Phetsile Joy Nxumalo
Thursday, July 02, 2015
Our #WCW on a thursday because we are indie like that!
Q. Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do for a living?
My name is Joy Nxumalo. I am a 20-something year old (cough) marketing coordinator. I live in the beautiful city of Joburg. I am absolutely in love with the open road, books, and football (Mesut Özil is a better than all of you combined).
Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?
Mornings! I hate waking up early (especially in winter), but mornings are the only way to balance things. A morning run or gym, then I continue with my day guilt-free. I also do Parkrun on some Saturday mornings.
Q. When and why did you start running?
I started last year, so im a bit of a novice. After continuously going to gym, a friend suggested the Deloitte Race in Pretoria. Naturally I was terrified out of my wits, but it motivated me as I went to gym – gave me a goal to train towards. I haven’t looked back since.
Q. What motivates you to go out there, when you do not feel like it?
My team! We call ourselves #TeamMgijimi, and are a bit of a support group for each other (that sounds a bit like AA, doesn’t it?). We have set races which we do, so we always make sure we are each ready for the next one. It’s a social group, so there is no pressure, but we are always looking out for each other.
Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?
I’ve only done 10km races *hides*. Im still psyching myself up to go for a longer distance. Hopefully I’ll take the plunge soon.
Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?
I own this city…I should be mayor! Lol! Okay, not really….but have you seen Joburg at the crack of dawn? When the silence of the city of broken and it’s slowly coming to life, it is just beautiful. You just want to keep running and taking it all in.
Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise among the youth?
I wish there was a way to make exercise seem more “cool”, to pull the youth into this lifestyle. I personally wish I had started it earlier – I spent a good portion of my life not bothered, and had the weight to prove it. (still working on that by the way, lol!)
Q. What was your best running experience?
Om Die Dam 2015! The steeps on that race can test you quite a bit, but the change of route this year made it a bit easier and that much more fun. And Haarites is just awesome – it is beautiful and peaceful!
Q. What was your worst running experience?
Om Die Dam 2014! Lol…I know, I know, best and worst! It was just my second race, and I wasn’t mentally ready for those steep hills! I was exhausted, my knees were battered – but I guess that’s what prepared me for this year’s race.
Q. How do you push through the pain?
M-U-S-I-C! I play something a bit upbeat that will distract the mind while I keep going. And I also ask myself, What Would Özil Do?
Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?
Just do it! (no, this isn’t a Nike plug). Seriously though, the only way to start is to just start….no matter the distance, but just hit the road. The distance will start getting longer, the body will get stronger, and soon it will be an obsession.
Q. Which Social media sites are you on and how can one follow you? I'm on twitter and Instagram – same handle: @pjay005.
- My best running shoes is Nike LunarGlide 6 – my current shoe in the hottest pink!
- I love running because it makes me feel unbreakable.
- Injury is pain. (refer to my answer for 7)
- My body is stronger than I think. It always surprises me!
- My running playlist has Martin Garrix – Animals.
- I hate running when it’s cold. Winter is my nightmare - im a sunny bunny.
- Pain is temporary.
- The road clears the mind. Always.
- Sweat is yucky. Lol! No really, I don’t like sweat.
- In future, I would like to run longer, faster. Faster, definitely. I have aims for the next Two Oceans.
- Indie means free to be!
- I do not like runners who talk too much! Lol! I’m okay with the pep talk here and there on the way, but please don’t give me your entire life story while I’m trying to run.
#RunRevolution
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