Of Tribes And Family

Of Tribes And Family

- Dr Phatho Zondi

MYNAME IS PHATHO, and I’m a runner. Well; a runner, a mother, a sports medicine physician, and a CEO. Since I’ll be joining you as a regular columnist, I thought it would be good practice to start by introducing myself.

I was born and raised in Durban with two older brothers, an older sister, and 36 other brothers and sisters who in the western world would be referred to as cousins. My earliest childhood memories are of family (lots of families) and of fun runs (which we attended as a tribe).

The SPARWomen’s 10 km events in the early 1990s were a family favorite. The most memorable of these races was the third one we participated in as a family when my overweight and previously sedentary aunt entered her first race. She was the last person to cross the finish line – yet it was our best race as a tribe.