INSPIRATION
Marlene James sits joint second on the all-time list of most Half finishes, and with Allan Knighton-Fitt, holder of the record 26 Half medals, not due to run this year, she is set to join him at the top of the list( as is 71-yearold Richard Hook). Marlene has not missed a TTOM Half since lining up in 1999, and at 82, still runs most weekend races with husband Kaare.
1.
How does it feel to be one of the oldest BNCs in the 2026 event?
It really feels great, because people always tell me what an inspiration it is to the younger runners. It’ s a privilege that we’ re still running at our age, and it’ s wonderful to see so many 80-year-olds running these days. There’ s actuallyu a bit of a challenge in our age category now!
2.
What’ s your main goal for race day, and what are you looking forward to most in the 2026 race? At this age, I’ m just aiming to start, have a good run and be there at the finish.
3.
Marlene James
Age: 82 1 Ultra Marathon medal 25 Half Marathon medals – Light Blue Number 60 2026 TTOM: Half Marathon
Do you approach the TTOM any differently now than when you started running the event?
I hope to keep going as long as my body will allow me to run, so I just enjoy it, and hopefully get as far as I can.
4.
What does a typical training week look like for you?
Kaare and I run together three times a week, usually doing eight or nine kilometres, and then we run races over the weekend – and if the race is on Saturday, we’ ll also run on Sunday, or the other way round, so it’ s two runs on the weekend.
5.
Do you have any race-day rituals that you always stick to?
I have my bit of Future Life and a banana in the morning, and that keeps me going. During the race, Jelly Babies also keep me going.
6.
What is your standout memory of your Two Oceans career?
I’ ve run the Half 25 times, and they’ ve all been good runs, I’ ve enjoyed every one. I only missed the first one in 1998 because we had overseas visitors, but I’ ve run every one since 1999.
7.
What are your thoughts about the Blue Number Club? It’ s nice to be at the Blue Number Club and meet up with friends who’ ve also been running for a long time, to compare notes and just enjoy the company of runners who we’ ve known for so many years.
8.
What’ s your secret to staying strong and injury-free as you get older? No secrets, just staying active, enjoying my running, and making coffee for Kaare so he can get going for the next run!
AGE BREAKDOWN OF THE 2026 BNCS
There are 2552 Blue Number holders in the initial list of entrants for the 2026 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and Half Marathon, and of this tally, the age breakdown is as follows:
16 entrants in their 80s 196 entrants in their 70s 743 entrants in their 60s 966 entrants in their 50s 528 entrants in their 40s 101 entrants in their 30s 2 entrants in their 20s
Images: Action Photo SA, Two Oceans Marathon
22 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2026