Kim Pain Archives - The Running Mann

1st May 20261st May 2026

The Running Moan: Why Bib Banditting is Wrong

As I write this (wearing my Running Mann hat) I can tell you (wearing my board hat) that there are 91 reported cases of bib banditting in the Two Oceans half marathon and four in the ultra marathon. I am sure that there are some more that haven’t been uncovered – yet – but the overall number is likely somewhere between 100 and 200.

This is still a tiny fraction of the overall field. Most people follow the rules and abhor those that don’t. If you banditted you are in the minority. This is not a case where everyone is doing it. There will always be one or two people who “didn’t know I was doing anything wrong” but the majority of those who banditted (and those who defend the bandits) are consciously delinquent.

23rd April 2026

Karin-Mari scores a sponsor (silver linings over silver medals)

I have some great news to share. There is indeed a silver lining to the BrahGate saga: This morning Karin-Mari Dötze, the 10^th placed lady at this year’s Two Oceans half marathon, officially signed with Nedbank and became a sponsored athlete.

8th April 20268th April 2026

Jeppe’s Queen of Pain tackles 30th Two Oceans Marathon

There are currently just three women who’ve run the Two Oceans ultra marathon 30 times or more. Matilda le Roux sits on exactly 30 whilst Sharon Bosch and Lucille Damon lead the way with 32 finishes each.

In 2026, a fourth lady is looking to add her name to this illustrious list – Jeppe Quondam’s Kim Pain. Kim ran her first Two Oceans in 1990 and will also become just the second woman, after Sharon Bosch, to earn a triple laurel at Two Oceans and Comrades (Kim has 32 Comrades finishes).

Boasting the most perfectly on‑brand surname in ultra running, it felt irresponsible not to check how many Pains had tackled Two Oceans. The answer is five (including her dad Alf), but Kim is in a league of her own. She hasn’t just run farther than her father — she has quite literally experienced more Pain than anyone else over the Two Oceans route.

2nd May 20256th May 2025

Who’s the Bosch? (Two Oceans’ record breaking matriarch)

Whilst much has been written about the men who’ve run the most Two Oceans and Comrades ultra marathons, very little attention has been given to the women. These record breaking ladies tend to fly under the radar and get the job done without fuss, fanfare or media attention. It seems that it’s not just art but also ultra marathon running that imitates life.

There are just three women who’ve run the Two Oceans Marathon 30 times or more and in 2025 a new record for most female finishes was set and is held jointly by Sharon Bosch and Lucille Damon with 32 completed voyages.