LOUIS Massyn runs a bit too fast for a septuagenarian. At last year’s Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, Massyn ran his best time in 11 years – the then 73-year-old finishing in 6:30.
That he could ‘roll back the years’ the way he did is because he has returned to his roots – Massyn having trekked back to his birth town in the Western Cape following many years in the Free State.
“I have just recently moved back to George, and I now run for Outeniqua Harriers, and that has made a huge difference for me. Where I live there is a steep hill just outside my yard which I use for hill-repeats and that has really helped me. I am looking forward to this year’s race. I am excited,” he said.
The South African road running aficionado will be all too familiar with the name Louis Massyn. This after all is a man who holds the record of the most Two Oceans races completed, Massyn set to run his 48th race next weekend. He has not missed a single Two Oceans race since he first laced up for the 56km Mother City ultra as a 25-year-old in 1976. It is an incredible feat and Massyn has his sights on clocking up the magical 50 races.
“Of course, the goal is to get to 50. But I will keep on going even after that if my legs allow me to,” says the man who has attained the coveted Two Oceans silver medal on six occasions and boasts a Personal Best (PB) time of 3:41.
Delighted as he should be with that time from the 1981 edition, Massyn has other great memories from his many years of doing the race nicknamed The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon.
“One year we ran in the rain throughout, from start to finish and we were knee deep in water at the finish in Brooksdale. It was an incredible experience. And then there was a year when we had a very muddy finish at the UCT grounds, it was a slip and slide affair,” he chuckles.
Personally, Massyn has had some special runs at Two Oceans and his 10th was particularly memorable as he became a member of the coveted Blue Number Club.
“Finishing my 10th Two Oceans was amazing. It is a massive goal to reach Blue Number status and to do it was incredible”
The 30th race was his most memorable.
“I ran it with my club mate Blackie, Johan Swart and at every water point he ran ahead of me to tell the announcers that I was doing my 30th race and the welcome I got was amazing because the announcer made everyone aware of the fact, and they celebrated me like I had won the race. It was beautiful.”
Massyn nearly did not lace up for the 40th consecutive Two Oceans due to injury.
“That was the most difficult of all my races. It was in 2015 and I was injured. For six weeks I could not train and there was the risk I would miss the race. But there was so much pressure on me to do that race because it was going to be my 40th in consecutive years. Tony Abrams was also going for his 40th although not consecutively. I saw a physiotherapist in Kroonstad and he got me fit to run. But it was hard and I finished the race with just three minutes left before the cut-off.”
But what is it that motivates Massyn who will be running a record 50th Comrades Marathon later this year?
“I am inspired by my fellow runners. To know that there are people who look up to me, who see me as a role model – it motivates me to keep going. Also I just love ultra running. The camaraderie on the road is something else.”
The beauty of the Two Oceans gets him going as well.
“I totally agree that the Two Oceans is the most beautiful marathon in the world. Running all the way from Muizenberg to Fishhoek and then to Hout Bay, there’s nowhere in the world where you can experience those sights. And then there’s that beautiful sight of the sea to the left as you climb up Chapman’s Peak.”
Massyn also loves what happens up at what many consider the most difficult climb in South African road running.
“When you reach the top of Constantia Nek and there’s the whole crowd there that cheers you on, it feels like you have reached the end of the race. And there’s spectators all the way from Kirstenbosch to UCT, you run through a tunnel of people encouraging you. You can’t help but just love that.”
He also loves that he is the most experienced Two Oceans runner still active. Massyn runs in permanent Blue race number 35 which indicates he is the 35th person to ever complete the ultra 10 times.
Next weekend, he will be extending his legendary status at the race when he lines up for his 48th race and you bet he is going to complete it in a time many runners younger than him can only dream of.