KIM PAIN LEADS CHARGE TO TWO OCEANS TRIPLE BLUE CLUB
For many runners, the Two Oceans Marathon is a single chapter in their running story. But for Kim Pain, it has become the thread that runs through an entire lifetime of running.
This year, that story reaches a milestone few athletes ever approach.
When Pain takes to the start line of the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, she will be looking to be only the fourth woman to secure triple Blue Number status in the event’s history.
“I don’t think I was ever chasing 30. I always chose to run the Two Oceans and enjoy a weekend away,” Pain says.
A moment four decades in the making
What began in 1990 as a young runner’s debut, saw a 23-year-old Pain finish her first ultramarathon in 4:56:36.
“My mom and dad, Alf and Wendy Pain, have always been my greatest supporters. My dad especially has been my inspiration. We came down to Cape Town as a family in 1990, and that’s where my (Two Oceans Marathon) journey began.”
That journey has gradually grown into something far more meaningful.
Over the years, the race became a constant in Pain’s life: a tradition, a reunion, and a personal challenge that returned annually in April.
Now, at 59, the moment carries a significance far beyond the milestone itself.
When she succeeds, Pain will not only celebrate a 30th finish, but she will also cement her place in the enduring history of the Two Oceans Marathon.
The road to Oceans Triple Blue
While much of the spotlight will fall on Pain’s historic pursuit, she will not be alone in chasing this rare milestone.
The Triple Blue Number Club at the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon remains one of the most exclusive honours in South African road running.
To earn it, runners must complete the ultra-marathon 30 times, a feat that demands decades of commitment to the race.
To date, only 98 runners have achieved this status – 95 men and just three women – highlighting the rarity of the milestone.
In 2026, 11 runners will line up hoping to join that illustrious group: Robert Button (66), Lawrence Ashworth (69), David Beard (62), Denzil Abrahams (66), Ravi Govender (54), Christiaan Steyn (65), Arthur Valasis (74), Deon Pienaar (69), Mark Carlson (55), Curtis Rajoo (53) and Pain.
Among them are stories that echo the same deep emotional ties that have carried Pain back to the start line year after year.
Chasing ultra history
For Curtis Rajoo of Run4Fun in KwaZulu-Natal, the race has been part of his life since he first ran it as a 22-year-old in 1995.
“The Two Oceans Marathon is the most beautiful race, but it’s also tough,” says Rajoo. “Reaching 30 is big for me. It was always a goal. After so many years, I can’t imagine not running TTOM. If I’m not on that start line, what would I even be doing that day?”
For Denzil Abrahams of Celtic Harriers, the pursuit of a 30th finish carries a deeper personal meaning.
“In 1993 my father, Edward Abrahams, died from a sudden heart attack at age 54,” he recalls.
“The year I finished my first Two Oceans Ultra, I started asking questions about my eternal destiny. I drew a parallel between endurance in running and endurance in faith. My love for TTOM just grew and grew.”
After missing the ultra in 2025, Abrahams instead ran the Half Marathon alongside his daughter, Linzi Coller.
Now, with unfinished business ahead, he returns in 2026 chasing the same milestone with 10 others – a place in the Triple Blue Number Club.
Together, these runners represent decades of loyalty to the race and their stories of resilience in conquering the peninsula.
Two Oceans Marathon weekend takes place on 11-12 April with the ultramarathon on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday.
