Seoka returns to running after concussion following road accident
Runner completes her longest race, the Wally Hayward 42 Marathon
When Mmatshepo Seoka was hit by a car while out on a morning run six months ago, she never thought she would get back to roadrunning again.
However, the 25-year-old from Pretoria completed her longest race – the Miway Wally Hayward Marathon, a 42km race – on Monday.
The student and non-profit organisation founder said she split her head open last year after getting hit by a car.
“I got a concussion, so I do not really remember the incident because I still have temporary amnesia but according to the man who hit me, I was trying to escape from two men who were attacking me and I ran into the road,” she said.
Seoka says doctors told her she had split her head open and needed stitches. She was hospitalised for four days and took weeks to recover.
“When I got to the hospital my neurologist said my wound was so deep he could see my skull. My knees were also hurt and I had lymphedema in my thigh. I struggled a lot with post-concussion syndrome, which made me sleepy all the time,” she said.
“What I learned from the incident is that its safer for me to run in a group, so now I never run alone,” she said.
She is now part of a running group and has a trainer who she runs with to feel safe.
“It was very important for me to return to exercising... I struggled with depression for years,” said Seoka.
“I’ve been into fitness... since 2014 when I was about 106kg and I lost about 43kg.”
Seoka’s battle with depression meant she was unable to stay in university and dropped out to focus on her mental health. After dropping out of the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria, she will be graduating from Unisa in June with her degree in psychology.
“I am just so proud of myself so when I got the communication that I am graduating I cried like a baby,” she said.
Col Dimakatso Sello said a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened.
‘‘ What I learned from the incident is that its safer for me to run in a group