The Adventist Athletics Club (AAC) Lesotho chapter held its first-ever 10K race. Two hundred and eight runners participated, around 175 of whom were not previously connected to the Adventist Church.
The AAC Run Your City race was held on September 13, marking a decade since the chapter's establishment in 2016. The race began at Pioneer Mall, looped around the capital, and finished back at the mall.
The event drew national figures, including High Court Judge Justice 'Mabats'oeneng Hlaele and Honorable Mokhothu Makhalanyane, member of Parliament and chairperson of the Parliamentary Social Cluster Committee.
After the race, Makhalanyane commended the organizers for promoting physical activity, noting that regular exercise, a proper diet, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
Tumelo Majorobela, AAC Lesotho technical coach and race director, described the event as a success.
"Our mantra is 'Fitness for Witnessing'," Majorobela said. "We are passionate about the concept of exercise, and we also encourage proper nutrition so that we can serve God while maintaining good health."
Mopenyane Lebelo, the overall winner of the 10K, said the race was about more than competition, pointing to the importance of physical activity in maintaining good health.
For Martin Kekela, a first-time participant, finishing the race was a personal milestone. Kekela, who lives with chronic asthma, said his preparation for the race made a noticeable difference in his daily life.
"I never thought I could make it, especially at my age, but I really enjoyed myself," Kekela said. "I vow to fully adopt running into my lifestyle beyond this race."
Top performers across six categories, Men Open, Junior Male, Master Male, Female Open, Junior Female, and Master Female, received medals and monetary prizes. All other participants received participation medals and commemorative T-shirts.
The AAC Lesotho chapter has around 50 members, including several elite runners. The chapter is affiliated with the Maseru Athletics Academy. AAC was founded in South Africa in 2012 and now operates across six South African provinces as well as Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and Eswatini.
The original article was published on the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division news site.
