A former soccer player, Mashinini, decided to pursue athletics 15 months ago after sustaining an injury on the football field.
The KwaThema resident participated in his first race, the Johnson Crane Marathon, in Benoni, in 2013.
Mashini completed the 21km distance in one hour and 26 minutes, and bagged a silver medal.
He has since participated in numerous races, including the Pick n Pay Marathon, the Slow-Mag Marathon, Soweto Marathon, Gauteng Marathon and the Colgate Road-Race.
He also ran the Om Die Dam Marathon in Pretoria, in preparation for the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, which took place over the Easter weekend.
Mashinini was awarded a silver medal for finishing the 56km race in four hours and 29 minutes.
“I was very impressed with the time I achieved, because I knew I had qualified for the Comrades Marathon,” he says.
In preparation for the Comrades, Mashinini will be running 100km a week.
He says mental fitness and resting before a big race is equally as important as training.
“Emotions before the race can either make or break you,” he concludes.
Mashinini started his sporting career at the age of nine, while a pupil at Masimini Primary School.
His talent was spotted by his high school teacher and he was later mentored by soccer coach Ace Mashalaba.
Mashinini is the coach of local soccer team, Senior Mighty Falcons.
