Bakhulule Ngxale (30) drew his inspiration to start running from his athletic father. As the head of the family, his father was always encouraging an active lifestyle.

This self-described “respectable, humorous and hardworking” young man was born in Steytlerville, a small town 140 km outside Port Elizabeth. He attended Victoria Park High School and completed his BCom (Economics) at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Being one of four siblings, he is very proud of his younger sister’s academic achievements, although the athletic bug hasn’t bitten her yet.

His parents are his role models and have had the greatest influence in his life, and he can always rely on them to dispense wise advice. His mother has taught him to always be grateful, while his father has encouraged him to be more of an extrovert.

Bakhulule enjoys running with friends, as they motivate and encourage each other. In fact, it’s the camaraderie they share, that he feels will be the driving force behind his completing the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. He entered the marathon to feel a sense of accomplishment, hoping to complete his first full marathon.

He lives by the motto from Napoleon Hill’s poem: “For Life is just employer, He gives you what you ask, but once you have the wages, why, you must bear the task.”