There’s a saying that goes, “In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished’,” by Fred Lebow, which best describes the local runner who chased his dreams with no hesitation.
Growing up in the small town of Clarens in the Free State, Simon Tshabalala was always passionate about soccer and played the sport until he was 24 years old, but injuries and concerns about his health led him to search for a new passion. This was when he discovered running, which would venture into a journey of running among the beautiful mountain trails of South Africa.
According to Simon, he started running as a fitness routine, which soon turned into a competitive pursuit. He later joined the Pirates Road Running Club in Johannesburg and has not looked back since.
“I entered my first 10km race at the Vodacom Country Challenge event and finished in the top 10, which is quite impressive for a first-timer like me. This sparked my desire to continue growing and push myself further,” Simon said.
However, Simon faced numerous challenges. He told the Roodepoort Northsider that he had to learn proper training techniques, nutrition and dietary needs when preparing for big races. He also had to invest in proper running shoes, having previously used any available shoes for running.
“I read and learned as much as I could about running,” Simon says. “I met coach Lucky Miya and started training with a group of friends. We tried different training programmes and Coach Miya taught me how to prepare for demanding courses.
Balancing his demanding job as a security officer with training is tough, but Simon’s family is supportive, and he makes time for social responsibility whenever possible.
“I wake up every day and train hard to achieve my goals, and I enjoy running up and down mountains and taking every race as my final race. Discipline is key. You can have talent, but you need to work hard to achieve your goals,” he added.
Simon is currently training for his big race, the Ultra Trail Drakensburg in 2025 and he hopes to achieve new milestones, but he needs some assistance from the community.
To help Simon achieve his dream, visit his BackaBuddy page.
