Cape Town - Organisers of the Two Oceans Marathon have confirmed that this year's ultra-marathon will be run over a distance of approximately 58km - some 2km further than the previous 50 editions of the race.

While there has been wide-spread speculation among the running community in recent weeks as to a change in route, organisers, via a press release to the media, race stakeholders and runners, confirmed "small changes" to the ultra-marathon route for the 51st running of the race on Easter Saturday, April 11, 2020.

The new route - which is still to be announced - will add approximately 2km to the overall distance, turning the 56km race first held in 1970 into a 58km outing for the 13 000-strong field.

Entrants concerned over finishing before the cut-off gun sounds have been assured that the various medal cut-offs and overall finishing time will be adjusted accordingly.

Finer details regarding the exact ultra-marathon route will be announced "soon".

Suffice it to say, Thompson Magawana's men's 1988 record (3:03:44) and Frith van der Merwe's women's mark (3:30:36) set in 1989 will remain intact for at least another year.

The press release reads:

The unprecedented growth in road running in South Africa over the past decade has resulted in increasing concern for the safety of runners. Various dangers associated with the congestion on Cape Town’s roads during the TOM Ultra Marathon over the Easter Weekend, particularly on the Saturday during normal business hours, have been identified by City of Cape Town officials.

The Two Oceans Marathon NPC has been collaborating closely with all City authorities and stakeholders to mitigate the risks for participants and to find a workable solution, which will include small changes to the TOM Ultra Marathon route. The new route will add approximately 2 kilometres to the distance but runners can be assured that medal and finish cut-off times will be increased accordingly. Final detail about the exact TOM 2020 route for 11 April will be announced soon. 

- Compiled by Garrin Lambley