#NotJustAMedal: From Rural Roads to City Streets

​​For Coceka Qomiyana, running began as a necessity. Growing up in the rural Eastern Cape, her daily journey to school stretched 10 kilometers each way – a distance she covered on foot. Back then, running wasn’t a passion or a sport; it was simply how she got from one place to another. But years later, with a life and career built from resilience, running has become something much more. It is her sanctuary, her connection to the past, and a symbol of how far she has come.

“Running is life,” she says simply. It has given her a way to process emotions, navigate hardship, and forge relationships that have shaped her future. And in many ways, it mirrors her own journey: one of movement, endurance, and grit.

Finding Her Way in a New World

When Coceka left her village in the Eastern Cape and moved to Cape Town, she stepped into a world that felt entirely foreign. Young, alone, and with only broken English to get by, the bustling city was a far cry from the quiet landscapes she knew. Settling in a township she faced long hours at work and often felt overlooked or mistreated, her quiet nature adding to her sense of isolation. It was here that she first turned to running for recreation.

What began as a simple way to clear her mind soon became so much more than just exercise.  Over time, those solo runs turned into something bigger: friendships, community, and a deep-rooted passion.”In running, we all speak the same language. It is a universal language,” she reflects. “Even in times where we don’t understand each other, we find the same rhythm, and that makes running beautiful.”

Parallel Journeys: Running & Rebuilding

As Coceka’s love for running grew, so did her life outside of it. The discipline, endurance, and resilience she built on the road mirrored the strides she was making in her personal and professional life. Over the years, she self-funded her own education and became a qualified artisan in electrical, working her way up to a technician at the City of Cape Town. Today, she owns her own flat in Wynberg, a testament to the years of hard work and perseverance. Her son, her greatest pride, is now in his fourth year at the University of the Western Cape.

From struggling alone in a township to creating a life of stability and opportunity, Coceka’s story is one of transformation, and running has been there every step of the way. She also credits the running community for helping her get there. “The friends I made and the support I have received from running and the community is unbelievable,” she comments. “I am so much braver, and more sure of myself because of them”.

#NotJustAMedal

Coceka’s first marathon was the 2014 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. A novice runner at the time, she crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 55 minutes, a moment she will never forget. “I didn’t want the day to end,” she recalls. It was about more than just completing the race; it was about sharing the streets of Cape Town with thousands of others, feeling the power of community, and proving to herself just how far she had come.

That feeling has never left her. Every time she runs, whether through city streets or along forested trails, she is reminded of where she started and how running has kept her grounded through it all. “When I trail run and smell all those smells, and go through the forest, it reminds me of home. Never did I think I would be this person, running through all these spaces now. Running makes my memories stay fresh.”

For Coceka, running was never just about finishing times—it was about finding herself, building a future, and celebrating a journey she never imagined possible. It was, and always will be, #NotJustAMedal.