Gerda Steyn celebrates the spirit of the Two Oceans Marathon's 'Blue Number Club'

Such have been Gerda Steyn’s remarkable achievements on the road that you’d be forgiven for thinking anything less than a record-breaking run would be considered minor by the darling of South African running.

While victories and records mean a great deal to the "Smiling Assassin" from Bothaville — they are, after all, the stuff of legacy — the Hollywood Athletics Club star has dominated the country’s ultra-marathon scene for over half a decade by valuing the same milestones that social runners strive for. Take the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon Blue Number Club (BNC), for example. Open to runners who have completed the 56km race ten times, the BNC is a dream for many but achieved by few.

Steyn is yet to run the "world’s most beautiful marathon" ten times, but thanks to her six victories, she has long since become a member of this exclusive club. To say it means the world to her would be an understatement.

“Receiving my Blue Number at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon was my first ever permanent race number, so it was a huge honour,” she says. “Not many people know that winning the event three times also qualifies you for a blue number.”

That is how she gained entry; Steyn joined the club after her third win and has since gone on to double that tally. Most remarkable is the fact that she won half of those in course-record time, a feat that secured her legendary status in the Mother City. Still, despite these accolades, Steyn nurses ambitions of earning the Blue Number "the normal way."

“I would still like to run it ten times, but receiving my Blue Number means that I am invested in the race in the same way as those who have completed it ten times or more,” she explains.

Invested she truly is. As she prepares to toe the line with thousands of others for this year’s edition on April 10, she will once again look to be the first woman to reach the finish at the UCT Sports Grounds.

“Being part of the BNC reminds me that running is deeply rooted in me and that I am in it for the long term. It shows that I have held onto something for many years and didn’t give up when it got tough. No matter life’s circumstances, I’ve continually been drawn back to one start line, which has become a constant — teaching me life lessons and pushing me to improve."

Many BNC members are not superstars like Steyn, but rather the back-markers who plod through the race year after year, finishing long after the elite athletes have returned to their hotels. Steyn has a clear message for those aspiring to earn that badge of honour:

“Keep working toward your goals — the BNC is a symbol of dedication and commitment to yourself and those who support you. A blue number represents longevity and the possibility of continuing to run if you take care of yourself. Don’t give up and never doubt your ability to achieve your goal. The BNC has a place for everyone, and the journey is filled with incredible, often life-changing moments.”