Sports
Pace Setters Prepare to Guide Runners at Cape Town Marathon Events
A team of experienced pace setters will return to lead participants at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, scheduled for April 11-12. These experts aim to assist runners in achieving their desired finish times across both the longer and shorter distance races.
The Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, powered by BYD, will feature dedicated pace setters for its events in Cape Town. The longer distance race is set for Saturday, April 11, while the shorter distance event will take place on Sunday, April 12. The Western Province Pace Setters Group, under the leadership of Paul Murphy, a member of the Blue Number Club (BNC 5933), has organized the official pacing efforts for this competition since 2015. This year, the group plans to deploy 41 pace setters for the longer distance race and 28 for the shorter distance event. Murphy noted that predicting exact finish times for the longer distance is challenging due to varying performance among runners with comparable qualification times. The pacing charts utilized are specifically designed to account for the route's elevation changes.
Key Facts
- The Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon will occur in Cape Town on April 11 for the longer distance and April 12 for the shorter distance.
- The Western Province Pace Setters Group has managed the event's official pacing since 2015.
- Paul Murphy, a Blue Number Club member (BNC 5933), leads the Western Province Pace Setters Group.
- A total of 41 pace setters will be deployed for the longer distance race.
- For the shorter distance race, 28 pace setters will be available to guide participants.
- Seven pace setters in the longer distance race hold Blue Number Club status, with three aiming for their tenth completion this year.
- Six pace setters in the shorter distance race have achieved Blue Number Club status.
- Pace setters are assigned to groups based on runners' anticipated finish times and seeding information.
Primary Source
Research Sources
- The South African — Pace setters ready to lead the way at 2026 Two Oceans Marathon