From the dusty roads and rolling hills of Ndwedwe, a group of young runners is quietly making its mark on South Africa’s trail-running scene.

The athletes from LIV2Run Athletics Club are not only competing in major races but are also using sport to build confidence, discipline and hope for a brighter future.

Among them is 30-year-old Sinovuyo Ngcobo, who joined the LIV Village in Durban after finishing matric. What began as an opportunity to run has developed into a career as a trail runner and coach.

“It has been eight years at LIV2Run, and we have seen major changes in the children and the opportunities now available to them. We are happy to see the athletes producing good results in the events we have taken part in,” said Ngcobo.

The club recently competed at the George Mountain Ultra-Trail (MUT), where Ngcobo finished 10th in the MUT60 event. In the MUT Challenge, Tsielo Tsanyane claimed second place, while Mhlengi Chili and Nolwazi Dlamini both finished eighth in their respective categories.

Tsanyane, 28, has already built an impressive trail-running résumé. He finished second in the men’s Explorer 23km race at the 2023 RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town and won the Drakensberg Rock Jumper 25km race in 2024. His next goal is to compete internationally.

For 26-year-old Khulekani Mbuyazi, running is about more than fitness.
“It challenges me mentally and physically and allows me to inspire others from disadvantaged communities,” he said.

Nineteen-year-old Chili discovered a supportive family when he joined LIV2Run in 2022. He announced himself as a rising talent by winning the RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town 16km race, his first trail event.

Raised by her grandmother, Dlamini said running has given her confidence and direction. Inspired by Caster Semenya, she hopes to become a top athlete and show that young women from rural areas can succeed in sport.

Young runners Sbahle Ndlovu and Sesphelele Ntanzi also dream of following in the footsteps of Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge. LIV2Run founder Lindi Meyer said the programme is about much more than producing successful athletes.

“We expose these athletes to opportunities they never imagined possible. We want them to dream bigger and believe they can achieve more in life, both on and off the trail,” she said.

Founded in 2018, LIV2Run provides young athletes from disadvantaged rural communities with access to coaching, mentorship and life skills, helping them chase success both on the trails and beyond.