Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon

“I do try and run all year round. A lot of people stop after Oceans or Comrades and then start again in January.”

This is the story of a runner who completed their 40th Two Oceans Ultra in 2025. In 1995, they set a personal best in 3 hours 56 minutes 54 seconds and received the Silver Medal six times. They said that, in their faster days, once they were comfortable running at 3 minutes 45 seconds per kilometre, running 56km at 4 minutes 15 seconds per kilometre was quite manageable. They attributed their ability to keep going for 40 years to running throughout the year, while many people take a break after the Oceans or Comrades and start again in January.

“The 2025 Totalsports 56km Two Oceans Ultra Marathon was to date the greatest achievement in my running career as of the present.”

The runner felt pain in their legs at Chapman's Peak, the 33 km point, and after reaching marathon distance they also walked and stretched. However, they picked up the pace again for the final 11 km and finished in 4 hours, 59 minutes and 11 seconds. The runner considers the support and finishing experience at this race their greatest running achievement.

“Two Oceans, you were hard, but rewarding. You reminded me in training and racing the feeling of running for pure joy.”

Stephanie Humphrey prepared for the 56K climbing course by focusing on distance and elevation rather than speed work. She said starting in the dark, climbing Chapman's Peak and Constantia Nek, and finishing amid the cheers let her feel the pure joy of running.

“I cross the line in 6:26, exhausted but relieved to have another one in the bag.”

Russell Mackintosh took on the Two Oceans Ultra after an injury and with limited training. He managed his pace early on, drew on support from the crowds and aid stations, walked the final climb, and finished in 6:26.

“This was probably one of the toughest road races that I’ve done.”

disciplemaniac took part in a 56K ultra in 2022. They wrote that the strict 7-hour time limit and the climbs in the back half were the toughest part.

“The last 2.5 km of Constantia Nek are the toughest climb in this race.”

This is a race report from a runner who finished in under 5 hours, with a time of 4 hours 55 minutes 53 seconds. The runner got up at 3:15 am, and it started raining; the rain continued throughout the journey to the start. Chapman’s Peak, which the runner had feared, turned out to have a gradual gradient and some downhill sections, so the runner wrote that this was a section where they ran through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The real challenge was Constantia Nek, especially the final 2.5km, which was the toughest climb in this course, so the runner noted that anyone aiming for under 5 hours could not afford to lose time there.