a week, doing eight to 10 kays around our home suburb here in Cape Town, Pinelands, it’ s great.
5.
Do you have any race-day rituals that you always stick to?
Well, I have to get up at a certain time to get going for races, and I never eat before I run, just a cup of coffee made by my wife and maybe a glass of water as well. My other ritual is to always make sure I have my favourite white cap on when I run.
6.
What is your standout memory of your Two Oceans career?
Wow, there are so many! I can remember my very first Two Oceans started at Brookside, the Villagers rugby grounds, and we started on the rugby field. There was Harold Berman on the loudhailer, telling us to mind all the bumps in the field, and when we all got to the gate to get out of the grounds, it was a huge bottleneck. The next year, Chet Sainsbury was now in charge of Oceans, and that gate and part of the fence was gone, and it was wide enough to get a bus through there!
7.
What are your thoughts about the Blue Number Club?
I’ ve heard some people saying that it’ s getting too big, and getting unmanageable, but I’ m glad to see it still. I always liked that you could buy special clothing just for the Blue Number Club people, and while that did disappear a bit, I’ m glad to hear it is coming back. Overall, it’ s nice that the Blue Number Club is being looked after, and I hope all the old runners appreciate that.
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What’ s your secret to staying strong and injury-free as you get older? I don’ t have any secrets, I just have an early night and don’ t eat too much before a race, that type of thing, and my wife looks after me well!
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