Overcoming challenges: Mthembu's inspiring story ahead of the Comrades Marathon

WHEN he is out on the road, novice runner Thabani Mthembu, 37, feels like anything is possible and the weight of life’s challenges is lifted from his shoulders ... at least for the time being.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

While he isn’t able to run away from his current challenges, including a struggle to find permanent work, the resident of Foreman Road, an informal settlement in Durban, is offered respite from them, and the patience to overcome them.

Tomorrow, when he takes part in his first Comrades Marathon, Mthembu will again go to his “happy place”.

“I feel relieved after running, as if I can tackle anything I want to,” he told Independent Media Sport.

“It also teaches one discipline and patience, because you won’t always achieve what you want to achieve at the timeline you've set for yourself, so it mostly requires one to be patient with the process andyou learn to listen to your body.”