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Nelson Nyatheli.

“I run to keep fit and healthy, not for medals”

 

A long-distance runner ,who only runs to keep himself fit, has lost count of the number of medals he has collected over the past years.

Nelson Nyatheli of Tshilapfene Ha-Radali, near Donald Fraser Hospital ,says he does not recall how many medals are in his suitcase, because he only runs for fun, not for financial gain, name, or fame. “The medals are many. I have lost count. I just collect and put them safely after each race. I have a fulltime job that I enjoy, but I just run to keep myself fit and healthy,” he said while displaying some of his precious medals.

Nyatheli said he started running while he was still a little boy. “I used to outrun my peers when we looked after goats at the grazing fields. I was also an athletics star during my primary and high school days. I represented Frans Rasimphi High School on several occasions during athletics competitions. Everyone knew that there was this “short boy” at Frans Rasimphi High School who ran like a jaguar.”

Although Nyatheli is a smart runner, he does not want to make athletics his career. “I opted to study further and do something different, hence I am happy with my full-time job at Murray and Roberts. When you exercise, you stay healthy and chances of being attacked by opportunistic diseases are very slim. I make sure that I run every day after work and on weekends. Running is part of my daily life and I cannot imagine life without it. That is why I encourage everyone to exercise just to keep yourself fit. When you have a healthy body, your mind becomes strong and you become productive in whatever you do. You do not have to start with a long distance. Take one more step each day and you will get used to it.”

A member of the Murray and Roberts Running Club, Nyatheli has participated in various 21,2 and 42km annual races over the years. Some of the races he recalls include the Johnson Crane, Soweto Marathon, Magaliesburg Race, Two Countries Marathon, Mall of the North Race, Polokwane Mayoral Race, Tzaneen Spring Open Race, Run For Cancer, to name but a few. “I really do not remember all the races I ran, because they are so many. I feel on top of the world when I run with fellow athletes in various races, because this is something that I enjoy most. My dream is to take part in the Comrades Marathon one day.”

He plans to start a running club in his village to nurture young talent in athletics.

 

Date:07 June 2020

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