MULTISPORT
MA : Kura , how did you get into the sport of triathlon ?
KM : The thought of getting into the sport initially came about in 2018 , and I spoke to some of the friends I was running with at the time , to see if they thought triathlon was a viable option for me . I was told that it took a lot of commitment to do triathlon , that it was a time-intensive sport . However , I was still interested in the sport despite hearing about the obstacles I would face if I pursued this dream of being a triathlete .
So , in 2019 I taught myself to ride a bike for the first time ever in my life . I did not know how to ride a bike , so that ’ s where I thought my starting point should be . My current boss taught me how to use cycling cleats that same week . I then went to a guy named Hanson Singaphi , at a local bike shop , and he took me on a ride which helped with my confidence . Hanson then mentioned that I would need to learn how to swim and practice often if I want to do the sport , especially if I wanted to enter an IRONMAN race .
MA : So , who taught you to swim ? KM : A guy named Jono who stays in Cape Town . He gave me advice over the phone on what type of exercises I would have to do , and he told me to get a pool noodle , then join a local gym and start swimming . I had to pay R20 a day to get into the gym and after a while , this got too expensive for me , so I stopped and went to the ocean at Sardinia Bay . When I got there , I saw a sign saying no lifeguards were available . I was tempted to go in , but I saw that the current was strong , so I went to the next beach instead . When I got to the next beach , I saw there were lifeguards , so I felt it was safe to start swimming , but I struggled . I then got out the water and went to one of the lifeguards who referred me to a swim coach .
I contacted the coach , and once he saw my eagerness and willingness to learn , he did not charge me . However , I had to go when he was not full with paying clients , as he was extremely busy , so I ended up going back to the beach to practise there . One day , while trying to swim , I bumped into another lifeguard , Mister Mike Du Toit , who showed me some swimming drills and tips . When I felt like I was ready , I ventured down to Hobie Beach , where the IRONMAN swim start use to be . I went into the sea and swam about 500 metres , because I was feeling brave that day .
A few days later , I was doing hill repeats and this guy stopped on the side of the road and spoke to me . He told me that I looked fit and encouraged me to follow my dream of doing a triathlon . He then went out to get a sponsor for me , so that I could get an entry for the IRONMAN , but he made me promise to practise my swimming and biking . Since I did not have my own bicycle , he looked around and found a second-hand one for me . I was so grateful , because I had never owned a bike before .
MA : Speaking of bikes , we heard that you have had bad luck in this department …
KM : One day in 2020 , I was doing an early evening training bike ride , and someone crashed into me . I had the right of way , but the gentleman did not stop at the Stop Sign . I don ’ t know how I survived that , because I got thrown over the bonnet of the car and onto the ground . I was shaken up and scared after that ... and I also had to find another bike , because mine was badly damaged during the crash .
When I started fundraising for another bike ,
people did not believe that I was going to use the money to buy a bike , so I can take part in IRONMAN . I heard people saying that I did not look like a triathlete , that I looked unfit , and I was just going to use the money for something else . This really hurt me . Fortunately , IRONMAN South Africa gave me a proof of entry letter that helped with my fundraising .
I managed to raise R7000 to get a bike , but then the bike got stolen three weeks before the event , while I was at work . I was devastated and stressed all week , but luckily , Paul Wolff from IRONMAN South Africa lent me a bike to use for the event .
MA : Before we talk about the event , let ’ s rewind a bit … tell us how you got into running .
KM : Running has always been a passion of mine . During my school years , I was a sprinter . I ran the 100-metre distance and had a personal best time of 10.34 seconds . I stopped running for a couple years after school , and it has only been recently that I had the desire to run again . One evening , I decided to go outside and go for a light jog . I ended up running around 15 kilometres , and still felt good . I was surprised , so I started running more often . I then joined a local running club and ran my first 10-kilometre race in 36 minutes .
MA : Also looking back , how did you get through the COVID-19 lockdown in terms of training ?
KM : I had to train during certain hours , and I had to juggle those hours with my work , so it was extremely difficult . I cycled or ran to and back from work every day for my two shifts , but I did not belong to a gym , so I had to wait for the beaches to open so that I could swim . I was fortunate to be given a second-hand wetsuit from one of the friendly people in my community , and I must say that I have been lucky to bump into the right people throughout this journey . The Nelson Mandela Bay community has helped me with a lot of things that I needed . They have been so kind to me ! ( At this point , Kura has tears streaming down his face as the emotion of his journey wells up .)
MA : Now take us through the IRONMAN African Championship event , please . How did you find the swim ?
KM : Wow , that was very tough ! The ocean conditions were bad , the current was even moving buoys , but I enjoyed it because I trained enough to face that . The organisers shortened the swim , which was a good call by them – I even heard they gave people an option not to swim at all , and just start with the bike . I did not want that option , because I was confident in my training and abilities . It was my dream to do the swim , so I did it .
MA : And the bike and run legs ? KM : The first lap on the bike was easy , but the second loop was gruesome – that is when I experienced what being an IRONMAN athlete really means . It was even tougher than the swim ! Then the run … I am a good runner , but it is tough running after swimming and biking at an IRONMAN . I walked the first 10 kilometres , but after I got my breath back , I started running and got into a rhythm . I actually enjoyed the run leg .
MA : So , are you planning to do another
IRONMAN race again after what you went through this weekend ?
KM : Yes , definitely ! I hope I can be on that start line in April this year , and I am going to train to better my time . I have a lot to work on the bike , so I am going to save to get a bike , because I am currently still borrowing one from the IRONMAN organisers . I cannot wait !
The two loops of the bike leg were very different , says Kura
This article was supplied to Modern Athlete by IRONMAN South Africa .
63