New Model for Organisational Success
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Welcome Aboard,
Stillwater
We asked a number of prominent Two Oceans runners for their thoughts on Stillwater Sports being appointed as the Staging and Commercial Partner of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, and this is what they had to say.
Gerda Steyn
Maxwell Godloza
Gerda Steyn, six-time women’ s Ultra winner and course record-holder:
“ I was delighted to learn about the new partnership with Stillwater. I have raced many Stillwaterorganised events in my career and I have always been so impressed with their professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to execute mass running events so successfully, time after time. I have no doubt that this partnership will elevate the race to a whole new level!”
Maxwell Godloza, 35 Ultra and 2 Half medals, and works in the running retail industry:
“ I’ m so excited by the news. I know Stillwater will make a lot of improvements, and based on what I have seen Michael Meyer and his team do to make the Absa 10k events so exciting, I think the Two Oceans will be five times more exciting. So, I can’ t wait for next year’ s Two Oceans, and I’ m putting in some distance training now for another Ultra Marathon. Thanks to Stillwater and the sponsors for supporting our ultra!”
Mark Wagenheim
Mark Wagenheim, 45 Ultra medals, joint second on all-time list of most TTOM medals:
“ Over the years I have taken part in numerous events organised and managed by Stillwater under Michael Meyer, and have found them to be very well run and a pleasure to deal with. After what has happened with the running of the Two Oceans these past few years, and the total, in my view, disintegration of all the features that made the race so popular and iconic – and I have had the privilege of running a few since 1978 – I am very excited about what Stillwater has achieved in less than three months since being appointed.”
“ The complete revamp of the dysfunctional website, the regular communication, the sold-out entry process, the resuscitation of the Blue Number Club traditions, etc, is nothing short of amazing. I am sure that the 2026 event will be a major success for all involved, and will attract substantial sponsors for the future staging of this amazing event.”
Florence Groener
Florence Groener, 19 Half and 3 Ultra medals( plus 1 Trail Run), regular TTOM Pacesetter:
“ As a seasoned runner of more than 26 years on road and trail, I am confident that Stillwater’ s inclusion in the staging and commercial side of the TTOM will be a huge benefit, and ultimately contribute to the success of this world-renowned event. I am excited to see the outcome of this collaboration in 2026, for both the race and runners.”
New Model for Organisational Success
Norrie Williamson, 10 Ultra, 22 Half and 10 Trail Run medals, only TTOM runner with three permanent numbers, and internationally renowned World Athletics course measurer and event consultant:
“ Under the national federation( SARRA, then ASA) rules, road races in SA have historically been organised by clubs on a voluntary basis, firstly as a service to create fixtures, then more recently as a means of generating funds for club activities. In the mid 90’ s, race organisation in this country was amongst the best in the world, but the with everincreasing numbers of runners and the more demanding legislation, the organisational and time requirements have outstripped the voluntary capacity for large events in the last two decades.”
“ Internationally, over the same period, race organisation has grown into a multi-billion commercial industry, while
SA held to its voluntary structures. The symptoms of this have been evident in virtually all major events over the last five to 10 years, and while the various ructions around City to City, Comrades, Soweto and Two Oceans may each be different in appearance, they all stem from an inappropriate structure for the size and impact of the event.”
“ By signing a long-term contract with a commercial company, Stillwater Sports, to present Two Oceans on behalf of the TOM NPC, it is intended to keep the hosting within the amateur sporting framework while gaining the benefit of full-time professional organisation that can leverage technological advances, professional skills and best practice. This must be acknowledged as a great step forward, and this is one of the few structural models that can allow SA road race organisation to regain international status and assist the national governance of the sport.”
Norrie Williamson
Images: Two Oceans Marathon, Action Photo SA
22 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2026