Salt Rock’s Forrest Gump

Salt Rock Hotel security guard, Ellias Zungu runs 10 kilometres every day from his home in Shayamoya to start his afternoon shift at 2pm.
The father of four joked he never has the excuse of being late because of traffic or road blocks.
“I have been working here since 2000 and run to work every single day without fail.”
He gets home just before midnight and gets up in the morning to run another 20 kilometres to Groutville and back.
Ellias said he has always been a passionate athlete even as a young boy growing up in Manguza, KZN. His dream was to become a professional runner but circumstances have hindered his attempts.
“Growing up in the rural areas in the 1980s into early 1990s, I was not exposed to a lot of information on running but I knew in my heart that I loved it so I just ran for the fun of it and to keep fit.”
He said when his attempts to get sponsorship or even join a runners club in his home town failed, he was forced to face reality that his dream might never come true.
He said eventually he just started searching for a normal job so that he could support his family.
“In 2008 my friends and I decided to form a runners club so that we could train for big races. For the first time that year I entered the Comrades Marathon and ran from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in eight hours.”
Ellias said although the club disbanded after the race, the experience taught him a lot about being a disciplined runner and how to prepare for a race.
“I am looking for another runners club to join and that is why I keep fit because I do not want to fail their trials and miss my chance of joining.”
Ellias’ dream is to one day be in the top 10 of the Comrades and he said he wanted to do it as a way to motivate his children not to give up on their dreams.