Eleven Runners Chase Triple Blue Number Club Status at Two Oceans
Less than a hundred runners have reached this milestone.
The Triple Blue Number Club (BNC) at the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon is one of the race’s most exclusive honours. So rare is the achievement that just 11 runners will be lining up on Saturday 11 April 2026, hoping to earn their place in the club by completing their 30th Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon. To date, only 98 runners have reached this milestone – 95 men and three women.
To date, only 98 runners have reached this milestone…
The runners hoping to join this small and respected group in 2026 are 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 Kim Pain (59).
Curtis Rajoo of Run4Fun in KwaZulu-Natal and Ravi Govender of Team Vitality CGA in Johannesburg are the youngest among the group attempting to complete their 30th ultra this year. Rajoo first ran the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 1995 at the age of 22. Three decades later, the race remains deeply woven into the fabric of his life. “As they say, TTOM 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?”
Image by Action Photo
For Ravi Govender, the annual journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town is about far more than the race itself. For more than three decades, he and two close friends have driven down together, turning race weekend into a tradition.
“It’s the people and that feeling of crossing the line,” says Govender. “That euphoria when you’ve beaten the clock, when you’ve conquered the mountains and conquered yourself.” He also draws inspiration from longtime friend George Tadden (75), already a 30-time finisher. “We travel together every year. Seeing what’s possible keeps you motivated.”
Image by Action Photo
For Celtic Harriers stalwart Denzil Abrahams, lining up for his 30th Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon represents a deeply personal milestone. “In 1993, my father, Edward Abrahams, died from a sudden heart attack at age 54,” he says. “The year I finished my first Two Oceans Ultra, I started asking questions about my eternal destiny. I immediately drew a parallel between my love of endurance in running and my faith as a believer. My love for TTOM just grew and grew.”
Family support has played a central role in that journey. “I have been married for 40 years, and I am very thankful that for 30 years my wife Debbie has been part of my Two Oceans journey,” he says. After missing the ultra qualification in 2025, Abrahams instead ran the Half Marathon alongside his daughter, Linzi Coller. Now he returns with unfinished business, aiming to earn his Triple Blue.
Image by Action Photo
Kim Pain will be the only woman on the start line chasing her 30th Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 2026. Her achievement highlights remarkable consistency and dedication across decades of running.
“Reaching 30 Ultra Marathons is a rare mark of durability and commitment. Best of luck to Robert, Lawrence, David, Denzil, Ravi, Christiaan, Arthur, Deon, Mark, Curtis and especially Kim Pain – an athlete whose consistency over the years embodies the spirit of this race,” says Chris Goldschmidt, Chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC.
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