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Having grown up in a rural village in KwaZulu-Natal, she knew first-hand the challenges schoolchildren face. This is why Nontuthuko Magbhi didn't think twice to run 160km over four days to raise funds for 500 pairs of school shoes for schools in KwaZulu-Natal. She accomplished this feat in the Ultra Asia Race in Vietnam.
“This was my way of giving back to those communities,” she says.
“For me, these races live beyond the finish line. They have an impact and change lives for a lifetime. Goals founded in contribution rather than competition are deeply satisfying.”
It's not the first time she's run for charity.
In February 2020, she completed the World Marathon Challenge when she ran seven marathons for seven days on seven continents, thereby raising R1,7 million for Khiphinkunzi Primary School in her hometown of Mseleni, KwaZulu-Natal.
The money was used to build five new classrooms, buy new furniture and to fund renovations at the school.
“I was saddened at the state of the school. There were more than 100 learners in a class, some classes had no flooring and windowpanes were shattered,” she tells YOU.
“When I chose to do the World Marathon, I wanted to do it for a cause that's bigger than me.”
In October 2021, she completed Marathon Des Sables, a 250km race in the Sahara Desert. This time she raised R1,2 million for the school, which was used to build new toilets for students and an administration block for teachers.
She's modest about her achievements, though.
“I got to incorporate my passion for running with my passion for helping the underprivileged. I believe this is my purpose in life," she says.
“There’s a thrill I get from helping people. It’s not about performance in the race. For me, it’s about performance in my purpose.”
The 36-year-old runner has spent the better part of the past 10 years competing in marathons, though she only started running when she was 27 years old.
It all started with a 10km walk in 2013. She didn't think she'd ever reach the finish line but she persevered to the end.
“I ended up enjoying it so much. That walk changed my life. I felt so good and I realised how much joy comes with being active.”
Before long, she was hitting the tar to stay in shape.
“Running was a deliberate effort to have an active lifestyle, to feel good and to be healthy," she says.
Two years later, she ran her first marathon, the 56-km Two Oceans Marathon, before setting her sights on the gruelling Comrades Marathon, managing to complete the 89km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
“Once I set my mind to something, I’m all in. It was important for me to keep moving and I finished these marathons through consistent effort.”
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Nontuthuko, an industrial psychologist, is a human resources manager for the Richard's Bay Coal Terminal.
Despite her taxing job, she runs between 100km and 150km every week, come rain or shine, whether she's training for a marathon or not. In summer, she rises before the crack of dawn and runs at 4am before she heads to work.
“This is my lifestyle all year round. If I prepare for a marathon, then my training needs to be focused on that but I never start from scratch,” she says.
Although she eats healthily to keep her energy levels up, she doesn't follow a strict diet.
“I watch what I eat and when I eat it. I don’t eat carbohydrates before bed, only between 8am and 2pm. I eat a high-protein diet and drink as much water as I can,” she tells us.
She's the first to admit that it takes a certain level of commitment and dedication to keep fit, but reading Atomic Habits by James Clear helped her make small changes in her life, she says.
“This book helped me acquire positive habits that I struggled with for many years. Now I get eight hours of sleep, I train consistently, I don’t check my phone before 8am and don’t touch it after 8pm. It’s important to live a life that we're proud of."
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Her advice to anyone who's considering taking up running is to ease into it.
“Start where you are and start small. Setting a goal for running 10 minutes every day is more attainable than starting with 10km. Rather take small, consistent steps to build a habit.”
Next on Nontuthuko’s bucket list is to tackle the Ultra Africa race in Mozambique in November. She hopes she'll be able to help more schools by completing the 250km ultramarathon.
“I like what Mother Teresa said, ‘If you can't feed a thousand families, feed just one.’ Help doesn't have to be limited to money, it can be offering kindness, or even your time.”
