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INSPIRATION
THE BNC Elders
We chatted to a few of the oldest Blue Number Club Members entered to run the 2026 edition of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon Powered by BYD, to find out what motivates them in their ongoing TTOM voyage, and if they have any secrets to eternal youth. – COMPILED BY SEAN FALCONER
When the 2026 TTOM takes to the roads of Cape Town this year, the fields in the Ultra Marathon and Half Marathon races will include over 1630 Blue Number-holders, and that figure includes an impressive number of TTOM elders. There will be 14 BNCs in their 80s taking part in the Half Marathon( out of a total
In The Half Marathon
Willemien is the oldest BNC entrant in either race in 2026, and will be aiming for her 10th finish in the Half, having already earned a Blue Number in the Ultra. She ran her first TTOM Ultra in 1990, aged 49, and earned her Double Blue for 20 finishes at the age of 70, then doubled up four times from 2015 to 2019, aged 74 to 78, with both the Trail Run and the Half Marathon on consecutive days!
1.
Willemien Smuts
Age: 85 22 Ultra Marathon medals – Blue Number 5751 9 Half Marathon medals – Going for 10th in 2026 4 Trail Run Medals
How does it feel to be one of the oldest BNCs in the 2026 event?
It’ s wonderful, and I’ m blessed from above to still be able to run at 85. I only started running at 50, after raising my five children. In fact, I was inspired to start by watching them take part in cross country at school. I saw how much fun it was, so I eventually decided to start running myself. of 18 entrants in their 80s in the Half), and while there are no 80-year-old BNCs in the Ultra, the contingent of 70-plus BNCs is around three times the number of 80s in the Half!
We tracked down a few of the oldest in the Ultra and Half and asked them about their TTOM memories and more.
2.
What’ s your main goal for race day, and what are you looking forward to most in the 2026 race? Of course, the big goal is to get my Light Blue Number for my 10th Half Marathon, and my second Blue Number, but what I am really looking forward to is running the Two Oceans Half for the first time with my youngest daughter, Wilma. I ran it two years ago with my son, Tobie, and while all my children still run, most just do parkruns these days, it’ s only Wilma doing races with me.
3.
Do you approach the TTOM any differently now than when you started running the event? Besides running shorter distances than my ultra days, my approach is still the same. Most importantly, I still love running today, and the Two Oceans really is the most beautiful race in the world.
4.
What’ s your secret to staying strong and injury-free as you get older? I always try to run on the gravel or the grass next to the road, because that’ s much better for the body than running on tar. That’ s why I love running on trails. Overall, I’ m just thankful to still be able to run at 85, and as I always say to people, instead of buying pills, I buy takkies, because pills don’ t make you healthy, running shoes do!
1.
Sibongile Cele
Age: 81 10 Half Marathon medals – Light Blue Number 2161
As the oldest female Light Blue Numberholder in the 2026 Half, Sibongile 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 rely on accommodation in the Runners’ Village to be able to participate at Two Oceans.
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, but we came back again when we could.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
What is your standout memory of your Two Oceans career?
I can’ t remember the year, but it was pouring. 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.
5.
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!
Images: Action Photo SA, Two Oceans Marathon
86 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD | 2026