From Accidental Runner to Ambassador: How Simeon Found His Running Legs
When I sat down to do this short interview with Simeon Oladele yesterday, he was already on his way to collect his bib for the Xtra Foods Cares 5K at St Mary’s College Grounds. The man just keeps running,
A little over a week ago he topped the podium at the Sach and Steel Community 5K where he stopped the clock at 24 minutes, and 37 seconds, and most would be forgiven for taking in that performance at just face value, but the story behind the time, and the man atop the podium mind you, is another thing altogether.
Two years ago when he ran his first race shortly after he arrived in the 868, his time was 38 minutes. Now, after more than 200 races, Oladele is a Bafasports Ambassador, author, running obsessive, and Finance Attaché at the Nigerian High Commission.
Here’s how he manages that full plate.
The Oasis Connection
Back in April I published the write up for the Oasis 7K, the prevailing message was that aside from the fitness gains, the race was about a lot more.
“Oasis is a 7k organised in honour of my first book and the new book that is still running in town, titled Determine Not to Fail,” he said. “If you are determined, and if you believe in your dream, you keep chasing your dream, every step counts to definitely get you where you are going. So what I do basically is just to use that book to encourage.”
According to Oladele, the name OASIS was derived from his name:Oladele Adewale Simeon Ideal Skills Foundation, and apart from the overarching message of never giving up, and the tie-in to his published book, part of the cause was to donate proceeds to schools in T&T and Nigeria, and to support youth and women empowerment programmes.
But the deeper I went into the interview, I realised that how he came to be an ambassador for Bafasports was actually a beautiful accident.
He didn’t even mean to become a runner
Arriving in Trinidad in August 2024, Oladele felt immediately at home with the similar climate as he settled in his new role.
“But around October, I saw online that they just say support for cancer,” he explained in reference to an ad he saw online. “And though I saw that they wrote ‘a 5K’, because I’ve not been running while I was in Nigeria… I didn’t pay attention. I just paid attention to the cost.
“So a few weeks after, I just got a message that said, you can pick up your running bib and your jersey at our office along Long Circular Road, Maraval. And I was shocked. I said, ‘Oh, is this actually a race?’… And that was how I did my first 5K on exactly 26 October 2024, [the] CIPC, 5K run, and I finished with 38 minutes.”
A photobomb, a running club and Bafasports
His transition into his current role at Bafasports also had a feel of serendipity to it.
When he went to the Conquer the Hills event he saw a running group with matching jerseys where he decided to photo bomb – just soaking in the moment. “So it was later I met a lady… her name was Nicole… she was the one that told me: ‘Oh, yes, there’s a guy [at] Bafasports. He does a lot of 5Ks, and they have a running club.’
And that was how I got Nigel’s number, and I was able to join the club, I think, towards the end of 2024.”
And Oladele kept on signing up for races.
The Ambassador that always runs…
“I don’t think there is any Bafasports race that I have ever missed since I became their member,” he said. “So because I run every weekend… the recognition came that, okay, as a diplomat who is serving in Trinidad and has this same passion, love for running and running just became part of me, became my hobby.
“That was how it brought me on board as the Bafasports Ambassador. I’ve done a lot of races, including the two Midnight Marathons… two Midnight Half Marathons, and the other Midnight 10K.”
And by now you’d probably have realised that this isn’t enough for Oladele.
Finishing off the year running
For someone who only discovered competitive running in Trinidad less than two years ago, Oladele’s transformation has been remarkable.
“The plan, like I keep saying, is just to keep running. Even, like I said, if I go back to Nigeria, I [will] keep running,” he said. “I’ve done more races this year and I’m still willing to do more. So by next year, I want to participate in more international races, which I’ve started signing up for. So I’m going for the Panama Marathon on 15th November.”
That’s just the start as he named-dropped the World Abbott Marathon, as well as starting a running community of his own in Nigeria if, or when that time comes for him to return to his homeland.
For now, Bafasports is where he currently calls home and the road is where he lives. Oladele has already crossed 80 races in 2026, and with the Panama Marathon ahead and bigger international races in his sights, there is little indication that the miles will stop accumulating anytime soon.
From a 38-minute first 5K in October 2024, Oladele has since lowered his personal best to 22 minutes, with his sights now set on breaking 20 minutes, and eventually challenging the 16-minute mark.
With another race already somewhere on quickly-approaching horizon, he’s clearly not interested in slowing down either.
The medals can keep coming, and so can the miles.
