LET’S GO POTCH: WHY IT MATTERS

Abygail Smit

@Abysmit06

 

It is a common misconception that students, especially in Potchefstroom, only use their free time to visit bars and restaurants, have a Potch dam party, or just stay at home and sleep. Although many students do participate in these activities, it is important to note that our town has a wide audience of students who exercise.

 

Whether it’s to get that summer body or just for a study break, students have been active around campus. Another motivation could be the Let’s Go Potch event, which was held on 25 October 2025. The atmosphere was electric from the start at 5 a.m. until the afternoon finish.

 

What stood out from the event was the number of students who participated in the races. Not only was there a fun 5 km race, but some students even took on the whopping 42.2 km route. The 21.1 km race was won by Joel Mmone, who ran it in a speedy time of 1:06:37, meaning he had a pace of 3:09 min/km. Let’s Go Potch also had a fun-run distance of 5 km, which was won by Tiiseto Mokhoma, who ran it in 15:47 min/km.

 

The winning results of the event aren’t just inspiring; they are also a reminder that the students here at North-West University (NWU) have many hobbies. It also serves as a reminder that a healthy lifestyle is the key to a long and fulfilling life. According to Verywell Health, an online article on why exercising regularly is important, there are numerous benefits that come from regular exercise:

 

• Improving your mood

Especially for students who need to study, exercising can improve cognition for up to two hours, enhancing attention, decision-making, memory, and language fluency.

 

• Maintaining strong muscles and bones

Regular exercise can slow down the loss of bone density that comes with aging. This helps prevent bone loss and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

 

• Increasing energy levels

By improving cardiovascular efficiency, exercise increases energy levels, allowing the heart and lungs to deliver oxygen and nutrients more effectively to muscles and tissues.

 

These are only a few of the reasons highlighted by the article, but the message remains the same: exercising is very beneficial for optimal brain and body function. That is why it is so refreshing to see our students participate in events such as Let’s Go Potch. Not only are they breaking stereotypes, but they are also bettering their health while doing so.

 

Healthy and active events should be held more often in our town and on our campus. Our students are constantly reminded of the dangers of an unhealthy lifestyle, but as a university and community, it should be our priority to create opportunities for students to improve their well-being. We can all learn from Let’s Go Potch, and thankfully it is an annual event. Hopefully, we will see even more students there next year.

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt