Thread by @VuvuZongo

How my journey to international marathons started, A Thread 🧵

It was in 2017 two oceans when I met runner named Joe who nicely requested to join my solo running as he felt we were running same or similar pace.... he mentioned that he is taking is easy as he is due to line up for London Marathon the following week....

I was almost out of breath with my uncomfortable pace but inside I was like so my ultimate racing pace is his jogging or taking it easy 😂🤦‍♀️I digress anyways we proceeded for almost 6km with Joe and my diesel takes forever to warm... we did not make it to half way with Joe

But he planted a seed. I recall very well after a miss of sub 5 by 2 mins 😢🤦‍♀️in the hotel WiFi googling london marathon, and I knew then that 1 day is 1 day. Later on I watched the event and I also saw couple of runners posts about being in London. The bug caught me

Walletically the international marathon dream was destroyed nje at once once I saw coats from tour operators.....little did I know that I once bought tyre 16’ at 23 promised myself that one day I will own a car and that car will have 16’ inch size .... fast forward 2018

Same month after oceans before I forget I started a 1000 investment with liberty life for 5yrs with withdrawal options and a 5l of R2 and R5 coins towards my dream of running in the same stage as the worlds greatest runners of our lifetime

In 2018 Jan I lined up in Dubai marathon this was not part of the plan but it as propelled by many factors 1. I had won a 3 nights accommodation only voucher by Marriott hotels in Dubai. 2. I was in a relationship and then BF wanted to mix out Dubai trip with a race. We registere

Dubai was thrilling and we both achieved PBs and he hunger grew enormously for more marathons overseas, Jul we went to Vic falls and later in Sep to Berlin where I met the greatest Kipchoge

Then my goals grew from just targeting worlds major marathons to travelling the continents and bring back a medal from each vacation I started aligning my trips to Marathons and it worked for me as I love running and traveling

In 2019 I went back to Europe this time 🇪🇸 and after this the BF were no longer an item and I told myself that it was my dream and whether I fulfil them alone or with company I will continue and I went to America later solo and it was amazing

2020 Jan I took it back to Dubai the plan was to do March Barcelona but because I was taking 2 ladies as part of my charity work I did when I turned 40 that liberty’ investment was due and another I had taken 5yrs before at 35yrs it was time to gift two amazing runners

I took them to Dubai as one of the lady’s club said No to Barcelona as it’s close to oceans

2020 was a selfish year after 40 and it was filled with with paid plans. Rome and Paris was in end March and 1st week of April it was going to be 2 medals in 1 week Sunday to Sunday... in May I had Czech Republic 🇨🇿 November I wanted New York

So it can start with putting coins in the 5l bottle or 300 on 30 days notice account and 1000 investment and 1 day... We will line up in the worlds greatest Marathons...

Encouraging twit hope we will get there

So However small the savings towards your goal.... It's an investment and one day the dreams will be fulfilled.... 7 contents, 6 world majors and 100 Interntional cities marathons ....

Covid-19 took accumulated 55k Loss of my savings and some hard earned money but will bounce back.... will fill that 5l again and will travel again in the near future.

I cried, cursed, prayed and eventually got over all emotions .....and accepted and forgave myself of being a doer

Thank you to each and everyone who voted me in Twitter Runners Awards the dream came with lots of sacrifices and compromises combined.... We will trott once again and fill up passport pages with stamps

I must share a story that I thought it was very funny. My friends and even close friends and those that followed me were sharing my story of running international as though am receiving some kind of sponsorship I laughed when few said this in my face and when I asked by whom?

I never got an answer but whar was strange was how convinced they were that it's impossible unless K am backed up to have done the international trips or marathons. It's amazing how ppl think dreams can't be fulfilled by conviction and sacrifices from your cents you have.

Don't think at that point they cared to ask how am financing my trips they came up with their stories to fit what they were thinking. Well I never received even a dinner or cold drink sponsor. all from investments and couple of coins saved via bottles....

Because it was me that wanted to go even when I had company I made sure it does not impact him financially as these were my dreams and I wanted to fulfil and pay for them fully.....in any way possible