TRAIL RUNNING
Bitten by the Bug
Nontuthuko ’ s journey to this point in her running career began with a simple invite to go for a walk in late 2013 . “ A friend of mine told me to join her in the East Coast Big Walk in Durban , which is 10km , and my initial reaction was ‘ Whaaaaat ??? That ’ s faaaaaaar !’ But I did it , I really enjoyed it , and the bug bit . Ten months later I lined up for my first Comrades Marathon .”
Nontu in action during the World Marathon Challenge
Since then , she has competed in well over 70 marathons and ultra-marathons , both on tar and trail , including six Comrades ( she boasts a best of 8:53 , which she ran in 2018 ), a number of 100-milers on trail , and several stage races around the world , including the gruelling Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert . She also climbed Kilimanjaro in 2018 . “ I love hiking and try to do a lot of it . All those hidden miles also help me with my running . They really make a difference ,” she says .
Tackling the Marathon Des Sables
Another incredible running adventure came in February 2020 , when Nontu tackled the World Marathon Challenge . This is a unique event where runners set out to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents , which means a gruelling 295.4km of running coupled with an even more gruelling 43,000km of air travel , across multiple time zones , all non-stop ! Nontu was just the second South African to tackle this immense challenge , and the first woman from Africa to do it .
However , as much as she is motivated by podium positions or conquering personal challenges , it is the fundraising aspect of her running that she considers the most important . To date , she has raised over R3-million through her various athletic adventures to better the lives of rural kids living in poverty . Those funds have paid for five new classrooms , an admin block and new toilets for Khiphinkunzi Primary School in Mtubatuba , as well as food packages and face masks during the COVID pandemic .
A School in Need
Nontu came across the Khiphinkunzi school while running the Karkloof Challenge 100 Miler trail race in 2018 , and while it reminded her of her own school days , she says , “ I was stunned when I saw the poor state the school was in . Over 100 kids in each class , and what facilities they had were in a very poor condition , including all the windowpanes being shattered , and old chalk boards covering the back windows . I felt that the school ’ s infrastructure actually undermined effective teaching and learning , and it really affected me .”
Even worse , she says that many of the parents or guardians of the children in the school were unemployed and dependent on government grants . “ The majority of these children are being raised by their grandparents , and a significant number of children who attend the school go to bed with empty stomachs , and then have to travel a long distance to and from school without any food .”
Having raised funds to address some of the infrastructure needs at that school , Nontu ’ s mission in 2023 has changed to raising funds for school shoes for kids at various schools . “ Kids from rural villages have to walk far to get to school , because there aren ’ t many schools . A school shoe , therefore , becomes a mode of transport , yet some families can ’ t afford them due to socio-economic factors . A school shoe therefore competes with bread and butter ,” she explains . “ These children come from communities and schools that are underserved , but a school shoe should not stand in their way . Every child should have a fair chance at success , so this is about reducing or removing barriers to finishing school . And that ’ s what I was running for in Vietnam .”
Where There is a Vision , There is Provision
In February 2020 , I was running 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days . I embarked on this journey to raise funds for Khiphinkunzi Primary School in Mtubatuba ( Dukuduku Village ). Funds were raised to renovate and build five extra classrooms , as some classrooms had over 100 learners , and they were also using old park-homes that were unsafe and unstable .
A year later , it gave me pleasure to share with all my followers that the building had been completed successfully , and when schools opened on Monday 15 February 2021 , the learners moved into their new classrooms .
Thanks to everyone who donated towards this project . Every donation made a difference , and your generosity made this possible . I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the major sponsors , Hollywood Bets and Richards Bay Coal Terminal , without whose support this project would not have been possible . Ngiyabonga . – Nontu Mgabhi , February 2021
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