My name is Busisiwe Mpungose, known as Busi/Siwe/Bee. Originally from Durban, but due to work opportunities ended in Gauteng, Pretoria. In 2015, my current job landed me in Belgium. I’m in Belgium on a 4-year assignment. I am looking forward to returning home in 2019.

Living in Belgium hasn’t been very easy, trying to adjust and climatize. It got lonely and became more unfriendly, missed home/SA a lot. During this time, I could only calm myself through indulging in those famous Belgian waffles and fries (they have nice potatoes😋😋)….dipped in mayonnaise, without necessarily realising that I was ballooning. I had to do something. I’ve always been an active person, so the only way I knew how I could fix myself, was through gym. In the middle of 2017 I forced myself to join the local club. I’m hardly free, mostly preoccupied, trying to balance work, studies and the kids, with no support. Out here it is just me and my 2 kids.

Living in Belgium hasn’t been very easy, trying to adjust and climatize. It got lonely and became more unfriendly, missed home/SA a lot. During this time, I could only calm myself through indulging in those famous Belgian waffles and fries (they have nice potatoes😋😋)….dipped in mayonnaise, without necessarily realising that I was ballooning. I had to do something. I’ve always been an active person, so the only way I knew how I could fix myself, was through gym. In the middle of 2017 I forced myself to join the local club. I’m hardly free, mostly preoccupied, trying to balance work, studies and the kids, with no support. Out here it is just me and my 2 kids.

One day, a lady friend invited me to join her on a 10km race/event in Brugge in October 2017. I was sceptical, saying those races aren’t for me and 10km seemed too long for me. To cut the long story short, the 10km, to my surprise was a 21km😭😱. I didn’t know this, until after the race. I couldn’t even read the “writing on the walls” because I didn’t understand the “running lingo”. To my shock, dead as I was, I completed the 21km race. I did it in 3hours 6mins, got my medal too. It was such an exciting moment for me. I discovered what I didn’t know about myself. Since then, I’ve never looked back and I have been trying to squeeze in “running/jogging” in my busy schedule.

I’ve done about 8 races thus far, ranging from 5kms to 21 kms, and have received medals on some whilst others were for charity. I’m taking it very easy, each day at a time, no pressure, I’m not a fast runner, but wishing to become a “Comfortable Runner” one day, not for competition but just as a lifestyle choice, in the hope of improving on my strength and pace.

I was very happy to join the Chillie Running Club. They’ve helped me grow, and I’ve developed more discipline and consistency in my training/lifestyle. The Club is welcoming and accommodative to all our levels without any pressure.