THE MIND OF MASSYN

IN 2024, LOUIS MASSYN WILL ATTEMPT HIS 49TH COMRADES MARATHON AND HE'S LEARNT PLENTY OF LESSONS ALONG THE WAY. HERE'S THE STORY OF HIS AMAZING JOURNEY.

- MARK ETHERIDGE

Just over half a century ago, Louis Massyn was sitting in an Odendaalsrus church when he had what proved to be a life-changing epiphany.

Because it was during the bishop’s sermon that running became almost a second religion to the George-born athlete, who only recently returned to his home town after spending 63 years in the Goldfields region of the Free State.

“The bishop used the Comrades Marathon to explain something, at that service back in late ’72; and I decided there and then that I would run this thing called Comrades, the very next time it was staged,” explains Massyn, now aged 73.

Fast forward to 2024, and running has coursed through Massyn’s veins ever since that day in church. Later this year he’ll line up at the iconic Comrades Marathon start for an incredible 49th time. Only one man has surpassed his achievements – Dolphin Coast Striders’ Barry Holland, who will be out to become the first person to complete 50 Comrades.

When it comes to running and Comrades, Massyn’s memories are razor-sharp.

He remembers the 1973 Comrades Marathon like it was yesterday, and confidently takes us back into a bygone era. “My late mom offered to buy me a pair of running shoes, and I bought the most expensive pair of shoes in Welkom! “The guy serving us asked me what I was planning on doing with them. When I told him I was running Comrades, he immediately said: ‘Then you’ll need two pairs of shoes.’”

But Massyn and mom left the sports shop with just one pair, which set them back the princely sum of R23.