Running to make a difference

April 10, 2024

The magic thing about running is its blanket effect, i.e. women from all walks of life, of all ages, sizes, circumstances, speeds and distances, can run alone or can band together for a common and sometimes greater purpose. Evie Serventi speaks with two women whose motivation to run has astounding knock-on effects.

Mimi, 52, from Kent and Sam, 27, from Melbourne, are two such women who this year will be setting off across South Africa’s Freedom Trail, using running as a vehicle for social change. On 26 September Mimi and Sam will set off from Pietermaritzburg to cover 2,352 kms (83 kms a day), finishing in Capetown 32 days later.

Every step, every mile, every drop of sweat and every tear shed will represent the ultra runners’ physical and mental fitness, and years of determination, dedication, strength, and hope, not to mention training on opposite sides of the world, pushing through injuries, financial and personal challenges, and rallying support.

But most of all, Mimi and Sam will hold vivid images of the smiling faces of school girls and women whose lives they aim to embellish by setting up a social business that will provide something as basic as feminine hygiene products and better education - things many women in SA simply don’t have or can’t afford. Things we take for granted.

“We both knew that we wanted to raise money for a female cause and when we discovered that one in 10 girls were missing out on five days of school a month - that’s 60 days a year - all because they are unable to afford to buy sanitary pads as they are too expensive, we knew what we wanted to do,” explains Mimi, adding that despite her own two adult daughters knowing what would happen to their bodies from an early age, they still found it tough to cope with.

“Imagine how these girls feel when they have to use old rags, newspaper…or anything they can get hold of…many of the girls eventually opt out of school completely, ” she adds. In fact 60% of women/girls in SA don’t have access to sanitary products and 30% of school girls don’t attend school during menstruation.

Sam acknowledges that while the personal challenges of completing the event will be physically, mentally and spiritually demanding, the running part of Freedom Runners is far more about the creation of this social enterprise business. “I think this idea of running and collaborating with Mimi is a unique way of bringing together and achieving our social cause goals,” she says.

“I feel over the past few years I have been pulling the building blocks together through my experiences to be in a position where I can now create something like this. The idea that women feel ashamed through one of the most natural occurrences that happens to their body, concerns me at the core of my being.”

Sam, who featured in the award-winning documentary Desert Runners (www.desertrunnersmovie.com) in 2010, became the first woman and youngest person ever to complete four 250km desert ultra marathons in Chile, China, Egypt and Antarctica in one year.

Mimi holds three Guinness World Records including running from John O’Groats to Lands End (840 miles) and running the entire length of Ireland (340 miles)!

Sam’s and Mimi’s impressive track records seem only to have made them more grounded and humble, and while the women are no strangers to pushing their bodies to the extreme, mentally and physically, this adventure presents new challenges such as tough and diverse terrain, varied climates and the gruelling 83 kms a day.

Their training schedules include running, strength and conditioning, pool swimming, cross training, and lots of mental focus. Managing expectations and keeping a clear perspective is important, for while the two ultra runners will be completing the mileage every day, it’s a team event: they will have a crew, support team, friends, sponsors and locals encouraging them all the way. Not to mention SA actress and athlete Vanessa Hayward as Freedom Runner’s ambassador.

“When things seem too complicated in the mind, Mimi and I first chat and then I remind myself that we need to keep the project as simple as possible - even though there are so many facets of this project,” says Sam.

“For sure there is deep concern and fear regarding the distance we are seeking to achieve each day. The body will be worn out well before the mind will be in my opinion. So it is about preparing the mind to try and push through extreme physical pain. There will be days where I imagine we will be running up to 15 to 20 hours to achieve the distance. However, we are also limited by safety, the terrain and I guess the limitations of our crew.”

Mimi says running for others is a part of why she became an ultra runner: “I love to see just how far my body is capable of going and this will be the longest distance I have tackled so far. I know how lucky I am to be able to run in such stunning locations and when the going gets tough the motivation to keep putting one foot in front of the other is given to me by trying to help the young girls to get an education and improve their lives.”

The expedition and social enterprise project will also be captured by the Academy Award winning production company Salty Features in the form of a documentary series (www.saltyfeatures.com).

The team have been overwhelmed by the response of the international community but are still looking for sponsorship. If you can help them in any way, please get in touch with me (Evie!) or via their website www.freedomrunners.org.

Evie Serventi, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

Evie Serventi is a runner, journalist and (studying) sports psychologist. She writes about health and fitness and loves helping people connect the dots between peak performance, motivation, goal setting and dealing with injury. www.evieserventi.com, @hotoffthepage

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