ALWAYS up to lace up his trainers to hit the tarmac whether it be dusk or dawn is Bluff Athletics Club (BAC) runner, Romondo Thompson.
The soccer player and coach turned road runner got into the sport when he was looking to try something new and maintain his fitness. He joined BAC in 2018 and his love for running grew beyond his expectations.
“I started out running with some of the club members which was very motivating. It wasn’t long before I found myself joining them for time trials more and more. They encouraged me to enter the Comrades Marathon the same year I joined but I was a bit hesitant at the time. But the curiosity of my capabilities got the best of me and I entered at work one day without telling anybody. I didn’t want the added pressure because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I started to become more comfortable being on the road. When I completed my first 21km I couldn’t believe it and wondered if I had what it took to do 42km, never mind 90km. Building up to comrades, I ran several races and marathons to qualify and physically prepare for the big race. It was during that time where I learnt that what you put in is what you get out. At times you have to push yourself, put in the work and train hard throughout the week, sometimes putting in some crazy mileage in order to meet your goals.
“I didn’t set a goal for my first Comrades Marathon in 2018, my only expectation was to finish which allowed me to be comfortable on the day. When I ran into Moses Mabhida Stadium and realised that I had finished in nine hours and I was shocked at how well I did. It was a very pleasant experience,” he said.
He ran his second one the following year which he described as tough as he had to endure the uphill run with an injury. “However, I met my goal to finish under nine hours, with a time of eight hours 47 minutes and managed to get my gold medal for that. The goal for 2020 would have been sliver but unfortunately, Covid-19 spoilt everything.” He shared how the lockdown had a negative impact on him as an athlete, putting a halt on his training which also saw him put on some unwanted weight.
“When you’re an avid runner, it becomes your favourite thing to do. It basically becomes your lifestyle. So when lockdown was introduced, it was like that was just snatched away from me and almost depressed because I had been in my best shape. Now, I’ve just been trying to get back into things again and build up my strength and fitness again.”
He is currently preparing for a sub-three marathon race taking place in August which is 42.2km and needs to be completed in under three hours.
“After not being able to compete in so long, I am very excited for this one. I have a training coach who has put me on a strict programme that will surpass my boundaries. I’m going into new territory now to prepare for this.”
The 31-year-old has participated in several other races with a varying range of distance and difficulty, including the Goss and Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon, Big Hill, Super Mama Challenge marathons. He shared that being a part of BAC has played a major role in getting him where he is today with his running.
“The members are so diverse with their running experiences and everyone comes together for the shared love of the sport. There’s always something you can learn from a fellow runner and their support really goes a long way. It’s safe to say that running has become my passion. For anyone looking to get into it, don’t wait, start now. Even on days that you are unmotivated, just take those first three steps out the door and you’ll be amazed at how far that little effort will take you.”
