The scramble for a Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD entry is getting a shake-up. Discovery has introduced a first-of-its-kind early access window that could change how thousands secure their place on the start line.
Announced on Thursday, Discovery is the new Official Health, Wellness and Banking Sponsor of the iconic event, introducing the first preferential entry window in the marathon’s history for qualifying Discovery Bank clients.
From 10:00 on 28 July until 09:59 on 31 July 2026, eligible clients can access a limited allocation of entries on a first come, first served basis before the public ballot opens on 5 August. It is a bold stride that rewards loyalty while easing the anxiety surrounding one of South Africa’s most sought-after race entries.
Discovery Chief Marketing Officer Firoze Bhorat said the initiative extends the bank’s philosophy of rewarding healthy lifestyles with meaningful experiences.
“This first-ever early access opportunity for the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD gives qualifying clients a genuine head start on securing a place at one of the country’s most oversubscribed races,” he said.
The partnership stretches well beyond race registration. Discovery Vitality members will earn points across every major event during race week, from the Night Run and Trail Runs to the Half Marathon and Ultra Marathon, with Ultra finishers receiving 3,000 Vitality points plus a 500-point bonus. Additional rewards include discounts on official merchandise, gym memberships, travel and wellness benefits designed to carry runners from their opening training run to the finish line beneath Devil’s Peak.
Like a trusted pacer, Discovery aims to make every kilometre count.
For Event Director Wade Bromfield, the collaboration reflects shared values.
“The Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon powered by BYD is about more than race day. It inspires people to set ambitious goals, prepare with purpose and celebrate their achievements,” he said.
Chairperson Chris Goldschmidt believes Discovery’s long-standing commitment to healthier lifestyles makes the partnership a natural fit for an event built on perseverance and achievement.
The announcement arrives alongside significant growth for the 2027 edition. Both the Ultra Marathon and Half Marathon fields will expand to 21,000 runners, opening Cape Town’s famous roads to thousands more athletes from South Africa and abroad.
Since welcoming only 26 runners in 1970, the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon has grown into a global running festival that attracts participants from nearly 100 countries while injecting an estimated R1.5 billion into the Western Cape economy each year. Its winding roads over Chapman’s Peak and Constantia Nek have become ribbons of resilience, binding generations of runners through shared suffering and unforgettable triumph.
South Africa’s running boom continues to gather pace, with marathon fields swelling and clubs flourishing across the country. Discovery’s latest move recognises that momentum, placing health, community and reward in the same stride.
The ballot still awaits many hopeful runners. For qualifying Discovery Bank clients, however, the road to the start line has become a little shorter, a little smoother and perhaps a little sweeter.
