The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
OVER the years, residents in Mutare have been slowly adopting a jogging culture to boost their body immune systems and live healthy lives.
With its rugged terrain characterised by steep slopes, the eastern border city’s environment provides a good working platform for those who want to do rigorous training sessions as well as those who want to burn a few calories and tone their bodies.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, only a few people found time out of their hectic working schedules to jog early in the morning or to do work-outs at nights.
However, as the coronavirus took its toll and countries were forced to lockdown their economies, a jogging culture immediately blossomed in Mutare.
Since most people are working from home, the closure of schools and other institutions of higher learning has left them with enough time to run in the morning. As early as 5am, hordes of people run the length and breaths of the city’s mountainous landscape.
A good number of people run up and down the Christmas Pass every day.
In Dangamvura, hundreds of residents climb up the Econet boaster road at the Link Road. Some climb up the Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre Mountain, others run through the Natvest Industrial Park, while the newly constructed Jeff Road in Chikanga is popular with those who live nearby.
Elderly people are part of the joggers who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as ward off perennial ailments like high blood pressure. Health experts have always been emphasizing that it is crucial to keep one’s immune system strong.
When one exercises, the white blood cells — the ones that fight infections — travel through the body faster and do their jobs better.
Experts say an individual should get at least 30 minutes of moderate cardio like walking, swimming, biking, or running each day.
Jogging is a form of trotting and its main intention is to increase fitness with less stress. Studies have found that moderate-to-high aerobic exercises like running can reduce belly fat, even without changing your diet.
Leading a healthy lifestyle has been the greatest factor pushing the multitudes on to the roads for a jog.
Seasoned sports personalities whose trade is on hold due to the virus have also joined in to stay fit in anticipation of returning to the field when the pandemic is over. Proprietors of fitness training houses who closed their gyms due to the lockdown are now conducting sessions in the open. Many are taking their fitness classes on the road during the morning jogs.
However, the morning jogs have become an avenue for those looking for dates.
With church gatherings prohibited, recreation parks closed, bars shut down and movie houses under key and lock, young people are hunting for partners during work-outs.
Luke Mutema from Chikanga who rus up and down the Provincial Heroes’ Acre Mountain every morning said his friends pushed him to run but now he is addicted to the exercise.
“We had nothing to do at home during the lockdown and my friends persuaded me to join them in the morning to run up the mountain. I was not interested at first, but now I am in the groove. It feels nice to stay healthy. My body used to be heavy, but now I look good. I am still a young man and these nice looks help me in finding beautiful women,” he said.
Bernard Ndadziira who runs up the Link Road Econet booster road, said the work-outs enable him to spend his spare time productively.
“Since the lockdown in March I have been staying at home because my line of trade demands me to cross the borders. The borders have been closed and I am currently confined to my house in Dangamvura.
“Every morning I run up the mountain with my friends to stay fit. When we started the sessions it was painful but now we are in good shape. A lot of people are running these days, including the elderly and young people. I take alcohol and these morning jogs help me clean my body and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Zimbabwe cricket player, Tendai Chatara said the morning jogs are indeed popular.
“Around 4am everyone morning, I run up the Link Road mountain because my house is located at the foot of that hill. Hundreds of people are jogging in the morning and this is a good culture as it allows the community to stay fit. While I am following a fitness programme from my fitness trainer, doing the exercises at home is not enough. Therefore running up the mountain provides me with the good terrain to undergo rigorous workouts.”
According to Healthline.com, jogging helps in weight loss, it improves bone strength, develops muscles, aids mental health, keeps the heart in good shape, boosts the respiratory system and prevents infections and communicable disease.
It also curbs mental stress, builds the immune system and has anti-ageing benefits.
