Louis ready to traverse Mpati Hill
"Now that my leg injuries have been sorted out, I am keen to give it another go on September 14," said Louis.
The old excuse ‘but I do not have time to exercise’ is not one used by Louis Menelaou.
The trim 66-year-old, who many will know from Glencoe Spar, describes himself as ‘multi-sports person’ and will this month, for the first time in 15 years, be back running the gruelling Mpati Mountain Race.
Louis first ran the race in 1989 and completed the hilly route in a time of one hour and two seconds. He ran the Mpati another seven times since then, clocking a best time of 1:19, before injuries sadly got the better of him.
“I decided to lay off the really tough courses like the Mpati and concentrate on ‘softer’ running and cycling. Now that my leg injuries have been sorted out, I am keen to give it another go on September 14.”
Louis has an impressive CV of completed events: 1 Cape Argus Cycle Tour, 13 Midmar Miles (his best time is 27 minutes), 7 Chelmsford Challenges, 1 Amashova Durban Classic Race (106km) and 1 Durban Cycle Tour (104km), added to his 7 Mpati Mountain Race finishes. He even started his own triathlon in 1995, which included swimming (first in Donald McHardy Dam and later Tom Worthington Dam), cycling and running.
“I organised the first few pretty much by myself, until Orange Grove Dairy came on board to assist. The last event was in 2006, but I was proud we managed to attract top tri-athletes from around the country and even from the UK, Poland and other countries. We even enjoyed television coverage too, so it was a great event for the area.”
With the organisational commitment becoming too large however, Louis put the event on the back burner. But who knows – just how Louis’ Mpati Mountain Race career is about to make a comeback, maybe the Glencoe Triathlon will also someday be resurrected.
Whatever happens, Louis will always be out on the road building up his mileage.
Read this week’s edition of the Courier for more on how Louis keeps fit and his journey to South Africa.
ALSO READ: Lacing up for the 43rd Mpati Mountain Race
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