From soccer superstar to race runner
Naledi Kutumela found his passion for running during soccer practice. Now all he wants is the open road and the sound of the sneakers squeaking on the road.
Naledi Kutumela started running in 2016, after he fell in love with running during soccer practice, and now he is one of Randmark’s best.
Naledi, which means ‘star’, has always been an athlete.Growing up in Mpumalanga, he loved playing soccer. He went to the University of Pretoria to study agriculture where he continued playing soccer. It was only after moving to Randfontein in 2011, that he found his passion for running.
“When we trained for soccer, we went for long runs to get into shape. I fell in love with running and I started taking running seriously in 2016,” Naledi said.
For Naledi, it’s about more than just the running, it’s the whole experience of being on the open road.
“My favourite part of running is just being on the road. I don’t listen to music while I’m running. I like to hear the sound of the sneakers squeaking on the road.”
Naledi trains three times a week and runs about 16km per session. He also never misses training on a Sunday, when he runs 22km.
I train with a great group of runners, most of them are from the Randmark team.”
Nothing can stop Naledi from running, because he has a winning combination to keep himslef going. “I have too much energy and I just want to keep on improving myself,” Naledi said.
“I am a very competitive runner and I am also very competitive in my career. I’m a teller at the Toekomsrus Post Office and right now I am also the acting branch manager. I try to do my best in everything I do.”
Naledi hopes that someday his children will share his passion for running. “I don’t have kids yet but I would love to see them with me on the road someday,” Naledi added.
Besides running, he still enjoys playing soccer and he plays for a few local teams. He likes to spend his weekends with his friends.
“With me, what you see is what you get. I’m a very bubbly person and I am always making jokes, but I am also very straightforward and I tell it like it is.”
Naledi said the runners he trains with are always motivating and helping each other. “Runners always give each other advice, especially during the Comrades. That’s just what athletes do,” he said.
Naledi participated in his first Comrades Marathon within his first two years of running. He ended as the best Randmark finisher at Comrades 2018 with a time of 7:19:59. He received a silver medal.
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