Sameshni Moodley
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Q. Who are you and what you do for a living?
My name is Sameshni Moodley, aged 36 years and currently a manager at an Insurance company in Johannesburg
Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?
I make me and my health a priority. I train mornings so that I know if ‘work’ happens I have trained for the day. If I miss the mornings, I make sure I train after work no matter how I am feeling, exercise makes me feel better and is the best therapy to a stressful day.
Q. When and why did you start running?
I started my running journey in December 2015, not being able to complete a 1km at the time, with feelings like giving up, as I huffed and gasped for breathe. I started running because I love the outdoors and I also wanted to challenge myself outside of the gym environment, increase my endurance and get fitter.
Q. What motivates you to go out there, when you do not feel like it?
The inner voice that says to me: You will feel better after the run” “You never regret a workout” as cliché as that sounds it is what works for me. I focus on my health and goals, being diagnosed with HIV in 2008 I made a decision that my circumstances was not going to stop me from living life, my health drives my motivation.
Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?
A marathon 42.2km in November 2017 – Soweto Marathon
Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?
I run with a running group – RunZone at the Berario Recreation Center, where the routes are well marked, there are water points along the route and a sign in register, so everyone is accounted for.
Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise?
I really don’t believe in a life without exercise. Exercise for me has helped me through alcohol addiction and food binges, it’s my therapy, my happy place . A real cure for whatever day you are having. Exercise really should be, if possible, in everyone’s daily routine.
Q. What was your best running experience?
Every time my feet hit the tar is a good running experience …but if I had to choose a race experience, it would have been my first marathon, having my family my boyfriend, and his family there and on route supporting me will be an experience I will never forget. The moment my boyfriend hugged me at the finish and we both just cried with the true feeling of accomplishment, joy and pride knowing that I can do anything I set my mind too.
Q. What was your worst running experience?
Running a 21km without training and honestly thinking why did I even start running. Thinking I want to give up when my legs could not carry me anymore, pain and cramps, I still finished the race.
Q. How do you push through the pain?
My heart takes over when my legs can’t run anymore. When possible I look at my shadow on the road and give myself a pep talk.
Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?
Just start….One foot in front of the other and most important is to run your own race and pace.
Q. Which Social media sites are you on and how can one follow you?
Sameshni Moodley on FaceBook and Instagram
#RunRevolution
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