Pace setters ready to lead the way at 2026 Two Oceans Marathon
· The South African
Runners can look forward to achieving their goals on race-day as a team of seasoned pace setters returns to lead the way at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD.
Taking place in Cape Town on Saturday, 11 April (Ultra Marathon) and Sunday, 12 April (Half Marathon), these experts will be hard at work inspiring, guiding, and helping participants chase their goals from start to finish.
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Official pacing programme
The Western Province Pace Setters Group, led by Paul Murphy, a member of the Blue Number Club (BNC 5933), has coordinated the official pacing programme at the event since 2015.
This year the team will deploy 41 pace setters in the Ultra Marathon and 28 in the Half Marathon, guiding runners targeting specific finish times.
Seven pace setters in the Ultra Marathon have BNC status with three going for their 10th Ultra this year. In the Half Marathon six pace setters have attained BNC status.
“We place pace setters in each batch appropriate to the runners’ expected finish times based on their seeding times,” explains Murphy.
“Predicting finishing times in the Ultra Marathon is complex and is not an exact science. There can be a wide range of finish times for runners with similar qualifying/seeding times, so we do the best we can with the qualifying/seeding information available. The pace charts we use are route profile sensitive. i.e. slower on uphills, quicker on downhills. And based on analysis of real results from previous races, we follow a slight positive fade approach that allows for runners slowing down in the second half of the race, which is what 90% of runners do.”
Remain with target pace group
He advised runners aiming for a specific finish time to remain with their target pace group during the early stages of the race.
“The danger is going out too fast in the first half when the route feels easy,” he said.
“From 28km, there is then 18km going up and down Chappies and then up Constantia Nek between 44km – 46km, which is the worst part of the route. If you still have energy at the top of Constantia Nek, there are about 10km mostly downhill to the finish where you can increase the pace.”
Among the pace setters confirmed for the event is blind South African Paralympic athlete Louzanne Coetzee, who will run her first Two Oceans Ultra Marathon on the Saturday before pacing the sub two-hour group in the Half Marathon on the Sunday alongside her guide Sewie Sevenster.
“It is very exciting for me to be pacing again this year,” said Coetzee.
“We worked out our target times as to where we need to be at specific points and how we want to motivate the runners in our group. Fortunately, I can rely on Sewie. He will be an excellent team-mate as he has raced multiple distances and paced alongside me before at local races in Bloemfontein. I am excited to share his first Two Oceans pacing experience with him.”
Coetzee, 32, made history at the race in 2022 when she became the first blind pace setter in the Half Marathon.
Image: Action PhotoGuide runners
The pace setters will guide runners aiming for finishing times ranging from 4:30 to 7:00 in the Ultra Marathon and across a range of target times in the Half Marathon.
Another stalwart of the sport, Ashraf Orrie – also known as Mr O – is looking forward to joining the Blue Number Club this year by completing his 10th Two Oceans Ultra Marathon.
“I am super excited and looking forward to joining the BNC,” admits Orrie, who will also be a pace setter for both the Ultra and Half Marathon.
“This will be my fifth year pacing the 56km and my fourth year pacing the 21km, so you could say I normally pace a double,” Mr O proudly points out.
“There is nothing better than pacing such an iconic race on home ground. The support along the route for their favourite uncle is unrivalled. Every step taken is pure joy, helping novices achieve their goal of finishing before the 7-hour cutoff. It’s definitely one of my favourite routes in distance running.”
Image: Devin Paisley‘Adds tremendous value’
“Having such an experienced and dedicated team of pace setters on course adds tremendous value to the Two Oceans Marathon,” says Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC.
“Their commitment to guiding and motivating runners plays a key role in helping participants achieve their personal goals, whether it’s a first finish or a new personal best. We are especially proud to see the continued involvement of the Western Province Pace Setters Group, whose consistency and passion have made a lasting impact on the event over the years.”
Sharing this view, Wade Bromfield, General Manager of the Two Oceans Marathon, highlights the importance of the pacing programme in enhancing the overall runner experience: “The pacing programme is an integral part of the race-day experience, and we’re excited to once again offer this level of support to our runners. With a strong team in both the Ultra and Half Marathon, participants can feel confident knowing they have expert guidance every step of the way.
“It’s also incredibly inspiring to welcome athletes like Louzanne Coetzee to the line-up. After her phenomenal success as a half marathon pacer, she now takes on an extraordinary challenge – lining up for her first Two Oceans Ultra Marathon on Saturday, before returning to pace the half marathon again on Sunday. Her journey, resilience, and determination truly embody the spirit of the event.”
EVENT INFORMATION
Thursday, 9 AprilTwo Oceans Marathon International Friendship RunFriday, 10 AprilTwo Oceans Marathon Trail Run: Start – 07:00Saturday, 11 AprilTwo Oceans Ultra Marathon: Start – 05:15Sunday, 12 AprilTwo Oceans Half Marathon: Start – 06:15PRIZE PURSE
The Two Oceans Marathon boasts an impressive, combined prize purse of R2.6 million in 2026.
Both the Ultra Marathon and the Half Marathon will enjoy a boost in prize money, with the Ultra Marathon offering R2 177 400 and the Half Marathon a substantial R422 600.
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