Mmatshepo Seoka met with an accident by a car when she went for a morning walk six months ago; she never imagined getting back to road running again.
However, the 25-year-old from Pretoria completed her longest race – the Miway Wally Hayward Marathon, a 42km race – on Monday.
According to the student and non-profit organization founder, she got a severe injury on her head last year after getting hit by a car.
As per Mmatshepo Seoka, I got a trauma, that is why I do not really remember the incident because I still amend, but as per that man who hit me, I was trying to escape from two men who were attacking me, and I ran towards the road.
As per her doctors, she had split her head open, and she was in need of stitches. She was admitted to the hospital for four days and took weeks to recover.
When I reached the hospital, my neurologist said that my wound was so deep he could see my skull. My knees were bleeding, and I had scratches on my thigh. I struggled a lot with my recovery, and I felt sleepy because of heavy medicines, she said.
“What I learned from the incident is that its safer for me to run in a group, so from now I never go running alone”, she added.
She is now part of a running group and has a trainer who she runs with to feel safe.
She stated, “It was very important for me to come back to my routine… I struggled with depression for years.”
“I have been into fitness since 2014.”
Seoka’s literally battled with depression, and she was unable to attend university and dropped her one year, and that hit more on her mental health.
According to Seoka statement, “I am proud of myself, so when I got the communication that I am graduating, I cried like a baby.
“According to her recent tweet in which she stated, “your first-time marathon runner made it to page 9 of Sowetan newspaper this morning.”
She is a shining star for the whole world.
