From the Boardroom and onto the road – The Famous Five are passionate about the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon

Look to the ‘Famous Five’ to play a pivotal role in ensuring this weekend’s Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD is ship-shape and sailing at full throttle towards a return  to its former glory.

No, they’re not simply a bunch of fictitious children and their dog on an adventure, but real-life people with a passion for ultra-marathoning which stretches beyond the long and winding road and into the boardrooms behind the scenes.

TTOM Board Members, Sandiswa Ndlebe, Caroline Newbert, Glenn Muller, Stuart Mann and Wietse van der Westhuizen have completed a staggering 98 Two Oceans Voyages between them, a vastly experienced team lining up early on Saturday for the challenging 56km circuit dubbed ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon’.

All are fully committed to their ‘governance’ role as board members and believe that the best way to ensure quality control and to hold TTOM’s staging and commercial partner, Stillwater Sports, accountable is to keep as close to the action as possible.

The 2026 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD could go down in the event’s archives as a milestone year – the year in which the steady decline which has beset the race in recent years is reversed and the Oceans’ ship is again sailing through smoother waters.

Governance has been one of the key challenges in recent years, acknowledged by the current Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon NPC Board Chairperson, Chris Goldschmidt. According to Goldschmidt, the advent of Stillwater has meant that board members can focus on their primary task, that of governance and securing the legacy of the race.

For the ‘Famous Five’, the best way to fulfil their governance mandate is to engage in race as fully as possible by experiencing first-hand the passion, perseverance, and spirit that define the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon.

For two of the five, Muller and Mann, it’s exactly a year since they met for the first time, running through Hout Bay during the 2025 race.

“We ran together for a few kilometres through Hout Bay during the 2025 event,” recalled TTOM Board vice-chair, Muller. “That’s when we agreed on the need to become more actively involved in helping restore the race to its former glory.”

Muller takes pride on his Blue Number Club membership (offered to runners who have completed a minimum of ten ultras, won it on three occasions or have gained five ‘top ten’ gold medals). “One of my fondest memories is receiving my Blue Number in 2009 from Celtic Harriers legend, the late Alex Jones,” Muller recounts.

“Being a Blue Number Club member provides a vital perspective to the board as we work to protect and grow this historic event. In my opinion the Ultra remains the weekend showpiece, and we take our responsibility to its legacy and rich history seriously.

“By working closely with Stillwater, we help to address previous logistical setbacks to ensure they don’t recur,” Muller continued. “The board is steadfast in its multi- stakeholder approach to deliver maximum value to the running community and ensure that this event remains a bucket list item for local and international runners.”  

Muller has been part of the team who have worked hard to deliver a top event on the weekend and looks forward to experiencing the sense of anticipation and atmosphere at the start line. “After a period of massive transformation within the NPC and our partnership with Stillwater Sports, 2026 feels like a homecoming.

“As a Board member, I’ve seen the meticulous planning and tireless work behind the scenes to restore the spirit of this historic race. Seeing that vision come to life through thousands of happy runners, sponsors, and spectators will be the ultimate reward.”

Ndlebe will be going for her seventh Ultra Marathon finish in 2026 and has also completed three Two Oceans Half Marathons. “The Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon is deeply personal to me,” said Ndlebe.

“As a runner, it’s where I meet my strength. As a mum, it’s where I lead by example, showing my children what courage and commitment look like. Running alongside other women reminds me of the power of sisterhood; we rise together.

“It also embodies inclusion,” Ndlebe added. “Because running is never about status, it’s about carrying each other to the finish. As a board member, it becomes a responsibility to protect and grow something which is bigger than myself – an event that inspires, unites, and transforms lives.

“It’s not just a race. It’s a purpose.”

Fellow female board member, Caroline Newbert, has set her sights on an inspiring milestone: completing 20 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathons and five Half Marathons by the time she turns 50 on 28 April 2026.

In order to achieve this, Newbert will be running her fifth Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon the day after completing her ‘Double Blue’ twenty Ultra-marathons!  “Fourteen of my family members will be taking part over the weekend – all my siblings, their spouses, and our cousins – lining up for the Trail Run, Ultra, or Half Marathon,” said Newbert.

“It is very special to have us all coming together to share this experience. I have so many wonderful Two Oceans memories, but last year stands out.

“I was part of the Warriors on Wheels team in the Ultra, pushing Oliver Bettendorf, who was born with cerebral palsy, is nonverbal and unable to walk independently, in his wheelchair. It was a huge commitment, both in training and on race day, but he was a champion – as was his mum, Gilly.”

Mann looks forward to renewing his competition with co-Famous Fiver, Muller, but also to experiencing the great race for the first time as a board member.

“Making runner-centric decisions and ensuring the best experience for the average runner is absolutely central to my approach on the board,” Mann reflected.

“Two Oceans is such a special event for runners, both locally and from abroad – it is the perfect and relatively easy step up for a first Ultra.

“The route has everything a great race needs, including two massive hills – Chapman’s Peak with all her beauty and Constantia Nek with all her brawn. City marathons tend to be flat and, frankly, boring, but Two Oceans has curves in all the right places.

“I’d highly recommend that international runners plan a holiday to the Cape timed around the Two Oceans Marathon.”

Mann’s deepest Two Oceans memory involves his father: “I fondly remember running my first Two Oceans with my dad in 2002, and then him handing over his permanent Blue Number 704 to me after my tenth run in 2011. These are memories that I will treasure forever.

“Another fond memory is when I met Glenn Muller in person for the first time at Hout Bay during last year’s event. We’d only interacted electronically up to that time. We had a great chat before the ascent up Constantia Nek split us up.

“My goal this year? To finish ahead of Glenn,” Mann laughed.

One of the most decorated runners on the board, Wietse van der Westhuizen, will line up for his 36th Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 2026.

“Two Oceans will always be one of my favourite races,” says van der Westhuizen. “It was my first ever ultra marathon.

“In 1978, as a young student athlete, I was invited by a friend, Dr Hennie Nortje, to come and run a race in Cape Town. That race happened to be the Two Oceans.

“This year I can’t wait to get to the start. The thought of lining up with old buddies and my daughter Louise in the Blue Number batch gives me goosebumps.

“My most treasured memories of past Two Oceans races are running with my two daughters. This must be every dad’s dream – to conquer the Two Oceans Marathon with his loved ones.”

Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC and Wade Bromfield, Race General Manager, expressed their delight at the commitment from these board members.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see our board members not just guiding the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon behind the scenes, but also challenging themselves at the Ultra Marathon. Their commitment shows true leadership and a deep connection to the runners and the event itself,” Goldschmidt reflected.

“Having Sandiswa, Caroline, Glenn, Stuart and Wietse out on the course alongside thousands of participants really highlights their dedication to the race and the running community,” remarked Bromfield. “It’s a wonderful example of leading by doing, and it’s sure to motivate both elite and recreational runners alike as we approach race day.”

Muller summed up the feelings of the ‘Famous Five’. “Both as a participant and board member, my goal is to complete my 19th ultra while experiencing what promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the race’s history.

“And I’m looking forward to doing that whilst embracing the ‘gees’, and the incredible support we can expect along the route.”

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