For the Love

RACHEL MANYATHI is an ultra runner and high school teacher whose life centres around kindness, and mountain adventure.

Rachel blitzes a fast rocky section during a Saturday midmorning run to Lion's Head with friend and photographer Fahwaaz Cornelius.

Balancing full-time teaching with running around South Africa, Rachel lives a life of fun and gratitude.

Becoming a runner

I became a runner back in my varsity years. This was by default as I needed a distraction from tension headaches, maybe from studying. Running used to cure them. At least I used to feel better after running.

Becoming a trail runner started with me losing my love for road running. However, because I knew the benefits of running and how running in general had saved and changed my life, I still wanted to continue running. But it was really becoming a 'have-to-run' vibe. And honestly, I found it monotonous and boring. I was looking at a challenge in running and on a personal level.

While on the mission of searching for fun and meaning again in my running life, I stumbled upon a hundred miler which stated that it would be an on- and off-road race. Due to the excitement, I must admit that I misread the distance as 100 kilometres, not 100 miles. So I thought (being a Comrades Marathon finisher): I just need to add 11km, then that’s it.

Safe to say, this was the beginning of several 100 milers and 24 and 48 hour circuit races, and other not so typical road running races.