Age proves no barrier for 92-year-old Basil Murray, who accomplished his 100th Fish Hoek parkrun, defying any limitations associated with his years.
‘It felt good ticking off that box,’ Basil expressed with delight during the celebration in Fish Hoek last Saturday.
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The Fish Hoek parkrun is a weekly 5km event that takes place every Saturday on the Fish Hoek Sports Field and welcomes participants of all fitness levels to join in for free. It has become a beloved community tradition.
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Basil Murray, has not only completed an impressive 100 parkruns, covering a total distance of 500km but also generously volunteered at 44 of these events. With a heart full of enthusiasm, he aspires to contribute to 50 parkruns as a devoted volunteer in the future.
In an interview with False Bay Echo, Basil said he had always been actively engaged in athletics and performed well enough to participate in school sports, with rugby, cricket and athletics being his main interests. Among these sports, he found cross-country to be his favourite race, likely due to his impressive endurance.
Reflecting on his initial 50 parkruns, Basil found it enthralling to witness his time improve as he grew fitter and more skilled – ‘By the time I reached my second 50 parkruns, I had the wisdom and understanding to notice a gradual decline in my time, but I still considered it a positive achievement,’ he said.
Basil Murray was married to Hester, also fondly known as Hettie, the love of his life, for an impressive 65 years. Sadly, earlier this year, he lost his beloved wife. Together, they had four children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
According to his son, Cecil Murray, Basil is a man of deep faith, dedicated to both farming and family. ‘Growing up in the Karoo,’ Cecil shared, ‘my father spent most of his life farming sheep there. However, as he aged, he developed an interest in theology, eventually becoming a pastor, a missionary and a trainer of missionaries. Recently, he celebrated his 75th class reunion at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth.’
Basil received heartfelt praise from Fish Hoek parkrun spokeswoman, Brigitte Horne, who described him as an inspiration to everyone. She expressed their immense pride in his accomplishments and extended warm wishes for good health, happiness and all the best for the future.
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Picture: Fish Hoek parkrun / Facebook