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RACE INFO
THE START
Here’ s everything you need to know about the start of the 2026 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon & Half Marathon Powered by BYD, including start times, seeding batches, tog bags, toilets and more. Please read the following information carefully to understand when and where you need to be on race morning.
The Ultra Marathon Start
Images: Two Oceans Marathon
DATE AND TIME
Date: Saturday 11 April Time: The race officially starts at 05h15, with the Elites and Batch A going off first, followed by the rest of the batches in alphabetical order down to Batch U, departing two minutes apart. All runners have 7 hours from your batch start time to complete the race to be recognised as official finishers.
START VENUE
Main Road, Newlands, at the Newlands Swimming Pool.
SEEDING BATCHES
To ensure a smooth and safe start, runners will be seeded into 19 batches according to your qualifying time, and divided into two groups. Batches will start at two-minute intervals, to ensure safety and a comfortable run for all participants. The letter on your race number denotes which pen you should enter. Enter your pen where you see the signage for your seeding letter, and then move towards the front of the pen.
Group One( Batches A – P)
• Start chutes open at 03h30 and close at 05h00.
• If you are not in your start chute by 05h00, you will be required to load behind Batch P( at Dean Street), and your official race time will begin with the gun time of Batch P.
Group Two( Batches Q – U)
• Start chutes open at 03h30 and close at 05h20.
• Batch Q will line up at the Dean Street intersection.
• Batches Q – U will begin moving forward shortly after 05h20.
• If you are not in your chute by 05h20, you will be required to load behind Batch U, and your official race time will begin with the gun time of Batch U.
Blue Number Club Start Batches
• All Blue and Yellow Number Club runners are seeded into Batch J( including Ultra runners with a Light Blue Number in the Half Marathon).
• Blue Number Club runners with a qualifying marathon time faster than 4:00 have been seeded into Batches A – H, based on their qualifying time.
• If you are seeded in Batches A – H, but prefer to start in the dedicated Blue Number Club batch( J), you may move back. Your official race time will then begin with the gun time of Batch J.
Please note: You may start in a seeding group behind yours, e. g. if you would like to run with your partner or a clubmate, but not in a batch ahead of your seeding.‘ Jumping’ a batch may lead to disqualification and / or a future ban from the event.
TIMING & CUT-OFFS
Official race timing is gun-to-mat( your time starts when your batch starts). If you move to a later batch, your time will be based on that batch’ s start. Net( mat-to-mat) times will be available online for personal reference, but only gun-to-mat times count for official results. All medal cut-offs and the final 7-hour cut-off are based on your batch gun start time.
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