Tanaka Mutakwa

Ideas for pushing yourself to succeed in your goals and ambitions, building habits that stick and doing great work.

My name is Tanaka Mutakwa. I'm a Software Engineering Leader | Organiser of Tech Leadership | Co-owner at Pahari African Restaurant | Founder of NoDaysOff Lifestyle Brand | Runner | Talks / Podcasts

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© 2015 Tanaka Mutakwa.

Why I Run

April 19, 2016 By Tanaka Mutakwa 18 Comments

I’ve run many races since the beginning of 2015. Last year I completed 35 races and this year I have completed 10 races.

A few of my friends have asked me what problems I am running away from, or if I know anything that other people do not know. The prize however goes to the friend who joked that I’m running all these races in the hope to meet my future wife at one of these races.

A guy I used to work with once said he finds running to be a very lonely sport. I can understand where he was coming from, but after participating in all these races over the last year or so, I have found that running is not as lonely as one would first believe.

Running has allowed me to explore the Western Cape

Western Cape races take place at different locations each weekend. I have run in Paarl, Gordons Bay, Stellenbosch, Mamre, Franschoek, Atlantis, Langebaan, Seapoint, Greenpoint, Constantia, Athlone, Kuilsrivier, Koeberg Nature Reserve, Somerset West, Wellington, Century City, Bellville, Hout Bay to Camps Bay, Greepoint to Simonstown passing through Muizenberg and Fish Hoek, and who knows how many other places. Some of these places I may have never visited if it was not for running.

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Being the Western Cape, the views along the races are usually breathtaking.

headlamp

 I’ve run in the Constantia vineyards at night, with a headlamp. An incredible experience I recommend for all runners.

langebaan2

Last year I went for race in Langebaan with a few friends. We made a road trip out of it and stayed in Langebaan for the weekend. We are going again this year, we are now calling it “The Annual Langebaan Weekend Away.” This time ten of us are going. In fact we are going there this coming weekend.

Running has given me the opportunity to meet new people

new_people

I did not know half of the people in this picture before I started running. I met them at the races.

Breakfast and exploring after the runs

After each race I usually go for breakfast with my friends. It gives us a good opportunity to discover new restaurants and socialise after some fitness activity. Depending on the location of the race, some further exploring of the area also happens.

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After a race in Stellenbosch last year, I drove around four different wine estates with my friend Samuel and bought a few bottles of some fermented grape juice.

wine_races

At the end of the Constantia Night trail runs we got given a bottle each of some wine from the Groot Constantia estate. A worthy gift for people who have just run up and down a mountain at night.

Running has challenged me mentally and physically

Murakami once described running as “both exercise and a metaphor.” The real marathon is life. It’s the doing every day. Running doesn’t need to be justified or applied to some end. You run because keeping a healthy body and clear mind is part of your job as a human being. Because it’s a commitment you made to yourself that you’re obligated to keep no matter how tired, how busy or how burnt out you feel. In other words, it’s practice—proof of your ability—in always having a little bit extra in you.

The races I remember most are the ones where I set my personal best times. Its on those days where I pushed my boundaries and challenged myself physically and mentally. There is a lot to running that is in the mind but the physical aspect cannot be ignored, if you want to truly experience the physical side of it, run a full marathon.

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My personal best in a 10km race is currently 42 minutes and 52 seconds.

 

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My personal best in a 21.1km race (half marathon) is currently 1 hour, 38 minutes and 40 seconds.

 

42km

My personal best in a 42.2km race (full marathon) is currently 3 hours, 58 minutes 49 seconds.

Running has strengthened my friendships

I have run a large number of races with my friends. There have been a few races where I have run alone but it is a rare occurrence. Getting fit with friends can make all the difference between working hard enough to get results and missing races altogether. It’s harder to miss a race when someone is counting on you. Agree to a meeting time, and stick to it. I have a lot of post race pictures with friends, here are a few of them below.

friends

The Century City Express race with Prashila, Himal, Cherel and Matan.

friends1

The ATC 4 x 3km relay race with Tatenda, Takudzwa and Jesse.

friends3

Greenpoint Park Run with Takudzwa, Nigel, Nyasha, Tatenda, Ropa, Zaahir, Sydne, and Dave.

friends2

The Lion of Africa race with Jesse, Sesethu and Takudzwa.

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The Gun Run with Samuel, Jateen and Dismasi.

Running has strengthened my work relationships

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” – Nelson Mandela

work_team_past

When I worked at Allan Gray we formed a relay team with the software engineers above and participated in the ATC 4 x 3km relay race in Greenpoint, Cape Town.

work_team

Last year, along with some of the team from Prodigy Finance (my current workplace) we participated in the Gun Run.

Running has strengthened my family relationships

dad

I completed a trail run with my dad in Stellenbosch. This was a few days after his 60th birthday. My friend joked that “it literally runs in the family.”

brother2

I’ve also run a few races with my younger brother (guy in the blue shorts), he doesn’t run as many races but he is still on the right side of 25 I guess.

The joy of seeing people challenge themselves

A good friend sent me this message a week back –> “Bro, I ran 3kms the other day and I almost died. What is the best way to get into this fitness thing?” I responded –> “You have to be consistent man, you can’t go wrong with consistency. Run that 3km once or twice a week, after a while it will become easier and you will be able to do 5km, then 10km, and more. Its not about the distance though, its the consistency bro!”

It is always great to see people challenge themselves and the joy they derive when they accomplish the challenge.

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I was there when my fellow Zimbabwean friend Zaahir ran his 1st Park Run.

mali

I was there when Mali ran her first 10km race.

moshin

I was there when Moshin completed his first 10km race.

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I was there when Takudzwa completed his first 15km race.

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I was there when Tadious (the guy on my left) completed his first 10km race.

andile

I was there when Andile (the guy wearing red) completed his first full marathon.

Running has given me a sense of achievement

One day I can show my kids my medals collection and say “look what your dad achieved when he was young.”

medal_rack

On one of the weekends last year I decided to do some DIY and build a medal display on my wall.

medal_rack2

This is the current state of the medal display. I think some DIY for another one may be due soon.

The opportunity for interesting stories

After one of the half marathon races in Mamre last year I met a Zimbabwean guy named Norbert. He asked me what position I came in the race and I told him. Since its not a typical question people ask each other after these runs unless you are a professional runner, I asked him what position he came, he responded “I came 22nd.” I asked him what his finishing time was and the told me some impressive time (I’ve forgotten the actual time he mentioned).

This is where the story becomes interesting, after further probing I found out that was Nobert’s first race ever in his life. He is actually a farm worker in the Mamre area and since the race was hosted in that area he just took the opportunity to come and try it out. Nobert said he had not run since high school. Its incredible, he even said he jogged from the farm to the race’s starting point. I’ve always believed I have some element of natural fitness in me but this guy was notches above me. I encouraged him to keep running and to participate in more races, you never know where it goes.

I’ve met Norbert at about 4 more races after that. At the last race I met him which was earlier this year, he told me he has now joined a running club and they train twice a week. I won’t be surprised to see Nobert finishing in the top ten for the big races soon.

norbert

Made sure I took a photo with Norbert (the guy in the middle) in case he becomes a celebrity athlete in a few years.

Sometimes you get to meet inspirational individuals

francois_pienaar

It was an honour and a privilege to meet the South African rugby team (Springboks) 1995 world cup winning captain Francois Pienaar at the end of the Cape Town Marathon.

Why do I really run?

I run because I enjoy it. I run because I need it. More than that, running and being fitness oriented has become part of my lifestyle. Running is not lonely, running is very social, running has been a source of inspiration in many ways.

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I am grateful to live in a city that has a strong fitness culture. There is a race almost every weekend. So next time you are in Cape Town for those who don’t live here, and next time you feel the urge to go for a run for those who live in Cape Town. Let’s go for a run. You know where to find me.

I still haven’t met my future wife at any of the races yet, but who knows what will happen at this coming weekend’s race.

Filed Under: General Interest

Comments

  1. Prudence Moyo says

    April 19, 2016 at 10:17 am

    wow im inspired!!!!! especially after seeing all those medals. I now wana run! obviously il start by walking first

    Reply
  2. Mulaiko says

    April 19, 2016 at 11:22 am

    TAPINDA MDARA!!!

    Reply
  3. Taku says

    April 19, 2016 at 11:32 am

    You are the real G.O.A.T

    Reply
  4. Kapfupi says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Pakaipa mhen!

    Reply
  5. Lebo Raolane says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    Great read man!

    I agree with all the reasons above. After what you’ve said, why wouldn’t a person want to run?!

    I’ve also taken up running and currently training to run the Comrades, and for one main reason: Discipline.

    It takes a hell of a lot of discipline to train for a number of months to get fit enough to finish the Comrades.
    It takes discipline to not go too heavy on the Friday and Saturday nights because of a run the next morning.
    It takes discipline to wake up every morning with the wife sleeping next to me, and to still put on the running shoes.
    It takes discipline to still go for a run even though you’re tired from a long day at work.
    It takes discipline while on the run, to not go too fast or else you blow out in the second half.
    It takes discipline to not run hard every weekend to prevent burnout come Comrades time.
    And it will take discipline on the day of Comrades to take it easy for most of the race.

    Hope to see you on the road come 29 May?

    Peace!

    Reply
    • Memory Sibanda says

      May 30, 2016 at 10:43 pm

      wow interesting! i ran with Lebo Roalane Durban umhlanga parkrun 28/05/2016 randomly chatted with him while running . Tanaka , I really enjoyed reading your blog i love running its a lifestyle for me and i relate with what you said.
      im inspired.
      keep going and all the best

      Reply
      • Lebo Raolane says

        December 19, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        What?!?!? I Can’t believe I missed this comment from Memory. It shows how small the world is. Hope you’re still doing Parkruns?

        Reply
  6. Sisa T. Njongwe says

    April 20, 2016 at 3:10 pm

    General!

    All the best for the Comrades!

    Reply
  7. Clarence says

    April 20, 2016 at 5:46 pm

    Inspired.

    Reply
  8. Fulu says

    April 21, 2016 at 12:02 am

    Now I get it. Keep inspiring many

    Reply
  9. Vuyo says

    April 21, 2016 at 11:54 am

    Enjoyed reading your article Tanaka – I can identify with it all too well….
    I will look out for.you in Langebaan – I want to recruit you to join RCS Gugs…

    Reply
  10. Desmond says

    April 21, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    Great inspiring article. You are a good writer too by the way!!!!

    Reply
  11. Lynn says

    April 21, 2016 at 3:24 pm

    just simply inspirational!

    Reply
  12. Catherine says

    April 22, 2016 at 10:51 am

    I love the part about running being the best way to explore a city. I don’t like to be a tourist but I love to travel and just like like Ali and recently Kevin Hart, I find running in a new city the most fun way to get lost on the right road

    Reply
  13. Sonke Megatonic Dlamini says

    April 23, 2016 at 8:17 am

    Such an inspiring account of develping friendships.The health benefits can not be discounted as well.As the innovative way to explore the region (fantastic)
    Keep doing best ma guy and here’s to your blog going

    Reply
  14. Samantha says

    May 31, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    soooo inspired…i just started running seriously this year but now i cant wait to get my own medal collections. ITS ON!!!!!

    Reply
  15. Tsungai says

    August 30, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    Wow, absolutely phenomenal General. Totally inspired by your collection of medals. Indeed discipline and self will are testimony to your persistent spirit. Really proud of you and keep it up!

    Reply

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