Distance running legend Blache Moila joined a special group of female runners when she became the fifth lady to complete a century of SPAR Women’s 10km races in Pretoria on August 1.

Known for wearing her trademark turban during races, Moila joined Sonja Laxton, Ronel Thomas, Janene Carey and Grace de Oliveira as the only women to run 100 races in this series dedicated to female road runners.

The Savages AC runner clocked 58:16 to finish the SPAR Grand Prix race in Tshwane second in the 70+ age group to complete her centenary performance in style.

Decades after tearing up South African roads, tracks and cross-country courses as a trailblazing athlete, Moila is still going strong and is still using the SPAR Women’s Series as a platform to find a healthy balance in her life.

Moila made history back in 1984 when she became the first black woman to earn Springbok colours in athletics, and as an elite athlete she secured national titles over a wide range of distances in the colours of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA).

After taking up the sport while studying to be a nurse, during a sports day between staff and patients, Moila never looked back.

And having broken new ground during her elite career, she was delighted to see how far women’s distance running had come over the last five decades.

Also Read: Record-breaking Xaba wins at SPAR Grand Prix Awards

“It’s really satisfying and we are just so excited about it. If you look at my 10km personal best (33:58), it’s way slower than women are running now,” Moila said.

“Elite athletes are now running 32 or 31 minutes, and it just shows the depth and talent we have in South Africa.”

Moila feels the key is to live one’s life in a way that assists individuals in finding a healthy balance, which she still manages to do all these years after she first strapped on a pair of running shoes.

“Age has no penalty, and we learn in the present, so if you’re passionate about sport and do your homework, you will do the best you can,” she said.

“For young girls who get into the sport of running, it’s so important to have a great support system from your family and your community because we live in difficult times.

“When I was at school, the girl child was not always supported to excel in sport, and it was by pure chance that I got into sport, so right now we’re trying to encourage the girls to take part.”

The next leg of the SPAR Grand Prix 10km series, open to women of all ages and abilities, will be held in Gqeberha on September 16, with the final race in this year’s series in Johannesburg on October 4.

Also Read: SPAR Womens Challenge Jozi set to light up Joburg streets