‘Start running at your own pace’
Mother of two, Kutlwano Malale says running has restored her health and her body.
KwaThema – Kutlwano Malale (37) took her spot bright and early on Sunday morning at the Johnson Crane Hire half marathon in Benoni.
After the birth of her second child, Kutlwano struggled to lose the baby weight.
“I felt really uncomfortable in my body.
“I was starting to have short breath and pains everywhere,” she explains.
This is when her doctor told her that her best shot to lose weight would be exercising.
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“I started alone at the walk, just walking around.
“But soon I met some of the guys from KwaThema Striders.”
The mother of two says she was sceptic of joining a group.
“I did not think that I would be comfortable running with other people.
“I thought I would be too slow and they would just leave me behind.”
In March last year, she finally had the guts to join the club and she has not looked back since.
“My first marathon was the Soweto 21km,” she says.
She finished that race in three and a half hours.
After months of participating in other races and training, she has improved to completing 21km in less than two and half hours.
“For me, it is really a great achievement.
“And the benefit to my health cannot be measured.”
Kutlwano says anyone can be a runner.
“I want to encourage someone who is sitting at home doubting themselves to come and join us.
“Take it easy and do it at your own pace, and soon you will get better at it.”
KwaThema Striders will be doing a long run on Saturday.
They will start at the Corner of Kgaswane and Manensta Streets at 4.30am.
They invite the community to join them.
