Oldest runner in race has family on the run

TWO Oceans Marathon participant Professor Caspar Greeff is an octogenarian and a marathon veteran with 49 years of running experience under his belt.

At the age of 82, he’s also the oldest runner from Cape Town participating in this year’s marathon.

It’s no surprise that with nearly five decades of races to his name, the Sea Point resident has managed to inspire his daughters and grandson to follow in his footsteps.

Greeff ’s daughter, Michelle Murry, 55, started running 15 years ago, and since then, the passion has mushroomed in the family.

Michelle’s son, Darryl Murry, 23, and her sister, Karen Brough, 56, have also been bitten by the running bug and are in the largest marathon on the continent.

Brough makes her debut in the 56km race today and Darryl is a second-time participant in the same event.

A Milnerton resident, Michelle has been affected by the bus strike which started earlier this week, but she used the inconvenience to her benefit and improvised on her training regimen by running the 15km to her workplace in the city centre since Wednesday morning.

Michelle, who started running at the age of 40, said she got to know her father better during her first marathon, prompting her to continue over the years.

“We chat a lot, push one another and this has strengthened our relationship,” she confided.

Highlighting the benefits of the Two Oceans Marathon, dad Caspar Greeff said running had done a world of good for his health.

“I’m extremely healthy, I don’t get sick at all.

“When I’m running I get to meet a lot of people and we make friends.”

Greeff used to run 120km a week until he turned 80, but has since cut this down to 40km each week.

Recollecting memories of his first marathon in 1969, he said he had run about 60km and couldn’t continue.

“But I caught my second breath and continued where I left off,” said the former actuarial science professor.

Greeff, who broke the 10km track record at the Western Province Masters’ Championships two weeks ago, said the longest he has ran was 160km three times, including a marathon run from East London to Port Alfred.

He also ran that distance in Britain.

However, Greeff, who has won 26 medals in the Two Oceans 56km race and two medals in the 21km half-marathon, said he would advise first-timers to take it easy.