One of Cape Town’s biggest annual sporting events, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, takes place on Saturday, 30 March 2013. A record number of runners are set to take part, making it the largest Two Oceans in the event’s 44-year history.
The City of Cape Town, which is a sponsor, has a full transport plan in place, and is advising motorists to avoid certain areas and roads on the race day. A total of 400 marshals will assist in managing the runners and the traffic, including 180 traffic officers and other officers from Law Enforcement, Metro Police and Disaster Management.
This year, 16 000 runners will take part in the half marathon, and 11 000 runners in the 56km ultra marathon, which has become known as “the world’s most beautiful marathon”.
The 21.1km half marathon starts at 06:00 on Saturday on Main Road in Newlands and proceeds through Newlands, Claremont, Bishopscourt and Constantia, before returning along Rhodes Drive to the finish at the University of Cape Town (UCT) rugby fields.
The ultra marathon starts at the same point at 06:30, following a route along Main Road to
Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Chapman’s Peak, Hout Bay, Constantia Nek and Rhodes Drive before also finishing at UCT.
Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson, will fire the starting gun.
Runners and those dropping them off are advised to get to the start early to avoid congestion. The parking area at local schools close to the start will be signposted and will cost R30 per vehicle. There is a shuttle service to transport supporters to the finish at UCT, and to take runners and supporters from the finish back to the parking areas. This will operate from 07:30 to approximately 14:00. For details of the shuttle service and parking, click here.
Registration takes place from 27-29 March at the Expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. There are also numerous other events associated with the marathon, such as the 5km International Friendship Run/Walk through the city centre, the trail run on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, and various fun runs for the whole family all taking place at UCT on Good Friday, 29 March.
For more information about the event, click here to visit the official website.
For motorists travelling on Saturday, 30 March, delays can be expected for the duration of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon. The City of Cape Town Transport Department appeals to motorists to avoid using roads leading to the race route. Please comply with the directions given by traffic officers and marshals. Road signs are in place advising motorists of the road closures. Detour guidance notices will be in place for the duration of the road closures on race day.
For a complete list of road closures, click here.
