Running club aims to foster healthier habits
STARTING a running club in the township has helped the Gugulethu community adopt a healthier lifestyle.
These were the words of RCS Gugulethu Athletics Club founder and head coach Marshall Moiloa reflecting on how he started the club in 1992.
This as the days edge closer to the popular RCS Gugs Race on Reconciliation Day.
“I started the club to bring athletics in our culture because at the time most of us used to run for clubs in advantaged areas like Pinelands, Constantia. There were no township clubs at all at that time.
“The first thing in my mind was to give my community a better lifestyle, running was part of it.
“Some of the youngsters came from a poor lifestyle, once they started running their academics changed, they started winning incentives that allowed them to help parents put food on the table.”
He said initially it was challenging, especially with schoolchildren, as parents did not understand the culture of running, leaving him with the costs of the first club kits and transport to events.
“Then I started to network and people started helping me with kits and shoes, until I finally managed to get a sponsor.
“This enabled us to go to events without battling with transport and we could start incentivising our top athletes. This also made a huge change with top athletes, also attracting other top athletes to join our club.”
When the race first started there were only about 10 entries from the township, Moiloa said.
Over the years, the numbers have grown drastically with close to 400 locals participating.
He has not been able to run the race himself because he has always had the duty of driving in the leading car to ensure runners don’t get lost, but encouraged everyone to join in the run.
Moiloa said he wanted the community to see the difference exercise could make in their lives.
“This is a second chance to go straight into sport. Sport and school are two factors that can help fight gangsterism. We make a huge effort to accommodate kids to join the club.”
RCS executive officer Regan Adams said the race “belongs to the community”.
“We encourage runners from all areas of the Western Cape and across the country to enter into the spirit of celebration and reconciliation, and come along with friends and family to soak up the experience, along with a taste of township life.”
The RCS Gugs Race is accessible to runners of all fitness levels and includes a 4.2km, as well as a 10km option. The runners are welcomed by residents as the race takes them and their supporters through the streets of Gugulethu.
Entries are available online via www.entrytime.com or at the venue on race day from 5.30am onwards.