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Yves Goosen from Goodwood just completed his first Balwin Sports Peninsula Marathon at the age of 77.
When asked why after 31 years he returned to do a marathon, he said it all started in February 2022 when his wife, Ina, was diagnosed with kidney problems and she needed to cut down on food with high potassium.
“So we had to start to eat healthier and do exercises,” says Goosen.
They then started to walk and cut out all the bad food.
“That’s when I started to walk/jog and within a few weeks I could manage to run 10km in 6,5 minutes,” says Goosen.
He adds that he then joined Goodwood Harriers AC and did his first ABSA 10km race at 63 minutes. “Then there was no turning back. Did lots of 10, 15 and 21,1km races.”
Training for the marathon
“My training for the marathon started the first week in January with a few 18kms over Lovers Lane and on Monday 22 January, I did the Bay to Bay 30km, Campsbay to Houtbay and back over Suikerbossie.
“I then carried on doing strength training, hill training and sprints.
“Last week I only did three sessions of 10km, 6km and 4km. Two days rest,” he says. Saturday he did a 3km just to loosen his legs and Sunday 18 February was the big day.
Goosen’s goals to run the marathon were as follows:
- To complete 10km in 68 minutes, he did it in 67 minutes.
- To do the 21,1km, in 2:35, he managed to do it.
- At 30km, 3:30, Goosen did it in 3:35. “I was on track to break the 5hrs. Unfortunately, I lost 20 minutes. In the last 12,2km,” says Goosen, who finished the marathon (42,2km) at 5:20:12.
Never too old
“But for me and my club members that was an awesome time.
“It did bring memories back as I went through the same motion 31 years ago when I did it in 4 hours.
“After 31 years I just wanted to prove to myself that you are not too old to make your goal if you put your mind to it. After all, it’s all in the mind.”
Goosen is very proud of his podiums. By now the commentators know him by name, even if he doesn’t make the finish line.
“It is very exciting when they call out your name and you walk to the podium in front of all the runners sitting at the podium,” says Goosen
He explains when you still run and you look over your shoulder and you see all these hundreds of youngsters still behind you, that’s when you realise winning is not all, just by finishing and getting your medal, you have done it.
“So guys and girls, eat healthily, go for a walk, jog or run, exercise and you will be well off. If you think running is not good for you, look at this 78-year-old in August,” says Goosen.
