DURBAN - A Ballito housekeeper-cum-long distance runner, Veronica Mthethwa, will soon be jetting off to the USA to fulfill her dream of running the New York City Marathon.
Mthethwa, 34, started running in 2014, but has already completed several marathons including three grueling Comrades Marathons. She leaves for the USA next Thursday and the marathon will take place next Sunday, November 5.
Mthethwa said she could not have come this far without the support of her employers Jody and Peter Cameron who not only encouraged her to pursue her dreams but also helped her raise funds.
She spoke to the Sunday Tribune earlier this year on her quest of conquering the acclaimed New York Marathon.
“I used to watch the Comrades on television while I did ironing at work and I became fascinated with it,” she said at the time.
In 2014 she asked for a day-off to watch the ultramarathon runners as they arrived in Durban from Pietermaritzburg.
“When she came home she told us that she wanted to run the Comrades the following year and we thought she was joking, until she started getting up early to run before she started work,” said Jody.
By the end of 2014 Mthethwa could finish 42km races. This fueled her confidence that she could take on the 2015 Comrades Marathon, and she did.
Jody said she was worried about Mthethwa because she had cramps and an ankle injury along the route and thought she would not finish.
“You should have seen her running towards the finish line with a beaming smile on her face. You could see that she was sore but happy. We were all so proud,” said Jody, talking about Mthethwa's first Comrades Marathon.
Last year, the Camerons sponsored her Two Oceans Marathon. Her achievement has not come without sacrifice as the single mother of three has to wake up as early as 3am most mornings to catch a train. She starts work at 6am. She is also on a strict diet and cannot indulge on junk food except on special occasions, such as having a slice of cake on birthdays.
“She is not a domestic worker, she is a runner who works as a domestic. We’ve made a promise to her that we are going to help her achieve her dreams but we were all surprised when she told us she wanted to do the New York City Marathon this year,” said Peter.