Couple sets national lockdown workout goals
Edenglen runner and cyclist Sipho Marima and his wife Boipelo Marima invited a journalist into their backyard to explain how they have stayed fit during this trying time.
Sportsmen and women have been left to come up with innovative ways to stay fit during lockdown.
Edenglen runner and cyclist Sipho and his wife Boipelo Marima invited sister newspaper the Bedfordview and Edenvale News into their backyard to share how they have stayed fit during this trying time.
“So many races were cancelled or postponed,” said Sipho.
The athlete said as much as it was sad to see races being cancelled, he fully understands the reasons.
“I had plans to visit different homes to raise funds as well.”
Lockdown for Sipho has been mentally challenging.“It is not easy staying fit at home because I have limited space and resources.”
His gym is temporarily closed, so he misses the members and staff.
“I try to keep them motivated with home training videos. My life is all about changing people’s lives through health and fitness.”
Sipho’s wife Boipelo shared how she had to adjust her support towards her active husband.
“My husband will go insane if he doesn’t train so I encouraged him to wake up and train. I also train with him.”
The couple trains twice a day and share their videos on social media.
“It is also our way to stay motivated, the more he shares videos, the more he remains fit,” said Boipelo.
Sipho and Boipelo start their day at 7am for their morning workout.
“In the morning we do body weight workouts,” said Sipho.
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While the mum and dad train, their two daughters and two puppies run around the garden.
“The girls are getting used to the routine, they even wake me up now for out morning garden workout. We do skipping, jumping jacks and many other child-friendly exercises which are fun.”
After the workout, the couple prepares breakfast while the children continue playing in the garden.
Sipho then catches up on work emails and news on the pandemic.
“I take another hour to write a few sentences on a book I am working on.”
The family then watch movies and play board games.
At around 6pm, Sipho does a backyard run.
“As a man of the family, you have so much influence on your family staying active.”
Sipho said experience has taught him people lose their fitness quicker than they gain it.
“It is better to just maintain it. Take part in social media challenges and keep yourself motivated,” he said.
The running community is known for being close-knit. Sipho spoke about the effects of lockdown on these relationships.
“I know we miss each other, we miss our running gatherings and group exercise gatherings. We need to hang in there by staying home and safe,” he said.
He advised other athletes to have a variety of home exercises and take part in social media exercise challenges, to keep themselves going.
Follow @sipho_Marima on Instagram for the couple’s home training videos.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.
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