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Images : Steven Freitag , Craig Kolesky , Fahwaaz Cornelius , Reblex Photography & courtesy Ultra-Trail Drakensberg |
that event because it is just a week after SkyRun , and I won ’ t be fully recovered . I love the SkyRun more than any other race in the country , and it is for that reason I come back to run it each year , and to win it again . It such an unpredictable event , in that the weather gives us anything on the day . Sometimes you will find it hot , or it is raining , but that ’ s part of what makes the race special , and why it is close to my heart .”
Talent for Running
While Tshabalala has enjoyed great success on the trails in recent years , he actually only transitioned into running later in life , and into trail running specifically still later than that . Growing up in Bethlehem in the Free State , he says his first love was actually football . “ When I was growing up , I played football , just like most boys in the community . Even though I was good , there was no progress in it , and after I had my first child , I decided to start looking for another sport , and hopefully a job , in order to be able to support him ,” he explains .
“ I started to run because I believed I had the talent for it . Every time before training while I was playing football , I used to come early to do laps before my teammates arrived . So after football , I thought I can make a successful career in running , and since I didn ’ t have much speed , but I ’ m strong and a hard worker , I decided to tackle long distances ,” he adds .
Initially , Tshabalala focused on road events , going on to run the Comrades Marathon in 2017 and earning a silver medal in 7:11:07 , finishing 232nd overall . The following year he went still faster , clocking 6:48:41 and finishing 139th , but his focus was already changing , as he had been convinced by Nina Alexis Furness , owner of the event company My Road Less Travelled , to have a go at trail running , and specifically mountain running . “ After the 2017 Comrades , I met Nina , who had a child attending the school where I was working , and she convinced me to run trail . I started by running 20km distances , and quickly fell in love with it ,” he says .
Looking for Guidance
In 2019 , Tshabalala enjoyed a breakthrough year in trail running . He won the Maxi-Race Cape Winelands
Tshabalala is aiming to add a fourth consecutive SkyRun 100km title to his collection
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100km and as well as the Magaliesberg Challenge . This success made him realise that he needed some guidance in order to take his running still further , so he decided to approach two-time SkyRun winner Lucky Miya for help to polish his trail running skills . Since then , the pair have developed a great friendship . “ Even though I was starting to win races , I struggled a bit to master some things , so I decided to read Trail magazine frequently for tips . Then I discovered that the likes of Lucky Miya , Thabang Madiba and Eric Ngubane , some of the black athletes who were doing well in trail ,” says Tshabalala .
“ Since I was more interested in long distances , I saw that Lucky was the one who stood out when it came to the longer distances , so I made contact with him in order to gain valuable tips , in order to shine further . We communicated over the phone till I met him face to face at the MaxiRace in 2019 , and then we spoke about me taking him on as my coach . He agreed to help me , and since then we have both grown together . In the beginning , I didn ’ t have a race plan , or know what shoes I should use in a race , or a strategy of running , and what to eat . He introduced me to all
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Two wins and a second in three years at the 4 Peaks Mountain Challenge 24km
those things , and I started to have a better knowledge of the sport . He is now like a brother to me , and I have huge respect for him as a person , and for his achievements in sport .”
The coaching advice obviously helped , as Tshabalala has continued to enjoy success on the trails after those initial wins in 2019 , including consecutive podium finishes at the Ultra-Trail Drakensberg in 2022 ( second in the 160km ) and 2023 ( third in the 62km ), and three consecutive podium finishes at the 4 Peaks Mountain Challenge 24km ( first , second and first in 2021 , 2022 and 2023 respectively ). And in 2024 he has enjoyed still more success , as mentioned earlier .
Making the Most of It
Today , Tshabalala acknowledges that he is already in the twilight of his competitive running career , given his age , and says he knows he won ’ t be able to race at the very top for too much longer , but that he hopes his running and racing will inspire more runners to follow in his footsteps . “ Lucky always reminds me that we are growing older now , and I know my career is starting to come to an end , so I don ’ t know how long I ’ ll stay in the sport and be able to continue winning races , but I ’ m trying to stay competitive and enjoy it till the end ,” he says .
“ When I ’ m at races , people often give me a special welcome , and they ask me for tips about trail running , which makes me happy . I don ’ t consider myself a legend of the sport , but my achievements are what make people to celebrate me . So , I ’ m hoping I can be able to share all necessary information and inspire them to achieve their goals in life , too . I always say , it requires focus , discipline and working hard on top of the talent , and if runners can master that , they are bound to have a successful career .”
About the Author
Tathe Msimango is a Durban-based freelance sport journalist , podcaster and digital content creator , with a particular interest in all things running . He is a regular contributor to various platforms and outlets , including Kaya FM , The Top Runner and Blizzard magazine in the UK .
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