Louis Massyn's inspiring journey to his 50th Comrades Marathon
Louis Massyn (right) became the first person to complete the Comrades Marathon 50 times, finishing the 89.98km race at age 74 in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds, in Durban, on Sunday.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Media
While he may not have won the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 74-year-old Louis Massyn still came out a winner after he earned his 50th medal.
Massyn completed his 50th Comrades Marathon when he crossed the finish line in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds in the 89.98km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. He managed to make it with just over six minutes left before the 12 hour cut-off.
'If you really mentioned this 30 years ago to me that in 2025, you will be the first runner to compete 50 Comrades Marathons, I wouldn't have thought that that would be possible.'
Massyn was only 22 years of age, when he participated in his first Comrades in 1973.
'That was my very, very first race in my life. Comrades, '73. Comrades, 1974 was my second race ever in my life. The Laingsburg Karoo Marathon was my third race in my life.
'After that, well, after that, then it just started exploding. I started participating in many more local races.'
The only years he didn't compete were in 2020 and 2021, when there was no race due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also missed out in 2022 when he did not make it to the start line due to a knee injury.
He explained that the injury, a meniscus tear in his knee, was a very tough experience, but that ultimately it was the right decision to skip the race that year, as it has allowed him to keep going thereafter.
Massyn said that he has already received a congratulatory message from the orthopaedic surgeon who did his operation in 2022.
Massyn, left, said that he was very grateful for Rhyno Smith, (right) and Hernus Stols, his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club.
Image: Supplied
A cake to celebrate Louis Massyn's 50th Comrades Marathon.
Image: Supplied
He explained that his journey started with an Anglican Church sermon in Odendaalsrus when the Bishop of Bloemfontein used the Comrades Marathon as a metaphor.
'And there I sat in the congregation, and I said to myself, the next Comrades, you're going to run. All I knew was that I had to run from 'Maritzburg down to Durban, and I needed to do it on my feet. I wasn't going to drive there, and that's where it all started,' Massyn said.
The road runner reflected that he has done each of the six majors - New York, Berlin, Boston, London, Chicago, and Tokyo - and that each one has been a different experience.
'That's actually where I have built relationships across the world. All six of them are really, really special, and while it's not one of the majors, the Rio Marathon is absolutely wonderful.
'The Brazilians invited me to come and run the Rio Marathon, and I spent 13 days in Rio, where they really spoiled me day after day. It was absolutely a spoiled time,' Massyn said.
'Over the years, there have been absolutely golden memories, but Sunday was actually the cherry on the top.'
Louis Massyn said that his 50th Comrades marathon was a tough one.
Image: Supplied
Massyn shared that what has kept him coming back to participate in the Comrades Marathon so many times is its uniqueness.
'The name Comrades is unique, and I think it's the most unique name for a marathon to be called the Comrades Marathon... The comradeship of the marathon, and the comradeship that I experienced on Sunday. I really cannot describe it. I'm only starting to realise what actually happened on Sunday.'
Massyn said that he was very grateful for Rhyno Smith and Hernus Stols, his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club, and Erich Cornelissen from Bethlehem Marathon Klub, who supported him throughout the race on Sunday.
'They really helped me. I wasn't carrying even a tablet on myself. No energy drinks. They carried everything for me. Asked me how I was doing. They insisted each and every hour. You need to take this (energy boost) now. And the one guy would ask, what do you need? Water? He'd run out in front of the water station to get a few sachets of water and hand them back. It wasn't even necessary for me to collect anything from the water station.'
Louis Massyn alongside his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club in George.
Image: Supplied
Massyn did face a tough time during the marathon when an excitable athlete grabbed onto him in a way that made him almost lose his balance.
'Not fully unbalanced, but I did lose balance, and in this process, I actually developed serious cramps… and then my whole right leg cramped up totally. So then my team actually really had their hands full to get all these cramps out of me, and I managed eventually to get it out with ice.
'But for the next 15 kilometres, it was quite a struggle, and that's actually the difficult part of the route - from Drummond, from halfway, right into Hillcrest, where you've got fairly steep and long hills.'
'But once we've reached Hillcrest, the downhill starts. It actually went very well, but unfortunately, again, with all the downhills, I started developing lower back pain. You probably saw how I finished? All crooked and wasn't running straight.
'But my team managed it. It was a huge concern, but Rhyno helped try to keep me as upright as possible, which was a huge problem. The concern was if I really fell forward, then it would've been the end of the race, but the team really managed me properly.'
Massyn, who was packing up to return home to George on Thursday morning, said that he has been overwhelmed with all the messages from strangers over the past couple of days since completing the race.
'I don't think I've ever had so much support. There are probably more than 1,000 messages on my phone still. People are saying, 'you inspired me so' and asking if I'm going to be on the start line next year, and saying, 'I want to start with you next year'.'
'For the last 300 meters, when the spectators started shouting, 'Louis! Louis! Louis!' I can remember this. It was absolutely....wow.'
When asked if he will be returning to next year's race, Massyn answered: 'I'm going to be back.'
He said that last year he was invited to run the Coastal Marathon in Namibia from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay, and he's already been sent an invite to participate in this year's race in October.
'I had a great run in Namibia, and seeing as they've invited me, that's going to be my next race that I'm going to train for,' Massyn said. 'And I'm going to try and qualify for Two Oceans and Comrades on that race.'
Even this week, Massyn said he will be doing a fun park run this weekend, because 'I just want to walk it with my wife'.
He said that he loves running the Two Oceans Marathon and has already completed 48 of them.
'So in 2027, hopefully, I'll be able to run my 50th Two Oceans as well. I'm also hopefully going to run the 100th edition of Comrades as well. That would be my end goal for Comrades at this stage.'
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za
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Louis Massyn (right) became the first person to complete the Comrades Marathon 50 times, finishing the 89.98km race at age 74 in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds, in Durban, on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Media While he may not have won the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 74-year-old Louis Massyn still came out a winner after he earned his 50th medal. Massyn completed his 50th Comrades Marathon when he crossed the finish line in 11 hours, 53 minutes, and 14 seconds in the 89.98km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. He managed to make it with just over six minutes left before the 12 hour cut-off. 'If you really mentioned this 30 years ago to me that in 2025, you will be the first runner to compete 50 Comrades Marathons, I wouldn't have thought that that would be possible.' Massyn was only 22 years of age, when he participated in his first Comrades in 1973. 'That was my very, very first race in my life. Comrades, '73. Comrades, 1974 was my second race ever in my life. The Laingsburg Karoo Marathon was my third race in my life. 'After that, well, after that, then it just started exploding. I started participating in many more local races.' The only years he didn't compete were in 2020 and 2021, when there was no race due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also missed out in 2022 when he did not make it to the start line due to a knee injury. He explained that the injury, a meniscus tear in his knee, was a very tough experience, but that ultimately it was the right decision to skip the race that year, as it has allowed him to keep going thereafter. Massyn said that he has already received a congratulatory message from the orthopaedic surgeon who did his operation in 2022. Massyn, left, said that he was very grateful for Rhyno Smith, (right) and Hernus Stols, his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club. Image: Supplied A cake to celebrate Louis Massyn's 50th Comrades Marathon. Image: Supplied He explained that his journey started with an Anglican Church sermon in Odendaalsrus when the Bishop of Bloemfontein used the Comrades Marathon as a metaphor. 'And there I sat in the congregation, and I said to myself, the next Comrades, you're going to run. All I knew was that I had to run from 'Maritzburg down to Durban, and I needed to do it on my feet. I wasn't going to drive there, and that's where it all started,' Massyn said. The road runner reflected that he has done each of the six majors - New York, Berlin, Boston, London, Chicago, and Tokyo - and that each one has been a different experience. 'That's actually where I have built relationships across the world. All six of them are really, really special, and while it's not one of the majors, the Rio Marathon is absolutely wonderful. 'The Brazilians invited me to come and run the Rio Marathon, and I spent 13 days in Rio, where they really spoiled me day after day. It was absolutely a spoiled time,' Massyn said. 'Over the years, there have been absolutely golden memories, but Sunday was actually the cherry on the top.' Louis Massyn said that his 50th Comrades marathon was a tough one. Image: Supplied Massyn shared that what has kept him coming back to participate in the Comrades Marathon so many times is its uniqueness. 'The name Comrades is unique, and I think it's the most unique name for a marathon to be called the Comrades Marathon... The comradeship of the marathon, and the comradeship that I experienced on Sunday. I really cannot describe it. I'm only starting to realise what actually happened on Sunday.' Massyn said that he was very grateful for Rhyno Smith and Hernus Stols, his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club, and Erich Cornelissen from Bethlehem Marathon Klub, who supported him throughout the race on Sunday. 'They really helped me. I wasn't carrying even a tablet on myself. No energy drinks. They carried everything for me. Asked me how I was doing. They insisted each and every hour. You need to take this (energy boost) now. And the one guy would ask, what do you need? Water? He'd run out in front of the water station to get a few sachets of water and hand them back. It wasn't even necessary for me to collect anything from the water station.' Louis Massyn alongside his teammates from Outeniqua Harriers Multisport Club in George. Image: Supplied Massyn did face a tough time during the marathon when an excitable athlete grabbed onto him in a way that made him almost lose his balance. 'Not fully unbalanced, but I did lose balance, and in this process, I actually developed serious cramps… and then my whole right leg cramped up totally. So then my team actually really had their hands full to get all these cramps out of me, and I managed eventually to get it out with ice. 'But for the next 15 kilometres, it was quite a struggle, and that's actually the difficult part of the route - from Drummond, from halfway, right into Hillcrest, where you've got fairly steep and long hills.' 'But once we've reached Hillcrest, the downhill starts. It actually went very well, but unfortunately, again, with all the downhills, I started developing lower back pain. You probably saw how I finished? All crooked and wasn't running straight. 'But my team managed it. It was a huge concern, but Rhyno helped try to keep me as upright as possible, which was a huge problem. The concern was if I really fell forward, then it would've been the end of the race, but the team really managed me properly.' Massyn, who was packing up to return home to George on Thursday morning, said that he has been overwhelmed with all the messages from strangers over the past couple of days since completing the race. 'I don't think I've ever had so much support. There are probably more than 1,000 messages on my phone still. People are saying, 'you inspired me so' and asking if I'm going to be on the start line next year, and saying, 'I want to start with you next year'.' 'For the last 300 meters, when the spectators started shouting, 'Louis! Louis! Louis!' I can remember this. It was When asked if he will be returning to next year's race, Massyn answered: 'I'm going to be back.' He said that last year he was invited to run the Coastal Marathon in Namibia from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay, and he's already been sent an invite to participate in this year's race in October. 'I had a great run in Namibia, and seeing as they've invited me, that's going to be my next race that I'm going to train for,' Massyn said. 'And I'm going to try and qualify for Two Oceans and Comrades on that race.' Even this week, Massyn said he will be doing a fun park run this weekend, because 'I just want to walk it with my wife'. He said that he loves running the Two Oceans Marathon and has already completed 48 of them. 'So in 2027, hopefully, I'll be able to run my 50th Two Oceans as well. I'm also hopefully going to run the 100th edition of Comrades as well. That would be my end goal for Comrades at this stage.'