Share

Hope in a group

accreditation
FOR THE LOVE OF IT Dumisane Lubisi at a running event
FOR THE LOVE OF IT Dumisane Lubisi at a running event

Time matters when you are a runner. But sometimes, not all the times are worth the risk to your wellbeing.

Let me explain. A year ago last Sunday, I ran my first full marathon (42km). Before then, the longest distances I’d run were half marathons (21km).

While I hadn’t reached my comfort zone as far as the 21km runs went, I was happy with my improved running time and felt ready to join the big guys to run 42km. After all, this is the same distance between my home town, Nelspruit, and Matsulu, the place I call home.

I chose the Cape Gate Vaal marathon of March 2018, because fellow runners said it was fast, flat and easy. While they were right about the route’s flatness, it was tough.

My maiden marathon turned out to be horrible; I suffered cramps in my legs after the 25km mark. It hurt so much, I nearly cried. I had the option to bail out, walk back to the finish line and collect a medal for the 21km, but I chose to persevere and walked 16km.

After six hours and six minutes, I finished the marathon and was awarded my first marathon medal.

I cherish the 2018 medal. It taught me many lessons, especially about the importance of preparation when one has a mission to accomplish. Prior to that race, I had no planned training at all. I ran because I enjoyed it.

I ran with no goal in mind. I ran because it burnt the little fat I had on my body. I ran because friends were doing it. I ran for fun, just nje.

Dumisane Lubisi

After that disastrous marathon, I decided that my next one would be in November, running in the 25th edition of the People’s Race, AKA the Soweto Marathon. My solo training for Soweto was interrupted when pain in my knees and calves forced me to stay off the tarmac in August and September.

In October, I began training again. On race day, things went okay until the 30km mark. From there, it was the walk again, along with occasional jogs. I had cramps and was in pain – but after five hours and 30 minutes, I crossed the finish line at the packed FNB Stadium.

It was an achievement: I had shed 36 minutes off my first marathon eight months earlier.

But the pain became too much and there and then, I told myself that I would stop running long distances – 10km races around my hood and 21km runs would be what I would run henceforth. No more full marathons.

For months, two gym buddies had been pestering me to join them on runs. They told me about this home of personal bests, known as the Stallions Training Group.

I gently declined their invitations as I didn’t see myself waking up in the wee hours of the morning to go and run. That was until one Saturday in December, when I reluctantly hooked up with one of these gym buddies and joined his team for a long, slow distance (LSD) run.

At the time, I had no knowledge of what an LSD run was and just did as they did. The spirit of comradeship and the fact that no one was running too seriously was enough for me to sign up with the Stallions. It meant that a 4:30am start was now my new normal.

In the weeks to come, I learnt a lot. Hill repeats: wow! During my solo running days, I wouldn’t dare climb a mountain. Hills were walking points for me to drink water and relax. Then came speed training. Then time trials. All these were new words in my life, and I obeyed and learnt as I went along.

Something else stood out: the Stallions belonged to everyone who was part of it. No runner – be they slow or a multiple Comrade runner – was taken for granted.

The coaches – a handful of them, with varying running experience – treated everyone the same, the goal being that tasks must be completed. These were like-minded people who just love running.

As I found my niche with these new friends, I planned to revisit Cape Gate Vaal to check the difference between my previous solo running days and my team situation.

This time, I would be better prepared and the race would give a clearer picture of whether the changes I had introduced to my running were working or not. But first, I needed a trial marathon before Vaal to measure my state of readiness.

Dumisane Lubisi

Jeppe Marathon was it. I crossed the finish line in four hours, 52 minutes. What a feat: a marathon in under five hours, and just two minutes over the qualifying time for the Comrades.

Then last Sunday, I trekked from the west to the Vaal for take two. I determined that whatever happened on the day, I would better my 2018 time. My pacing had improved and I was comfortable with the way things were.

With four hours and 10 minutes of running done and at the 35km mark – a mere 7km to finish – my legs locked. Hamstrings! I froze on the road and let the pain sink in.

I pulled over to the side and stretched. I saw fellow runners continuing on their journey to the finish line, with many checking if I was okay and offering to help.

I could have stopped and got into an ambulance to take me to the finish. But I chose to walk. With nearly 11 minutes a kilometre (about an hour and 20 minutes for the remaining 7km) I soldiered on to the finish line.

The gross time was five hours, 32 minutes but the nett time – when I passed the start and finish mat – was five hours, 28 minutes.

It wasn’t the finish I’d expected, but as fellow runners said: “Take it easy. Your health is more important. Running will not go away.” I’ve heeded their advice. I’ll recover and take to the road again with my fellow Stallions. My hope lies in the group on the road, not in running solo.

Lubisi is City Press’ executive editor

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you believe that the various planned marches against load shedding will prompt government to bring solutions and resolve the power crisis?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes
21% - 103 votes
No
79% - 397 votes
Vote