Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 114, January 2019 | Page 17

ROAD RUNNING
to date, and she says that first Oceans was a great
way to start her ultra career. “That was the year that it
rained so much. I ran it with a friend and we just took
our time to enjoy the perfect running weather, and the
atmosphere and views. There was no time involved,
because my friend said let’s just go experience it and
get the feeling of it – and that’s what I now tell all the
beginners I help, just to go out and enjoy it, relax,
don’t push yourself at first, just see how you feel on
the day and enjoy yourself.”
That year was also her first experience of pacesetting, at
the Leapfrog Half Marathon. “I wanted to try break two
hours and joined Paul Murphy’s sub-2:00 bus. He was
just so calm and reassuring, letting us walk regularly, and
it was so relaxed. I just kept thanking him afterwards,
because I couldn’t believe there was somebody out
there doing this for us, unselfishly. I mean, he could
have run his own race and done a much better time.
So that day I decided this is what I want to do as well,
to help other people achieve their goals, and in 2015,
when I was fitter and more experienced, I signed up as a
Western Province Pacesetter.
come to know over the years, and I thought to myself
I want to get as fast as them... but I was sweating! I
eventually finished in 1 hour 45 minutes, but it felt like
it took forever. I remember I had these tracksuit pants,
and a big top and a big cap, and I was huffing and
puffing, but eventually I got that medal... and then I
said I was never coming back!”
But she did come back, going on to run her first half
marathon at the 2011 Landmarks, and her first marathon
at the Peninsula the following year. “The bug had bitten,
and I actually found that I prefer the longer distances,
because of my asthma, instead of the faster shorter
distances,” says Rushi, but admits that she nearly
didn’t finish that first marathon. “I had bought myself a
new pair of running shoes and only run in them for two
weeks before the race, and by the time we got to Fish
Hoek, I just couldn’t go any more, because my feet were
full of blisters. I sat there and cried, and even phoned
my husband and asked him to come fetch me, but he
said no man, you must finish, since you’re nearly there!
Luckily a friend then came past and convinced me to get
going again, and we finished in about 4:45.”
Upping the Distance
In 2012 Rushi ran her first Two Oceans and Comrades
ultras, going on to complete them seven times each
The other big way that Rushi gives back to the running
community is in her role as motivator to other beginner
runners, once they hear about her weight-loss journey.
“I enjoy the role, because that’s how I got into running
and leading a healthy lifestyle, thanks to other people
helping and motivating me and giving me that support.
To see the growth and change in people is amazing,
but I always tell them to be patient, that change
doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes people tell me
they’ve lost two kilograms, but a week later they’ve
gained it back again, and I tell them don’t worry, it’s
fine, because it takes time... don’t get demotivated
and keep going. I often get asked what did I use, like
a banting diet or specific products, but I tell them I
went to a nutritionist for advice and also did my own
research, then worked out my eating plan, cutting
out carbs, putting in more protein, more
salads and more greens, and got moving.
born in 2006 and 2007, and my weight-loss journey
began in 2010, so they were still quite small and don’t
remember what I looked like.”
More importantly, she says her asthma no longer
affects her as much. “Obviously, when the weather
and seasons change I still feel it a bit, but I control
it well. I still run with my pump and my medical aid
card, just in case, and most of my friends know I have
asthma. If I feel uncomfortable in a run, I slow down
and walk. I’m not there to win the race, I’m there to
enjoy myself.”
Looking ahead, Rushi says she would love to get to
10 Comrades, and then will consider pacing there as
well – but just once. “I have been asked if I want to
pace at Comrades, but I first want to get my Green
Number, and then I want to run it one more time,
leading the sub-11:00 bus, and that will be my final
Comrades, because it takes too much time and
training each year. But the Two Oceans is here in
Cape Town, so I may as well just continue running
that.”
When asked if she feels like she’s led two separate
lives, before and after starting to run, Rushi says
she really wishes she had started running earlier,
especially when she sees young people starting out
in the sport. “I think to myself how much better my
health and quality of life would have been if I had
started earlier. Still, I have met so many incredible
people through running, and I look forward to seeing
my friends at races, so when I miss a race and see all
the pics on Facebook, I feel like I have missed out. It’s
not just the health, weight-loss and easier breathing
that keep me coming back, it’s the friendship as well.”
Trimmed Down
Today the 41-year-old maintains
a weight of 51kg, having lost
36kg, and says her ‘rhino
days’ are now just a distant
memory. “I deleted most of
my fat pics, just kept a few
to remind me of where I
have come from, because I
never want to go back there
again. Just recently my son
came across one of those
old photos and he asked if
that was really me, because
my kids don’t remember
me being that big. They were
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