Busi Mqingwana
Thursday, April 30, 2015
TBT /// Man oh man, I loved this 3 day week. My long weekend started today and all I can think about is starting the weekend running. Finishing the weekend running and during the day studying. I wish I could study running, then make a living from running. Any suggestions?
Q. Tell
us a little bit about who you are and what you do for a living?
I’m a 31 year old lady based in
Pretoria after having lived in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape until the age of 18. In my past life I was a lawyer but as of September 2014, I took the famous leap of faith in order to pursue my passion for running and opened The Runner’s Store. The latter store is a retail store specialising in the sale of running gear and it is based at the Tramshed Shopping Centre in the Pretoria CBD.
Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?
I no longer believe that there’s now a distinction between my running life and my work life. I work in the business of running so my life has since become is my work and there’s no need to balance.
I started back in 2008. Leaving varsity in 2006, I had ballooned to a size 38 weighing 84kgs. It had gotten to a point where I was no longer comfortable in my skin and something as basic as climbing one flight of stairs was a mission. I got inspired by the older women around me who were looking great. A lady by the name of Khaya Magwegwe from the Arcadia Running Club is the one who got me to lace up and hit the road.
I know I will always feel good afterwards and I probably need to burn off some calories consumed from comfort eating.
Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?
42.2km at the Soweto Marathon back in 2011.
Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?
There are lots others out there doing the same so I know that I am not alone.
Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise among the youth?
It’s difficult to say because I was also inactive during my varsity days. Maybe what would assist in encouraging younger people to hit the road is if their role models were also in on the game.
Q. What was your best running experience?
It’s always one of those runs where the heavens open up midway and it starts pouring. I somehow always feel like a kid again, as though I’m playing in the rain.
01 March 2015 I set out to qualify for the Two Oceans Marathon by running that gruesome Deloitte Pretoria Marathon. By the time the 5 hour qualifying time was up, I had only managed to do 37km. I then decided to throw in the towel. But some good did come out of the experience. I made friends with a gentleman called Dimakatso Mokwena whom I met at the 20km mark. He encouraged me to push on for the remaining 17km. I also gave him my entry for the Two Oceans Marathon as a means of saying thank you as he had initially missed out on obtaining one before they were sold out.
Q. How do you push through the pain?
I interpret pain as an indication of the onset of an injury so I do not push on.
Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?
Get a good support structure and do not put yourself under pressure. Even if you manage to only do 1km on the first day then the following week it will be 2km and so on. Running is a hobby and the idea is to have fun whilst doing it.
The Runner’s Store also offers a beginner 5km run during weekdays so if anybody wants to join then they are more than welcomed to do so.
Mainly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Store’s social media handle is @RunnersStoreZA
My personal Twitter and Instagram handles are @busimqingwana
My best running shoes is …
This is a rough one because I get to try out all the shoes that the store offers. I am currently running with the Adidas Ultra Boost and it is quite a gem.
Mizuno’s Wave Rider is also pretty light and comfy.
I love running because …
It keeps the weight off
Injury is …
My body is …
My temple. Running keeps this temple functional.
My running playlist has …
Injury is …
An indication that I am most probably trying to do too much too soon and that I should ease off on the training.
My body is …
My temple. Running keeps this temple functional.
My running playlist has …
When I am outdoors, I choose to run without the aid of an MP3 mainly for safety reasons. When I’m indoors at the gym, it is definitely hip hop. Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid M.A.A.d city” album plus tracks like Ricky Rick’s “Amantombazane” remix and Khuli Chana’s “Tswa Daar”.
I hate running when …
It used to be in the late afternoons. I would tell myself that I no longer have the energy and would rather start the day off with an early morning run. Lately, I have chosen to do mid-afternoon runs and they have pleasantly proven to get me out of the post lunchtime slump that I usually undergo.
Pain is …
Ok, pain usually means the onset of an injury. I listen to my body at all times and try determine the source of the pain. If it is in my legs then I know I need to do more strength training and slow down on the high impact exercise, which is essentially road running.
A place where I can hear myself think. That is where most of my ideas come from, when I’m out there, on my own, running.
Sweat is …
Fat crying.
Fat crying.
In future, I would like to run …
The Two Oceans Marathon Ultra, but first to run a proper qualifying marathon!
Indie means …
Being the captain of one’s ship.
I do not like runners who …
The Two Oceans Marathon Ultra, but first to run a proper qualifying marathon!
Indie means …
Being the captain of one’s ship.
I do not like runners who …
Are bullies, this also applies to the gym rats. Advanced runners who bring other runners down, especially the beginner runners who are still battling to even run their first 5km run. We all started somewhere.
#RunRevolution
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