Uthata umhlala phantsi kwezomdyarho uRadebe
A well-known figure on the road running circuit, Mlungisi Radebe Madlingozi, 72, from Gugulethu, continues to be an inspiration to fellow runners and those he mentored as a school teacher and athletics coach.
So when the long distance veteran decided to hang up his running shoes, it’s hardly surprising that those who know him well were not going to let him go easily. As such, a group of friends and long-time fans from various clubs decided to join him on one last run around the block, starting at NY49, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
When asked if he’s following his doctor’s orders, he jokingly said: “Oh no, doc died long ago.”
Years of training, long hours on the road and following an all-round healthy lifestyle has left him in remarkably good shape. And, with 14 Two Oceans Ultra Marathons, 13 Cape Town Marathons and more than 10 Peninsula Marathons under his belt, his legs are good to go for another few kilometres. When it comes to running, he’s been there, done that and with nothing left to prove, has now decided to call it quits on the longer distances.
A former teacher at ID Mkhize Secondary School, Madlingozi or Radebe, as he is affectionately called in reference to his clan name, says he has always been a believer in good health, a good education and doing good to others.
“Radie has been an inspiration to many runners,” said avid runner Vukile “Voox” Sonandzi, editor of Vukani and a member of Khayelitsha Athletics Club who joined in Madlingozi’s 10km farewell run at the weekend.
“He is always generous in giving advice to runners, a raconteur who can regale you for hours about his rugby playing years, his teaching years,” he said at a gathering following Sunday’s run.
Nowiki Nkosi nee Xayiya travelled all the way from Johannesburg by bus to join her former teacher and to reconnect with old acquaintances.
It was her old teacher who gave her the nickname “X” in reference to her maiden surname, Xayiya, which is what most people would call her, she said.
“Radebe is my friend and my mentor. He was my teacher in high school at ID Mkize. We met in 1975 when I was a form 1 student. He was my teacher, my coach in athletics and softball as well as he taught me how to handle life in general,” she said.
“He had a sense of humour, you wouldn't be bored or sleep in his class an the way he taught, you would remember the lesson very well. This would even be during trainings. He also made me very much interested in teaching.
The minute she heard about the farewell run, she booked a ticket on the first bus to Cape Town, she said. “I told myself that I wouldn't miss it for the world, I will be there and because I'm still in touch with him, I called and confìrmed,” she said.
“Some of the lessons I learnt from him is that friendship is not built only with your age group but you can build it with elders, as long as you have respect and know your boundaries,” said Nkosi, a former high school sprinter coached by Madlingozi in 1978.
Farewell run organiser Khonza Reuben Mxinwa, member of Gugulethu Athletics Club, Nyanga Healthy Lifestyle Club and Nyanga Sports Legends Association, said the idea behind the fun farewell run was to honour Madlingozi and the influence he’s had on many runners on and off the road or track.
“We had plus minus 70 runners, mainly people who knew him as students or friends and running competitors,” he said.
“He taught me everything in terms of sport and now I'm also coaching, mainly thanks to him.”
