Johannesburg - Online entries for next year's Two Oceans half-marathon, the country's largest 21km race, open on Thursday.
Race director Rowyn James said on Wednesday that runners should enter early as available spots were expected to fill up fast.
"Last year, we had a record number of 16 000 entries for the half-marathon and entries closed in nine days," James said.
"We expect a full field of 16 000 runners to line up on race day, March 30, 2013, and that entries will fill up well before the closing date of March 5."
Runners who had previously completed the Two Oceans half-marathon, 56km ultra-marathon or trail run would have first option to secure one of the initial 10 000 entries.
Those who had not participated in any Two Oceans races, or previous participants who missed the first entry batch, would be given a chance to secure one of the second-round entries from January 15, when 6 000 additional entries would be released.