SENIOR ATHLETE AND COACH Mrs.BULELWA SIMAE OF SOUTH AFRICA GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF ATHLETICS IN AFRICA

 Mr Pace Show Questions and Answers 

Presenter: Collen Makaza

Guest: Bulelwa Simae 

Venue: Chitungwiza Harare Zimbabwe 

Date: 14 September 2021

Time: 1800hrs to 2030hrs

Contact: +263 733741960/+263776769684

Email: mrpacemakaza@gmail 

We are now starting  the show guys so get ready for the show with our Mrs B Simae

Can you pliz introduce your self Mrs Simae

*1.Q- Mrs Bulelwa Simae can you tell us more about yourself, when and where were you born?*

Good afternoon 😊 to everyone. My name is Bulelwa Simae. I'm a Boxer Elite Athlete .I stay in Cape Town

1. I was born in Matatiele, and grew up in a small village in Matatiele called Zitapile location. I went to Mkhuhlane Kop JSS and to Mvenyane High.

*2.Q- Do you still remember the person who helped you to start running?*

2. I decided on my on to start running but I still remember the guy came to me after I finish my first 10km ever Thembelani Zola, and told me to train hard I will win lots of races in Western Province. That I can say it also helped me to keep moving.

*3.Q- When did you start running and how it started?*

3. I started running in my early age while I was in primary. But I stopped after Matric. After 12 years I decided to start running again. I went to a shopping mall and I saw people busy with registration for a race. I went to that table and ask what is this run and where it will happen. It started from there. And I did my first 10km race.

*4.Q- What inspires you to be a runner?*

4. To see young people from ground route improving their running, and old athletes still doing good in their running carrier really inspires me.

*5.Q- Tell us how was your performance in athletics during your primary and secondary levels?*

5. I was very good in running in primary and secondary school. But since I grew up in a small village I did not get an opportunity to take my running far.

*6.Q- Can you give us the names of your training partners and how did they contribute for you performance in sport?*

6. I never train with a group . Only at the beginning of this year 2021 where I decided to start training with a group.

*7.Q- What motivated you to take running as part of your life?*

7. Running is part of my life because it keeps me healthy and strong.

*8.Q- Name your first running club and how many clubs did you ran for during your days?*

*9.Q- Do you ever compete or won medals in any S.A national champs?*

8. I only ran for two clubs . My first running club is Nedbank Running Club since 2011. I changed in 2018 and run for Boxer Athletics Club which is I'm still running for.

9. I represented Western Province so many times. I only placed in a top 10 in a 21km ,42km, and top 5 in a 5000m, 10 000m and 10km SA Champs in my senior times. Now as a veteran I won so many Gold medals in 10km ,and 21km SA Champs.

*10.Q- Do you ever represents S. Africa at all Africa games or World Championships?*

10. I represented South Africa in Southern Regions 3 times. But I never go for all Africa Games or World championships

*11.Q- At what age did you start professional running in your career as an athlete?*

11. I started professional running in my carrier as an athlete at the age of 35.

*12.Q-  Who was your best coach and manager in your career as an athlete?*

12. I coached myself since I started running. I never had a coach or manager.

*Why is like that and how do you do it ?*

Discipline and focus. If you know what you want you get it.

*13.Q- What is your best shoe brand as an athlete?*

13. I started running with Nike shoes, but now I'm with Puma. Nike is still the best brand for me because I used it for long time and never pick up injuries. With puma I'm new and still learning to get use of the brand.

Bulelwa Simae

*14.Q- What was your best meals before and after the race?*

14. My best meal before the race is pasta or energy bars. After the race I drink yoghurt and eat fruit or drink.

*Any supplements you takes or sports drinks?*

Yes I do take 32GI

*15.Q- What's your best times in the following distance from: 5000m 10km, 21km, 42km, 56km and 89km comrades marathon?*

15. My best time in 5000m is 17:13, 10km 34:28 ,21km 2:17:02, 42km 3:01:18. I never run a distance more than a 42km.

*16.Q- What is your best and worst race in your career as an athlete?*

16. My best race ever was a Total Sports Ladies race in Stellenbosch where I won the race. And my worst race I ever ran was in Lesotho 21km race which was Southern Regions, I almost ran 2hrd in that race close to 3hrs.

*17. Can you name your best road race of all time and why?*

17. The best road race is Two Oceans.

*18.Q-  What setbacks have you encountered in your career as an female  athlete?*

18. As a female to be an athlete is not easy. It's very challenging. On the other hand you have to be a mother, house keeping, wife or girlfriend which is not an easy task.

*19.Q- How are you copy to the situations of Lockdowns where is no races or events?*

19. During the lockdown life is not easy especially with no races. My club is helping there and there, I also try to make and make an extra income by coaching.

20.Q- When did u start coaching

I started 2016

*21.Q- Your words about age cheating and drug use in sport?*

20. Age cheating and drug use are killing sport. It's not nice to go for a compatition knowing that you will be competing with people using drugs or older than you that brakes the spirit of Athletes and they end-up quiting sport.

*22.Q- Your future plans in sport?*

21. My future plans in sport is to be a world class Athlete and a coach to help the youngsters to stay away from crime.

*23.Q- What do you think should be done to improve athletics in provincial athletics board and national level?*

22. I think to have more coaches and camping is very important. And the support from both provinces and national level can do.

*24.Q- What are your last words to followers on this Mr Pace Show platform?*

23. Thank you Mr Pace Show. And to all the followers of Mr Pace Show please continue supporting the show ,it will make a big different in this industry of Sport.

*25.Q-whom you think is responsible for your success in your sport?*

24. My family always there for me. That keeps me going forward. And Boxer Athletics Club is playing a huge role in my running.

*26.Q- In brief tell us about your family and their support to your profession as sports person?*

25. At first my parents and my siblings were not happy about my running carrier because they know it hurts and not easy. But when the time goes they ended up supporting me because they see how much I love this sport.

I want to thank our guest on behalf of Mr Pace, Mrs Simae for sharing her career as an athlete.

For those who want to ask any questions to our guest, you can ask her until the next ten minutes.

Thank you so much for the opportunity🙏🤝

Hey Bulie. No coach, solo training, being an Elite, how do you manage?

Hi there! I draft my own program. I make sure that I put long runs, speed, strength and rest in my program. I put discipline first. And I just focus on what I'm training for. What helps me a lot if I feel lazy to do my training to tell myself that today I'm not training I go for fun , when I get there I do my training as usual.

The end 

FINITO 

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼