By Adnaan Mohamed
When the Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (TTOM) gets underway on 11 April 2026, Kim Pain will line up as the only woman in the field chasing a 30th finish.
At 59, the Jeppe Quondam Athletics Club stalwart is on the brink of earning “triple blue” status in the Blue Number Club, a milestone reached by very few women in the race’s history.
Only three female runners sit ahead of her on the all-time list: Lucille Damon and Sharon Bosch, both on 32 finishes, and Matilda le Roux, who completed her 30th ultra in 2024. Damon and Bosch are set to chase their 33rd finishes this year, while le Roux will not compete in 2026.
Pain’s association with the race stretches back 36 years. She made her debut in 1990 as a 23-year-old, finishing in 4:56:36. After returning in 1993, the race became a permanent fixture on her calendar. She earned her Blue Number in 2002 following her 10th finish.
“I don’t think I was ever chasing 30,” Pain said. “I always chose to run TTOM and enjoy a weekend away.”
Family has played a central role in her journey.
“My mom and dad, Alf and Wendy Pain, have always been my greatest supporters,” she said. “My dad especially has been my inspiration. We came down to Cape Town as a family in 1990, and that’s where my TTOM journey began.”
Among her standout memories is her 20th ultra in 2012, run in cold and wet conditions.
“It was so cold, wet and muddy at the finish. It was pouring with rain, and I was lucky to have my parents supporting on the side of the road,” she recalled.
Her 25th finish in 2017 proved significant. Pain crossed the line alongside ultra-running figures Barry Holland, Alan Robb, Bruce Fordyce and Gareth Griffiths.
“I was very taken aback when the organisers gave me a congratulatory letter and a small trophy,” Pain said. “I think it was a very cool gesture; it also meant that after finishing my 25th, I was exempt from paying entry fees. That only motivated me to get to my 30th.”
Her surname often draws comment on the road.
“Yes, that’s the standard comment I often get. You’ve got the right surname,” she laughed. “Often, when I’m running and I’ve got runners around me, they’ll come up to me and they’ll say, when did you start running? You must have started when you were very young because you have so many ultras behind your name.”
Two Oceans Marathon NPC chairperson Chris Goldschmidt believes Pain’s milestone attempt reflects the spirit of the event.
“Kim Pain embodies the spirit of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon. Her 30th appearance is a testament to decades of dedication and endurance, inspiring every runner on the start line,” he said.
General manager Wade Bromfield added: “Reaching 30 Totalsports Two Oceans Ultra Marathons is extraordinary. Kim’s journey reflects resilience, consistency, and the heart of this iconic race, reminding us of what decades of running can achieve.”
If she reaches the finish line in April, Pain will add her name to one of the most exclusive lists in South African ultra-distance running.