When Sibusiso Ngcobo (54) crossed the finish line of the legendary Comrades Marathon on June 8, it was more than just a race completed – it was the closing chapter of a ten-year journey that began with a simple invitation from his daughter, Nomfundo, in 2015.

“I was simply captivated by the energy and camaraderie at the finish line,” he recalls of his very first event, the Vuyo Mbuli Memorial Race at James and Ethel Grey Park. “That moment sparked something in me. I asked my daughter to invite me to more races, and that’s where it all began.”

What began as a family outing quickly turned into a passion that shaped his weekends, friendships, and even holidays. Sibusiso ran events like the MTN Marathon and the Clearwater Mall race in 2016, relying on temporary licences at first. He proudly obtained his permanent running licence in 2017, when he became a member of the Panorama Running Club, setting his eyes on bigger goals.

Sibusiso found his stride at parkrun in February 2018, starting with the Roodepoort parkrun, which has since become his home run. His running journey completely changed from there. To date, he has completed 219 parkruns across 134 different events, earned 105 volunteer credits at 73 locations, and set a personal best of 24:36 at Sand River parkrun in Virginia in May 2024.

His running took on a new dimension in February 2022 when his neighbour, Thandi Zililo, invited him to explore new venues. “Our first adventure was Gracepoint,” Sibusiso says. “That morning, something shifted in me. I felt alive. From that moment, I wasn’t just running — I was discovering.”

Soon, he became a parkrun tourist, travelling to events across South Africa and even to Mbabane parkrun in Eswatini. He proudly collected his orange tourist cap at Kwanele parkrun and his lemon cap after completing 100 different events.

The road wasn’t always smooth. From car trouble en route to Kameeldoring to getting lost on the way to Leeupoort and even racing between venues after last-minute cancellations, there were challenges along the way.

“Despite all these challenges, we never gave up. Each challenge just made the story more memorable,” he said.

Sibusiso embraced volunteering with the same passion he brought to running. As a barcode scanner, he cheered runners across the finish line, sharing in their triumphs.

Beyond the parkrun, Sibusiso participated in some of South Africa’s most iconic races. In 2023, he finished the Two Oceans Half Marathon, the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 2024, and finally the Comrades Marathon this year.

“Ten years after that first 5km, crossing the Comrades finish line was a dream come true,” he said proudly. “It’s proof that greatness begins with a single step.”

For Sibusiso, running is more than the medals and milestones. It’s all about the people, the community and the sense of belonging.

“Parkrun is more than a run,” he says. “It’s a celebration of life, of resilience, of community. You don’t have to be fast. You just have to show up.”

Looking ahead, Sibusiso hopes to join the prestigious Jabu Club for runners who complete 250 different parkruns and to continue travelling across borders, cultures, and continents in pursuit of new running adventures.

His story is a reminder to many people that every finish line starts with a single step, and a certain combination of passion, perseverance, and community can turn even the simplest run into a life-changing journey.