ThatIndieRunner: Race Reviews

Nana Nonkelela

2018

Q. Who are you and what you do for a living?

I am Nana Nonkelela a 33 year old mother of 2. I work for one of the top banks as an Investigator in the Forensics Technology environment.

Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?

My work schedule is very hectic therefore making it hard to have a set/stable exercise regime. I set my exercise regime weekly depending on my work schedule. As hard as it may at times to keep up with both I try by all means to have 5 days of exercise and 2 days of rest per week.

Q. When and why did you start running?

a. Why did I start running – Growing up I was always slim and my body was well proportioned even when I didn’t have an active lifestyle. When I reached my twenties and had my first child that’s when all hell broke loose. I had an unhealthy pregnancy, ate just about anything because I made myself believe that you are allowed to when you are pregnant. My pregnancy term went over 40 weeks and I was booked for an emergency C-section because the baby was in distress.

Traditionally in my family after giving birth one ties their stomach in an effort to make it go back to good shape quickly. I refused to tie my stomach and made the C-section an excuse. 2 years later I had what we called a “FUPA” FAT meaning Fat UPPER Pubic Area. It didn’t bother me or I totally ignored it.

4 years later had I had my second pregnancy which was more petite and manageable I loved it because I looked cute in everything I wore. Post-Partum the FUPA was there again and I thought well this is how my life should be. Life distresses happened and I went on an uncontrollable binge eating and drinking habit. I was in total denial of my weight gain until I reached over 100kg. At this point I still didn’t do anything about this. I bought a new wardrobe to cater for my new physique.

One night in 2015 I was asleep but I couldn’t feel my left side of the body while trying to turn. It bothered me that night because I could feel I was losing my mobility. Morning came and I rushed to the doctor feeling very faint. He confirmed I was almost close to having a stroke as my blood pressure was at a high of 182. He stabilised it and advised that he was putting me on medication to be reviewed a month later. He gave me tips on healthy living habits and exercise.

I refused to accept that I was 30 years old and at a verge of having a chronic illness. That day I went an enrolled at a gym and started exercising. Well in a month’s time the BP went down but I was still not out of the woods. I continued to exercise but changed little to nothing on my diet. My weight never went down. In 2016 June I decided to sign up with a personal trainer (Thabiso Mehlolo). We pushed for a month and still there were no results. I felt demoralised.

Someone advised me to leave gym a bit and run the streets and see if I can’t shed some weight. At the time Soweto had introduced the Nike Run Club and when I saw the pictures I thought the runners there were elite I needed to polish myself first before joining NRC.

b. When did I start running – In July 2016 I decided to change my diet to strictly clean eating. I quit drinking alcohol and hit the streets. I ran 3km every day until my body told me I could go further. I felt lighter. In November 2016 I ran my first 5km with NRC and January 2017 I ran my first 10km with Thesis Run Cru. I’m currently weighing 74kg with a body fat at 28% (still need to get it below 25%) I have lost 26kg in two years.

Q. What motivates you to go out there, when you do not feel like it?

a. The reason why I started motivates me . I have been surrounded by people who suffered severe strokes and some didn’t make it. I don’t want to be like those people. I have seen how easy it is for one to gain weight from a slight lifestyle change, I do not want to go back to the Nana I was between the ages 20 and 30.

Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?

I recently just ran my first 42 km – amazing !!

Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?

a. I was once featured in a local newspaper article with Thesis Run cru founder Wandile Zondo, and that made people aware that I am a runner and those that know me knew how running assisted me in losing weight. When I run the streets in my hood, the cheering I get from my neighbours and a passer-by is amazing. I hear a lot of people telling me how I motivate them and how I made them start running. Motivating people in the streets gives me confidence.

Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise?

a. It makes one unhealthy not only from a physical point of view but from an overall health perspective. In the course of my healthy lifestyle years I learned about Visceral Fat which is fat stored around the most important internal organs which we cannot see and which is also a cause of some deaths. Exercise and eating healthy minimises that fat storage. Lack of exercise also makes one look dull and old.

Q. What was your best running experience?

a. Running my fastest 1km in 05:21 mins

b. Running my first furthest and longest run which was a 42km

Q. What was your worst running experience?

In every long run I experience the best and the worst. The worst being the mind over matter. When my body can carry me but my mind just aint there. Pep talking it and fighting that demon and eventually winning over it and crossing the finish line or finishing a training session.

Q. How do you push through the pain?

a. I have never bailed out on a run and I promise myself not to. When the pain hits I find a technique one which has worked for me , not to listen to the pain and try to run one pole and walk one until the pain subsides and I am able to run 5 poles and eventually a km without minding the pain.

Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?

a. Always know why you want to start running because that is the constant reminder you will have when you want to give up “Why did I start running?”

Q. Which Social media sites are you on and how can one follow you?

a. Instagram - @teamsqathi

b. Twitter - @teamsqathi

c. Facebook – Nana Nonkelela

#RunRevolution

Thursday, October 11, 2018
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Adidas Run Your Crew

Race Reviews

Capturing this event in words, is a very hard task to execute. However, I was up for the challenge of running 12km at my unfit stage of my life and I am up for the challenge of capturing the essence of this event now.

22016 is the year that Adidas South Africa entered the running game, which is a good thing because I have been keeping track of the international running scene. Adidas Runners is a developed concept in other countries and I was waiting for South Africa to jump into the fray. When the Johannesburg RunBase was launched, we were not invited and I made it my mission to participate in the next running event that would be launched.

This race was centered on the concept of the CREW & the premise was simple. START TOGETHER, FINISH TOGETHER

The Race Pack

In all my running years I have never come across such a pretty race pack. I mean it came in a box, like where have you ever seen a race pack in a box?

A photo posted by @thatindierunner on Dec 2, 2016 at 8:26am PST

A photo posted by Lebogang Xolo (@mrsx.lifestyle) on Nov 28, 2016 at 8:42am PST

The Race pack contained 6 tee shirts, 6 timing chips, 6 arm bands, stickers and the race rules. Not included in the race pack was the R50 uber voucher that each runner was provided with for a single trip.

The Route

This race was marketed as an inner city crew run and so in my head, when I hear inner city. I think fox street, maboneng, end street, Hilbrow etc because I have done city runs before such as the Nike Run Jozi and the FNB Joburg 10K city run . I was really dissapointed when we took a left on Rissik street and pretty much ran away from the inner city.

I understand that the city has a reputation for being unsafe however we have ran in the pits of Johannesburg at 8pm at night through Hilbrow. When a race advert says inner city run this is what I expect.I definately do not expect to be running in the streets of Parktown, the streets of Parktown are probably tired of NRC runners pounding them during week nights.

Running through Johannesburg CBD at night is an experience that lasts you a lifetime because unlike New York and Berlin. I wouldn't be able to run at 8pm through Hilbrow or Berea. So when a race takes me through those sections of the city, I appreciate because its something new that I enjoy through the safety of the group running. We have ran the tree lined surburbs enough, its time to really go into the city.

Apart from running in the surburbs, it was an okay route with steep inclines here and there, especially going through Wits university. Even though roads that are not popular were closed off and used, I hated there was cars driving in between us and we constantly had to look over our backs. This is the last thing that I want to do when I am in a race. Also there wasn't water at the 3KM point & we only got coke at the finish line.

The Medal

There weren't any medals at the finish line. We were presented with a drinks coupon and an arm band. I know with the calibre of runner thats at a street race every saturday this would have been a major problem. I don't really wear my medals or keep track of them anyways so this was not a problem for me.

My medal was meeting Sven from Run Pack Berlin, we have in communicating on facebook since way before I started this blog.

The Atmosphere

Adidas dubs itself as the home of Energy running. During the run I felt the energy from the bystanders, they cheered us on and offered us beer. The race was lively around constitutional hill, this also reason why I love running through the seedy parts of the seedy. I remember when I have done night city runs in the past, residents peer out of their flats and they cheer the runners on. This feeling is electric. There were also spots along the race where there were live performances. The atmosphere along the route was boring, the atmosphere after the race was ENERGY ON FLEEK.

The Entertainment

The block party!!! guys this was the best part of the night. The atmosphere was amazing! There were 2 stages, 3 bars and a food market. All of this was positioned in an alley in Newtown under the M1 highway. I mean ?!?! what is a better way to party in the city? There were various performances by several well known artists. The highlight was when Dj Kent took over the decks.

I wish you were there to experience it. It still gives me goosebumps now thinking about it, I am currently playing his album as I type this. That block party is probably the best party I have been to this entire year and it was a perfect way to close off my 2016 race season.

In Conclusion...

Would I do this race again? Definately, I would like to do the other Run Your Crew events around the world. If Adidas ZA does a cape town edition I would like to be there as well. This was Adidas ZA's first step into the Street Running/Crew movement and they certainly executed it well.

Thank you to my crew THE NO SWEAT GRETS, I was struggling to maintain pace but they kept me in check as from this race I am back to running again.

NO REGRETS OVER SWEATING

#RunRevolution

Tuesday, December 06, 2016
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Soweto Marathon 2016

Race Reviews

Whatchu know about Soweto?!!?!?!

Let me tell you about Soweto beyps...

Soweto is a landmark in South Africa with numerous tourist attractions, but I am not going to bore you with these facts you can google them.

I am going to tell you about my kilometres in Soweto as best as I can remember. I know that I am not a fan of driving in Soweto, because the drivers have no regard for street signs and rules. I also know that Soweto does not have a tree, because on the last long run the sun almost killed me. I also know that Soweto residents are go-getters thats why they had the first Mall in a township. Actually, I think I have a love affair with Soweto beyps.

Now beyps, let me tell you about my kilometres in this township. The Soweto Marathon is a popular South African Road Running Race which hosts the 42.2 km, 21.1 km and 10 km road races. In 2015, I particpated in the half marathon race which you can read about here and the 2014 edition here . In last years race recapp I declared that this year I would be 23, older and wiser and wouldbe doing the Soweto Marathon. I did it, the whole damn thing!!!!

A few weeks Nike provided Nike Running Club members with entry vouchers into the Soweto Marathon. I made a split decsion to enter the marathon but I did not really train for it, this being my final year of university and with job hunting processes. Time was really an issue, so I squeezed a 5km run and a speed session there but that never accumulated to more than 50 km's per month. It was only in October where I licked the 80km mark. The big day was drawing closer and at the last NRC long run I decided to drop down to the half marathon. However, at race pack collection I saw big signs that said no upgrades or downgrades so I just accepted my fate.

RACE DAY

I was nervous and telling myself how stupid I was for signing up for this and not training for it. I teamed up with Adi and we made a pact to finish the race no matter what and also NO AMBULANCE AT ALL.

Standing at the start line and realising that I would be on the road for the next 6 hours. I snapchatted that moment to let the peeps know and I just jumped on Makhi's bus hoping to keep up until I feel off. The ultimate goal was to enjoy the marathon and just take everything in because Soweto is full of life.

I live tweeted the race but stopped because Adi said I was slowing down, she eventualy left me before Koma Road. I knew then that I had to do this alone and this was before the half marathon mark. I counted the number of water points that were left and just carried on like that.

Inside the @Nike hospitality Area, few hours then we go!!! @NikeRunning @SowetoMarathon @NikeRunningZA #Runchat #SowetoMarathon #Sunday pic.twitter.com/3k5Cv1nrrr
— Thatindierunner (@thatindierunner) November 6, 2016

I remember a man offering us vodka straight from the bottle cap. I remember a woman offering us weetbix and milk. I remember grannies standing outside in their night gowns telling us not to give up we are close to finishing. I remember being catcalled and told I have sexy legs. I remember bystanders calling out "Atlegang" and telling me to keep going. I remember being scared that the Nike bus would leave me. I remember calling my mother and telling her I have 7km to go(She wasn't a fan of me doing the marathon) and asking her if she finished her race. I remember thinking about an ice cold Energade gliding down my throat. I remember passing New Canada, a man in flip-flops ran with me downhill and told me he did his marathon the day before. I remember I didnt stop because I wanted to please him and to shut him up.I remember a lady saying "you know its tough when you cant even run downhill" & I really couldnt run downhill. I remember calculating kilometres and knowing that I was going to finish this damn race no matter what.

7 kms in 35 to go passing Soweto towers. @runningblogs #SowetoMarathon #SowetoMarathon2016 #Marathon @Running_theRace pic.twitter.com/FUT7Vzc9qG
— Thatindierunner (@thatindierunner) November 6, 2016

I felt tired but also at the same time I felt strong. I only consumed coke and water, with the exception of an 8th of an orange I bit into and sucked after passing Orlando Stadium. I rolled my compression socks up and down, but really this made no difference. I drank from Soweto residents offering water, from people who were so kind as to offer their supplies to us from the boots of their cars.

The last 3km felt like 50km I could see the calabash but it was still very far away. People were leaving the stadium as I was walking towards it, I was embarassed but focused on the goal at hand. Zaakirah hooted at me and told me "to keep going". Entering the stadium I had accepted the fact that I was not going to get a medal and I was okay with this. We jogged until the finish line and the race official handed me a medal. I felt like I had won the lottery my hapiness levels were on Fleek!.

The greatest Moment of today. Running a marathon is not a joke.

The story will be on https://t.co/3EybnSASzH @SowetoMarathon #Nikeplus pic.twitter.com/MH2bxkj5Sy
— Thatindierunner (@thatindierunner) November 6, 2016

I eventually got to the Nike tent with 10 minutes to the last shuttle leaving. I was welcomed with warm smiles and high fives, Just then I remembered why I love running so much. Even the last runner is applauded because Beyps, Running is hard! and Soweto Marathon is nobodys friend even though its called the peoples race.

After a quick wash up, I returned to the FNB Stadium to sit under a tree with my Running Club, The Runners Store. They were such a mad bunch they made me forget that I am in pain. At the end of the day, Soweto Marathon was finished beyps...

Next year, I will be 24 and older and wiser and stronger and I will be doing the Soweto Marathon again.

#RunRevolution

Monday, November 14, 2016
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Discovery 947 Rhythm Run

Nana Nonkelela

Race Report: Totalsports Women's Race 2017

Cell C Day of Races 2017

OLD MUTUAL OM DIE DAM, from the BACK OF THE VAN

The Music Run

Adidas Run Your Crew

Soweto Marathon 2016

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