Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon 2001 ~ Results and Article

Article (by Lisa De Speville)

Could you run 232km under the scorching Kalahari sun, by yourself, in mid-morning temperatures of over 36 C, pestered by the constant buzz of “miggies” around your face, carrying a backpack loaded with at least 2l of water and enough food to sustain you for 7 days? The 10 competitors that completed the second Augrabies Extreme Marathon (AEM) did just this.

Presented by race directors Estienne Arndt – better known for his fund-raising Comrades antics – and Steve Viljoen, this is a challenging solo foot race where just crossing the finish line is an achievement.

Based on the Moroccan “Le Marathon des Sables” this is a staged, not continuous, event. The 232km marked route is split into 6 legs of 35km, 32km, 36km, 28km, 71km and 30km respectively, which are run daily – except for the 71km stretch, which is run overnight on the 5&6th days of the event.

Throughout the event competitors must be self-sufficient. They are required to carry their clothing, sleeping bags, food, survival gear i.e. flares, compass, whistle, first aid equipment and torch at all times. The only concessions made by the organisers are tents at the stopover sites and watering points at 10km intervals. In these extreme temperatures, competitors drink in excess of 8l of water during the running sections alone, consuming around 15l daily. With 2l of water, their starting backpack weight is over 12kg.

Apprehensive and enthusiastic, the 12 competitors set off at 09h00 on Sunday, 7 October, from the magnificent Augrabies Falls Nature Reserve, heading west, downstream of the Orange River on the first 35km leg. Many of the runners missed a marker, taking them off route on the cross-country section to check-point 2. In correcting their error, Lisa de Speville (SA), Pieter van Heerden (SA) and Karl-Heinz Jost (Germany) added an additional 10km to the day’s distance.

Bob Sitler (USA) and Lynn Simpson (SA), both of whom completed the event last year, crossed the finish line behind Warren Kencroft (UK), who won this first leg in time of 4hr56m.

Having elected to start the second and following days at 06h00 to take advantage of the cool morning temperatures, the competitors set off on what was to be the hardest 32km of them all. The first 10km section, alongside lush vineyards, that lead to the boat which would ferry us across to the northern bank of the Orange River, gave away nothing of the endless hours we would spend ploughing through the thick sand of the dry Molopo River bed. Trapped in the gorge by the steep cliffs on either side, there is no escape and with no end in sight, this stretch took its toll, testing the mental strength of the competitors.

On reaching the Riemvasmaak hot springs at the top of the Molopo Gorge, Geoff Hilton-Barber, the only blind competitor and three-times finalist in the “OutThere Adventurer of the Year” competition, and his racing partner, Lance de Willers, stripped down to take advantage of the warm, soothing waters. As we all discovered, it was virtually guaranteed that Geoff and Lance could always be located wherever there was water to be found. Together with David Smith (SA), who had assisted at the event last year and who’d returned this year to help runners at the back and remove the route markers, they set off on the last 10km.

Plagued by deep, raw blisters, Daniela Bogalho (SA) withdrew from the race, on the race doctor’s instructions, shortly after this second watering point.

Having reached the night’s camp in the river bed, competitors took advantage of the physio team, collapsing on the massage beds before subjecting their blistered feet to methyolate injections administered by the sadistic medical team. We all agreed that although it’s effective at drying out blisters, the searing pain of what feels like a white-hot poker burning a hole in your heel is excruciating. We were very pleased to see the medics leave that evening.

Day 3 (36km) started with another slog up the riverbed before turning south-east, cross-country, to checkpoint 1. The terrain in this area, although flat, is hard. No matter what your shoe-type, the stones that litter the ground continuously prod your feet and as the only types of vegetation are a few small thorn trees, shrubs and grasses there is no respite from the blazing sun. By the time we reached the first checkpoint around 10h00, it was 36 C in the shade and 60 C on the ground.

Barb Sousa, in a state of confusion and dehydration after reacting badly to anti-nausea medication, was taken off the route less than 1km from the day’s endpoint, the Khamkirri Private Game Park. After she had recovered, race directors decided to allow her to continue the following day, doing an extra kilometre to make up the missed distance.

In contrast, Karl-Heinz (64), who has completed 3 double-Ironman, five triple-Ironman and holds 7 world records, set off on an additional 7km to log yet another ultra.

Running next to the Orange River through the vineyards lining the route, this 28km leg should have been a relatively easy “rest” day before the big 71km overnighter. But, with temperatures crossing into the 40’s, the day claimed its victims.

Nauseous and dehydrated, Bob Sitler (US) was stopped at checkpoint 2, made to rest and given a drip before being allowed to continue to De Mas, a farm on the southern bank of the Orange, just outside the small town of Kakamas. Karl-Heinz too was dripped after passing out repeatedly. He admitted to having made a fundamental error - he’d neglected to eat and drink when he reached the camp. Jonathan Cooper’s (SA) knee injury had worsened and 30% of Geoff Hilton-Barber’s feet were raw flesh. This was way beyond anything I’ve ever seen – even in adventure racing.

With our 5l bottles of water close at hand, we spent the rest of the afternoon, evening and following day lazing in the shade chatting and laughing, staying off our tired feet as much as possible. Unlike “Les Marathon de Sables” an extreme marathon through the Sahara, which both Karl-Heinz and Bob have completed, competitors in this event get to know each other well. In Les Marathon, with the large number of competitors, you’re constantly fighting for times and positions and allocated to specific overnight shelters, you only get to know your 9 tent-mates. As Barb accurately noted, at the beginning of this race when we all first met, we were rather reserved. But after 4 days we were united by blisters and a common experience.

With the prediction of temperatures in the lower 40’s, the race directors decided to hold the long leg through the night of the 5^th day, starting at 16h30. Fortunately the last 60km of this 71km leg was on a gravel road. Glowing lumo sticks marked intersections and turns so the runners were able to easily find their way. This was my favourite leg of the whole race. Cool temperatures, no tiny buzzing flies, peace, solitude, tranquillity and a wide-open black sky.

On race doctor’s orders, Jonathan was pulled off the route just after 10km as his knee injury continued to worsen and it was felt that he would permanently damage the joint. Not wanting to leave his fellow competitors, he drove with the race directors to the various checkpoints, waiting for the runners, encouraging them thoughout the night.

Bob was first to arrive at the Kanoneiland camp in the early hours of Friday morning, 2 seconds ahead of Warren, and a few minutes ahead of Pieter. Lynn, continuing to show her strength and speed finished fourth. The 6 remaining runners filtered in during the morning, joining their comrades under whatever shade they could find, to rest before the final 30km leg through to Upington the next morning.

In order to get all the competitors finished between 10h00 and 10h30 at ‘Die Eiland’ show grounds in Upington, the runners were set off at different times – some starting at 03h30.  Augrabies Extreme Marathon winner Warren Kencroft was warmly welcomed across the finish line by the visitors at Upington’s “Kalahari Kuierfees”, an annual event with various sporting and social festivities. Lynn Simpson, the first woman home placed a strong second place overall.

For me this was an incredible race – one that was very different to adventure racing. I took it really easy on the first four days – not even bothering to run until the last 71km and 30km legs when my pack was much lighter. I finished strong and comfortable. But, next year I’ll be back to run from the start instead of admiring the scenery.