Latest news with #ComradesMarathons
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
74-year-old Louis Massyn first to run 50 Comrades Marathons
Outeniqua Harriers athlete Louis Massyn has made history by becoming the first runner to complete 50 Comrades Marathons. According to Oudtshoorn Courant, the 74-year-old completed his first Comrades in 1973. Massyn left Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 06:00 with a special starting batch, including 50 friends from overseas and locally. His personal best time is 6:25, and he has earned 10 silver medals in the race. In addition to the Comrades, Massyn has completed the Two Oceans Marathon 46 times, a feat that includes a remarkable 10th-place finish in 1985 with a time of 3:57:30. He is the only athlete to have run both ultra-marathons 40 times, earning him a spot in the exclusive 40 Club.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Looking forward to earning his green number
Anand Naidoo. Image: Supplied The "greatest achievement" in Anand Naidoo's sporting career, is having crossed the finish line at his first Comrades Marathon in 2011. Fast forward to Sunday, Naidoo will compete in his 10th race and hopefully earn his green number. A green number is a race number that is permanently allocated to a runner after they have completed 10 Comrades Marathons. Naidoo, 52, of Shastri Park in Phoenix, is a credit manager. He entered his first Comrades Marathon as a challenge to himself. 'The Comrades Marathon is regarded as the 'ultimate human challenge'. Being goal-driven, I attempted my first run in 2011 and crossed the finish line to earn my first medal. This was the greatest achievement in my sports career,' said Naidoo. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "I finished in 11 hours and 16 minutes. Completing the run made me believe I was a winner. This was when my confidence set in to keep going." He said the most difficult part about the endurance run was tiredness and muscle fatigue. "It sets in toward the latter part of the race, usually after 60km. You have to keep believing in yourself that you can still cross the finish line. Your sense of passion, determination and courage is key to keep you moving. As a runner, you may feel you are under-trained. What matters on the day is your trust in God." As D-Day looms, he runs between 40km and 50km a week and has two days of rest. "This week is about carbo loading on potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and pasta, and eating protein-rich foods like fish and chicken. Beetroot and spinach are also essential for iron. "I look forward to a great down-run, while enjoying each stride to the finish, aiming for my best finish time. I would love to complete the race in under 11 hours, but to finish and earn a green number will be rewarding enough." This year, he said, was "extra special" as his father-in-law, Roy Govender, would run his first race. THE POST
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Pastor running towards his 21st Comrades Marathon
Keseval Munsamy, a pastor from Phoenix, who received his double green number for his 20th Comrades Marathon last year, aspires to complete two more runs before turning 60. 'I want to finish my last race, the 100th edition of the Comrades Marathon, in 2027. That is four months before my 60th birthday. After that, I will still participate in shorter races to keep my running career going because running has always been a part of my life,' said Munsamy. He received his first green number in 2012. A green number is awarded to runners who have completed 10 or more Comrades and is permanently allocated for all future races. Munsamy got his Double Green Number Club in 2024 after successfully completing 20 Comrades Marathons. He started running while in school and entered his first Comrades Marathon at age 23 and joined Woodview Athletics Club. 'I loved running and athletics at school, so naturally, when I finished school, it was a no-brainer for me to progress into running competitively,' said Munsamy. "The first race in 1991 was an up-hill run. I completed it in 9 hours and 11 minutes. At that stage, I was young and naïve. I had no clear plan. I just wanted to compete. However, I was strong and finished at a good time.' He took time off and returned in 1994 where he completed the Comrades Marathon in 8 hours and 45 minutes. 'This time, I ensured I was ready and ran with a purpose. I had more experience and knew what to expect. I was proud that I reached the finish line at such a good time. "I did not run in 1995 and in 1996, when I returned, I was unable to complete the race. Life was busy that year. My children were young and we were building a house, so I had no time to train. When it comes to the Comrades Marathon, you have to train regularly. It has to be taken seriously." Over the years, he competed whenever he could while taking breaks in between the years. In preparation for Sunday's event, Munsamy runs 60km a week and eats healthy. "You have to look after your body and your mind. You need mental endurance to finish this race." THE POST
IOL News
5 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Comrades Marathon: Merebank couple prepare to chase their dreams
AT SCHOOL Ishara Dhanraj could barely run a kilometer but since 2016, all that has changed. She has since completed four Tata Mumbai Marathons and on Sunday, Dhanraj and her husband, Ron Naidoo, will participate in the Comrades Marathon. This will be her fifth run and Naidoo's fourth. She completed two races and Naidoo three. "At this stage, my only aim is to complete the race," said Dhanraj, 51, a sales consultant from Merebank. The couple are members of the Rising Sun Chatsworth Athletic Club. She said she initially started early morning runs alone back in 2016. "I used to get up at around 4.30am and run around the area, the promenade or at the Bluff. I eventually convinced Ron to join me and we subsequently joined the athletic club. "As a child, I enjoyed watching the Comrades Marathon on TV and always aspired to enter. I ran my first race in 2016 in memory of my late father, Dhanraj Sankarparsad. I did not finish the race because I was not fully-prepared. I did not know what to expect but I refused to give up. I returned and completed the Comrades Marathons in 2022 and 2023. "Last year, I could not finish due to a knee injury at the 57 km mark. But here I am again, ready to take on another year." She has also completed four 42.2km Tata Mumbai Marathons - in 2018, 2020, 2022 and in January this year. "I ran the first race in 2018 alone and Ron thereafter joined me. I love that race because the atmosphere is mind-blowing. After every 4km, there is a live band playing along the roadside to spur you on. For every race completed you get a double medal - one for finishing and the other is an inspiration medal. "The Comrades Marathon presents a new challenge. It's a gruelling 89km. Running this race is a mind game. You need to be mentally strong and tough. That is where the challenge lies." Naidoo, 56, said: "I used to gym but Ishara eventually convinced me to join her on her runs, which progressed to the Comrades Marathon. My first Comrades was in 2022 and I completed all three since then. My best time was in 2023. I completed the race in 11 hours and 22 minutes. This Sunday, I hope to finish the race in under 11 hours." He said with a few days left to the ultra event, they were carbo loading on pastas and potatoes. "This week, there are no long runs. We can walk about but we are saving our legs for race day." Naidoo said their friends will be cheering them. THE POST
