The Power Of Moving

Letshego Zulu tells Lauren Mc Diarmid how exercise helped her work through her grief after the devastating loss of her husband last year.

- Lauren Mc Diarmid

Biokineticist Letshego Zulu, 32, co-founded SA’s popular PopUp Gym in January 2015. Last July, she lost her husband, renowned local racing driver Gugu Zulu, after a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro went horribly wrong. Letshego lives in Paulshof with their 20-month-old daughter, Lelethu.

“I’m a complete fitness fanatic, and so was Gugu; it was a passion we shared and one of the many reasons we were drawn to each other in the first place. Friends called us the ‘adventure couple’, because we were constantly signing up for a new cycling race or running challenge. Gugu was the most energetic person I knew;he had a real zest for life, and had always been my kick-starter. I’m not a morning person, and he knew I struggled to get up before a race. To be at the starting line on time, we’d have to set our alarms for as early as 4.30am. Gugu would get out of bed while I was still snoozing, fill our water bottles, hoist our bikes on the car, lay out my clothes, make me a cup of tea, and even warm the water for a shower. He spoilt me – all I had to do was get up! It’s small, caring gestures like these that warm my heart and put a smile on my face when I think of him. He was the love of my life.