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The Pure Joy I Get When Running

An Exploration of the Unfiltered Happiness in Every Stride Welcome, fellow runners and fitness enthusiasts after a long period of not posting. There's something profoundly magical about the moment my feet leave the pavement and the world around me transforms into a rhythm of breath and movement. Running isn't about breaking records or chasing medals. It's about discovering a version of myself that emerges when I commit to putting one foot in front of the other, again and again, in the most authentic form of human propulsion. Why I Run I discovered something fundamental about running when I first ventured into understanding how different cultures approach movement. I learned that some indigenous communities don't race. They run as part of their culture, their celebration, their connection to the land. Their approach to running speaks to something deeper within all of us, a primal joy that exists beyond competition or performance metrics. Running offers me a gateway in...
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Meet Thahasello Belebesi, a dedicated social runner, storyteller, and proud advocate for living life at your own rhythm.

My running journey began back in 2014, not with dreams of podium finishes, but with a simple, personal goal: to reclaim my health. I was overweight, lazy and seeking a change. Running became my tool for transformation and little did I know, the start of a lifelong passion.

In 2015, I joined Khayelitsha Athletics Club, proudly affiliated with Western Province Athletics under Athletics South Africa (ASA). That move brought more than structured training, it gave me a supportive community that helped turn a new hobby into a powerful lifestyle. Later, in 2022, I moved to the Stutterheim Athletics Club, based in the Border region, expanding my running family and deepening my roots in the South African running scene.



Over the years, I’ve moved far beyond my original goal of weight loss. I’ve run races that tested my mind as much as my body, most notably earning three Comrades Marathon medals each one a testament to resilience, patience, and heart. Those countless kilometres have taught me that running is about more than pace; it’s about purpose.

Through this blog, Pace Yourself, I blend lived experience with heartfelt reflections from training tips to mental wellness, race-day insights to lessons from the long road. Whether you're lacing up for your first 5km or navigating the hills of life itself, I’m here to cheer you on, share what’s worked for me, and remind you that progress isn’t measured in minutes, it’s measured in meaning.

This space is for everyday athletes, dreamers, and wellness seekers. It’s where discipline meets joy, and where we celebrate moving forward, no matter the speed.

So welcome to the journey. One stride at a time!




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