My Journey to Wellness:
Zibele Bala

We catch up with cover model Zibele Bala on how he lives life well.

Let’s start at the beginning. Can you remember the moment or season in your life when running shifted from being a hobby to being something deeply meaningful?

Running became meaningful during a difficult season in my life. What started as a way to clear my mind turned into my anchor. One day on the mountain, I felt something shift — running became my purpose.

You’ve said that trail running is both joy and therapy for you. Can you describe what happens for you mentally and emotionally when you’re on the trails?

On the trails, my mind quiets and my spirit opens. The mountains hold space for my healing. Every step feels like release, alignment, and joy.

The Cape Cobra Trail Marathon you completed in October 2025 is a challenging and iconic route. What drew you to that race, and what did running it with the Wellness Elite Squad mean to you?

Cape Cobra was raw, challenging and honest. Running it with the Wellness Elite Squad felt powerful — community, energy, and purpose all moving as one.

The trail is full of technical climbs and descents. How do you approach those mentally? What goes through your mind when your body is being pushed to its limits?

When the climbs bite and the descents demand precision, I slow my mind and trust my body. One step at a time. Pain doesn’t scare me — losing my purpose does.

Balance is such a big part of your wellness philosophy. How do you maintain consistency while also honouring rest and reflection?

Consistency is my foundation, but balance is my wisdom. I push hard, but I rest with intention. Recovery keeps me strong, present, and disciplined.

You’ve talked about gratitude as your anchor. What role does gratitude play in your training, your mindset, and your life off the trail?

Gratitude grounds me. I run with the memory of Qumbu, Khayelitsha, and the people who shaped me. Gratitude keeps my mindset clear and my heart steady.

To support bone strength:

Nutrition and recovery are the quiet heroes behind performance. What does a typical fuelling strategy look like for you before, during, and after training runs or races?

My fuelling is simple:

• Before — oats, fruit, hydration
• During — steady carbs, gels, water
• After — protein and proper recovery

Nutrition fuels both performance and longevity.

You use a combination of stretching, rest, and supplements for recovery. What are some of your favourite recovery supplements?

Wellness Warehouse supplements support my training rhythm:

• Mushroom Complex AM for clarity
• Mushroom Complex PM for deep rest
• Magnesium for muscle recovery
• Zinc for immunity

They help keep me balanced and consistent.

You’re training for something incredibly meaningful — running interprovincially to help raise funds to build a hospital. Can you share more about this vision? What inspired it, and what does this mission mean to you?

I’m preparing for my biggest mission yet — running 1 580 km from Cape Town to Qumbu, to Sulenkama Hospital, where I was born. The hospital’s infrastructure has collapsed, and I want to help rebuild it. This run is a message of love, hope, and responsibility to my community.

Preparing for a challenge of that scale isn’t just physical — it’s emotional and spiritual. How are you mentally preparing for this journey?

Mentally, I prepare through prayer, reflection, and visualisation. This journey is emotional and spiritual — I’m guided by purpose more than strength.

Running has given you so much — grounding, strength, joy. What do you hope others see or feel when they watch your journey?

I want people to see possibility in my journey. If my footsteps inspire even one young person from the township to believe in themselves, then I’ve done my part.

You’ve said, “movement and nature are for everyone.” What would you say to someone who feels like the outdoors, trails, or athletic spaces aren’t “for them”?

Movement and nature are for everyone. The trails don’t judge. The mountains don’t discriminate. Start where you are — you belong.

Looking ahead, beyond this challenge and the races to come: What is your bigger dream for the role of movement and wellness in your life — and in your community?

My dream is to expand wellness and movement within my community — giving young people access to nature, confidence, and opportunities that change lives.

And finally, if you could describe your relationship with running in just three words — what would they be, and why?

Healing. Purpose. Freedom.