Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 2019 | Page 21

question: Would I be able to deal with this challenge?
Eventually, I decided that if others can do it, so can I!”
Sibs says part of his motivation was that not many
African runners take on 100-milers, due to the length
of preparation needed, and the pain experienced
during the race. “A lot go to Comrades, but no further,
and I decided I wanted to showcase to people that if
you put your mind to achieve something in running,
whatever the distance or time you’re chasing, then
you are able to do it. I had a belief that I can do it, so
I started planning and preparing in 2018, including
training plan, eating plan and more.”
The Washie Experience
In spite of his strong self-belief, Sibs admits that he
was nervous when he lined up at the Washie start line.
“Knowing I had 161km to run made me nervous, but I
was wearing my Mohammed Ali fighter’s gown, which
has the words on the back, I am the greatest, and as
always, that gave me extra motivation. But believe
it or not, I actually enjoyed every single moment of
the race. I ran strategically, breaking it down into four
marathons, and I had no physical pain, every stage
was enjoyable. At 105km I even managed to run a
5km section at just under four minutes a kilometre,
just to have some fun, which really surprised some of
the other people in the race!” he laughs.
and gave me a big hug, and Nontuthuko said, ‘Oh my
gosh, I can’t believe it, we did it.’ They were just so
happy for me.”
Inspired by Her Brother
Nontuthuko (37) works as a nutritionist and has
been running for five years, during which she has
completed both the Two Oceans and Comrades ultras
five times each. She says her running ethos is built on
her desire to always be active. “I have always been a
fitness fanatic, but only did gym and played netball at
school. I actually hated running back then, and had to
be threatened with detention to get me running. Later
I was inspired by my brother, and when I supported
and seconded him in his first Comrades, the running
bug bit me as well when I saw him finish, and how
much excitement it brought him, that look in his eyes.”
I had never thought I was a runner, even though my
mom ran at school and we have it in our genes. When
we were young, she would take us to fun runs, and
through the years I did the odd 5km fun run or Spar
Women’s race, but would then just go back to gym.
However, when I saw my brother getting up early to put
in the training, then saw his satisfaction at doing it and
feeling so great, I decided to try it as well and started
running with the aim to do Comrades,” she says.
When asked why she decided to tackle a 100-miler
on trail, Nontuthuko says the seed was planted when
she and Sibs went to second a clubmate in the 2018
Karkloof. “An elderly man hiked the whole race and
still managed to finish just within the cut-off, so I said
to Sibs, if he can hike it and finish, I can run it. He then
suggested that I second him in the Washie, and he will
second me in Karkloof. That’s when we found out no
siblings had done this before, and we said, imagine
how many people will be inspired by us showcasing
that African runners can achieve anything that they
put their minds to.”
“I also find that trail running is still seen largely as a
white sport, and when we began running trail
races, we encouraged others from our
“My eating plan and massaging plan all went
smoothly, thanks to my great seconding team of my
sister plus two other friends. Without them, I would
not have completed the race. For the last 10km, I
asked my sister to run with me, because I wanted
her to really be part of my race. We ran-walked that
last section – obviously my legs were tired – and it
was a great pleasure to have her alongside me, both
wearing our club shirts. She had run with me here and
there throughout the race, but that last 10km was the
biggest joy of the race.”
Then with 1km to go, as I was nearing the stadium,
she got in the car to go to the finish and welcome
me in. I just ran hard to finish, knowing my team was
waiting for me there, and did my traditional ‘Sibs
Dance’ at the finish line as I crossed the line in a time
of 21:12:13. It was an extremely proud moment, and
I was very emotional at the time. My team just came
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