Welcome to another “Top Five Friday” where I share my Top Five anything in running and blogging! This year I had several guest bloggers from five different countries with incredible stories of challenges and triumphs: Wanja and Ebulani from Kenya, Karianne from Singapore, Khanyisa and Ticha from South Africa, Jay Jay, Gobona and Tshire from Botswana, and Myfanwy from Wales. I’m so thankful to all these guest bloggers for sharing their personal running stories and adventures on my blog. Their stories resonated with and inspired so many readers. But let’s take a closer look at the guest bloggers who achieved the most views in 2022!

1/ Interview | GRIP Runner Co-Founder Gobona Mantle, Published June 2022. Around October 2021, there was a buzz of excitement with news that a speciality running store was opening up in Gaborone – aptly named GRIP Runner. I had the opportunity to interview Gobona Mantle who is a co-founder of GRIP Runner which she expertly juggles with her cycling coaching school as well as her events and timing business. Gobona is also an avid cyclist who has participated in several epic races in South Africa and Botswana. In this interview, Gobona opened up about establishing GRIP Runner but also spoke passionately about her cycling school and her desire to lead and mentor a Girls MTB Team at the national and international level. Click here to read blog.

2/ Interview | Running Comrades, Published November 2022. First held in 1921, the Comrades Marathon, coined The Ultimate Human Race, is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon road race (around 90km), run annually in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. In August, my friend Tshireletso crossed the finish line in an incredible 9-hours. I was so happy that her hard-work, commitment to training and sacrifices along the way, had paid off. She shared her story on the blog in a two-part interview. In this blog (Part 1), she took us through her running journey and what it was like to train for Comrades, especially as a working mum of two kids. Click here to read blog.

3/ Interview | From Asthma to Marathons, Published April 2022. On this blog, runner and proud father of three, Jay Jay, shared how his running journey started in 2014, and how he had triumphed over past struggles with asthma to run three marathons as well as countless Halves and 10km races. This was another reminder of human resilience. Click here to read blog.

4/ Interview | Woman of the Year | Khanyisa – Endo Warrior, Published March 2022. This year’s International Women’s Day theme was Break the Bias and, on the blog, I celebrated Khanyisa who has been breaking the bias since she was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2008. First, by working tirelessly to raise awareness for a chronic disease that is so misunderstood even though, it affects 10% of women. And second, even with this diagnosis, participating in several gruelling races including Comrades 2019 (90km), Two Oceans 2019 (56km), Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and Kosmos3in1 (73km). Through all her challenges, she has shown incredible strength and resilience, and empowered so many women around her. Click here to read blog.

5/ Guest Blog | Hiking in South Africa, Published April 2022. My friend Ticha shared that one of the good things to come out of the craziness and upheaval of the pandemic was the opportunity for him and his family to hike in some very beautiful parts of South Africa, with some proving to be more eventful (and highly entertaining for the reader) than others! Click here to read blog.

Thank you once again to ALL guest bloggers who contributed to my blog in 2022! Working with you was a big highlight for me this year. Would you like to share your running story? Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

I’m so excited to be linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday.