ROAD RUNNING colours for Central Gauteng as well , before moving down to the Cape in late 2014 to join the Endurocad set-up managed by Elana Meyer . He subsequently earned Western Province colours multiple times as well , and through the years he has won 12 provincial titles , from the steeple chase and 10,000m on track , through 4km , 10km and 12km distance in cross country , to 10km and 21.1km distances on road .
On the national stage , Sibusiso won the SA under-23 track titles in both the 3000m steeple chase and 10,000m in 2012 , and retained his steeple chase title in 2013 . Having finished fifth in the SA Cross Country Champs 12km in 2012 , he finished fourth overall and third in the under-23 category at the SA Champs 4km in 2013 . That same year he was part of the winning Central Gauteng team at the SA Half Marathon Champs .
In 2017 he competed in the steeple chase on the European track circuit , but then changed focus to the road in 2018 , making it a habit to collect race wins in events such as the Gun Run 10km and the Peninsula , Mossel Bay and Safari Half Marathons . In 2018 he also made his marathon debut at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon , clocking 2:22 and helping the Western Province team win the SA Champs team category . He followed that up with a PB 2:21:37 in the 2019 race , earning a team silver with Western Province . He has also clocked personal bests of 28:58 ( 10km ) and 1:04:53 ( 21.1km ).
Now that he has recovered from his wounds and is back running again , Sibusiso says it makes sense to simply roll his plans for 2020 over to 2021 , and that includes going back to the track to work on his speed over 5000m and 10,000m . “ My aim this year was to run 62 minutes at the SA 21km , then try to run sub-2:12 in an overseas marathon , but the Corona meant I could not do that . So , my plan for 2021 will be the same , with a marathon around October , either in Cape Town or in Europe . The first eight months of the year will be all about getting ready for that marathon , so I want to get into shape to run 28 or 29 minutes for 10km , and 62 or 63 minutes for 21km .”
Getting the food packs ready for distribution , with sponsor Under Armour
Appreciative of Support
When he talks about his running career , Sibusiso says one of the things he is most grateful for is the great support he has always received . Today he is fully sponsored by Under Armour , is coached by Stellenbosch-based Ernie Gruhn as part of Endurocad , and he is part of the Atlantic Athletic Club ’ s elite athlete programme . “ I am very thankful to all my supporters , including my sponsor , coach and club , because I have been helped by many who have contributed to my running success . I specifically want to mention Elisabeth Östberg from Sweden and Gail Mackenzie from Durban , who have been instrumental in my career , not only in running , but in life as well .”
While recuperating from the attack , it was this gratitude , coupled with the experience of the attack , that prompted Sibusiso to decide to ‘ pay it forward ,’ by trying to help other young athletes in the same way that he has been helped in his career . “ I decided to do something to make a difference , so I identified five young athletes that I often run with at Mandela Park in Khayalitsha , whose parents and families are struggling . I looked at their home situations – a single parent , or parents not working , some having to collect recycling waste just to try make some money for food – and still these young runners are committed to their running . They have all represented Western Province .”
Joining Feryal and Thomas Mešković to hand out more food parcels
A Fresh Outlook
With his plans for 2021 in place and steadily rebuilding his fitness , Sibusiso says he feels more fired up than ever about his running . “ I took two months off running after the stabbing , which was actually a good thing , because us athletes tend not to rest enough . I now realise that top runners actually need two or three months of proper rest after a big race , like a hard marathon , not just two or three weeks . So being booked off running for a few months was actually a good thing for me . I actually feel much better now , fresher , and my plan is to train hard now , so that I am ready when the races come back . That ’ s why I started a serious four-month training programme at the beginning September , and I think by January I am going to be in very good shape .”
Ready to get racing again after the long lockdown
“ I came up with an idea that I presented to Under Armour , to raise funds and donations to help these families with food parcels . They loved my plan , and in the end they did much more than I proposed . And so on 2 August we were able to give each family food parcels worth R1200 , and Under Armour also dressed all the runners with new shoes , shorts , shirts and caps . I am so proud to be part of this great brand !”
More was to follow , with AAC clubmate Feryal Mešković contacting Sibusiso two days later with a further offer of support . “ She and her husband Thomas have been doing food parcel deliveries since May , and she told me she had more food parcels to give out , so could I identify more families in need . They gave us another 20 food parcels worth R500 each for these families , and more recently she gave me big boxes of FutureLife as well as pap to pass on to the young athletes . She has done an amazing thing ,” says Sibusiso .
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