Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon 2000 ~ Results and Article

The inaugural Augrabies Extreme marathon got off to a start this morning at 09H00 from the Augrabies Falls National Park.  14 entrants faced what gradually became a route to challenge both body and mind.  The mercury was at 35deg.C within two hours as the front three runners, Tommie Du Preez, Alexander Mackenzie and Flip Jurgens took a wrong turn before the river crossing and lost 25 minutes.  The first lady entrant, Nicola Macleod, lying in 4^th position, then took the lead.

The very difficult running surfaces combined with the heat started taking its toll on the participants’ feet, with blisters starting and cramps for many of them.  The field all got to the overnight camp safely and settled down to a quiet evening rest around the camp fire, after their blisters and aching muscles had been attended to by the medical team and physiotherapists.

Everyone appeared to be in good spirit and looking forward to the 33km second day.

A weary pack set off early, now knowing that this event was not going to be easy!  The first 10km were still within the Khamkirri Game Farm and the course was reasonably flat.  The fence crossing at the first check point left Robert Knutzen hanging!!  The medics had quite a time removing the barb wire fence from his hand!  And Lynne chose to belly flop the gravel path!  Again, medics to the rescue – and this was only the start of the second day!  The next 15km went west through unspoilt thorn bush terrain into the Molopoer River dry riverbed.  Temperatures had by now reached the upper 30’s, making the going in the very sandy riverbed extremely difficult.  The ‘miggies’ (tiny irritating insects) by now had acquired the taste of the sixteen sweat-coated humans and were out in full force.

Check Point 2 at 23km was a welcome sight to refill very low water supplies, but within 100m of the check point, the blistering heat and soft sand took over again.  The gravel road to Riemvasmaak eased conditions slightly and the encouragement of the locals inspired the runners to push on forward to the finish at the hot springs.

Everyone arrived safely, most very weary and Robert Ferry needing a drip for dehydration.  Being able to relax in the natural pool at the hot springs cheered everyone up, and helped to forget the harshness of the day. 

Flip Jurgens, Tommie Du Preez and Alexander Mackenzie all crossed the line together, followed by Nicola Macleod, first lady.

An unexpected route change resulted in the runners being transported early that morning to a new start.  After a de-briefing of the new route, they set off down a gravel road.  The first 45km of the route was either gravel road or 4x4 tracks, leaving only the continuous heat of the sun, blistering feet and insects as their only challenge.  Again, a sudden route change had to be instituted.  Unaware of the change, David Hickling continued on the original route.  When he did not appear at the original Check Point 4 by 14h00, it was obvious that he was lost and in trouble.  A massive thunderstorm was looming and conditions started to worsen.  Frikkie Lubbe, one of the local farmers and a professional pilot who was on standby for any emergencies, was instructed to proceed with an air search.  By now the conditions had worsened and visibility was very poor, and still no sign of David.  The ground emergency team set out on foot back up the marked route.  He was found at 18:30, dehydrated by safe.  Being an experienced adventure racer, he back-tracked to the route and waited there, where he knew assistance would eventually arrive.

The high winds and rain brought on by the spectacular electrical storm challenged the runners as they made their way to the finish during the night and next morning.  After a treatment and a medical ok, David was returned to the route and allowed to continue his run, and finished with his fellow runners.  The welcome he received by everyone in camp was very emotional, the true team spirit of such an event being very evident.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing on the river bank.

With backpacks reduced to compulsory equipment only, the last stage up the Augrabies ravine and into the National Falls Park seems relatively easy compared to the previous six days.  The continuous high temperatures, sandy river beds and 8km climb out of the ravine did not deter the adrenaline driven runners to an exciting finish line, back where they started, at the gates of the Augrabies Falls National Park.

The overall winner of the event was Flip Jurgens, followed by Tommie Du Preez, and Nicola Macleod in 3^rd position, as well as 1^st lady finishing, an amazing feat for Nicola.