Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon 2004 ~ Results and Article

Welcome to the first of the daily reports on the fifth Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. If you are reading this you will either be a friend or family of one of the crazy buggers running the event (in which case you probably won’t want to hear all the gruesome details of their suffering) or you’re some web-trawling sicko who enjoys watching crazy buggers suffer (which means you probably do want in depth coverage of all the blood, sweat and tears.) It’s practically impossible to offer coverage that satisfies both parties, but I’ll do my best!  The latter group will be pleased to note that the first day was not without its fair share of agony. Pretty soon after starting off at nine this morning it was clear that Estienne and Nadia had no intention of easing us into the race.

The route followed the first day of the popular Klipspringer hiking trail, which is no doubt great fun if you’re a seasoned hill walker, but for runners it was just too rocky and uneven to ever really get a good pace going. The first 10 km saw us weaving through beautiful but rugged countryside above the Orange River gorge, before dropping down to the banks of the river for another 10 km of grueling boulder hopping. This stretch claimed a number of victims, with visiting Canadian Rene Constantineau taking a rather nasty tumble (they’re busy stitching him up right now and it looks like he should be fine to run tomorrow). The heat also nailed a lot of us on this section, with Shaun Watton requiring a bit of tlc after he ran out of water and collapsed. Shaun became the youngest runner to complete the Kalahari Augrabies last year (aged 24), and the same grit and determination shone through this time round – after taking it easy in the shade for a while he was back on his feet and made it to the finishing line in one piece. Blind runner Geoff Hilton-Barber will no doubt have had to take it nice and slowly along today’s rocky course, and as I write this we are still waiting for him and three others (his guide, Kobus Cronje, Dirk Staal and American Bob Sitler) to make it into camp.

OK, enough about peoples’ misery – let’s take a look at the guys (and gals!) who seemed to cruise today without a hassle. First in was South African Aaron Ngwenya, who completed the 28 km in a comfortable 3 hrs 49 mins. Close on his heels was another local, Tommie Du Preez, with a time of 3 hrs 56 mins, and in third Canadian Serge Dessureault crossing the finishing line on 4 hrs 6 mins. Fourth in was Riaan Bredenkamp, followed by Brit Steve Shipside and myself in joint fifth. The first woman was Lynne Simpson with a time of 5 hrs and 8 mins, followed by Capetonian Shaen Adey who cam in a couple of minutes later at 5 hrs 12 mins. Lynne was the ladies winner last year, but it looks like she might have some stiff competition this time round. Watch this space.  

A great day! After the tedious bolder hopping and tricky route finding of yesterday, all the competitors welcomed the easier terrain of today’s course. We were also fortunate enough to have some cloud cover and a cool breeze, which helped keep spirits up as the kilometers rolled by. Aaron Ngwenya had another superb race, coming in first with a time of 4 hrs 20 mins. Hot on his heels was a strong-looking Tommie Du Preez, crossing the line on 4 hrs 30 mins. Third place went (rather unexpectedly!) to me, with Deon Fawell and Rene Constantineau coming in soon after. Lynne Simpson’s 5 hrs 15 mins ensured she kept her position as leading lady, with Shaen Adey coming in second with 5 hrs 58 mins.  The course wasn’t all plain sailing, though. The toughest section was without a doubt the stretch between checkpoint two and three, which followed a picturesque riverbed for several kilometers. When Estienne laid out the route the gorge was dry and sandy, but the recent heavy rains have turned it into a treacherous quagmire, which made the going excruciatingly slow at times.

The problem was that it’s practically impossible to tell the muddy sections from the hard ones, so you could be happily chugging along on solid ground, when all of a sudden you’re up to your hips in thick, gooey mud. Apart from the obvious delays this causes, sand and mud in your socks is a recipe for disaster, forming a wonderful grinding paste that can exfoliate your skin down to the bone if you don’t get it out pronto.

Most of us were pretty disciplined about doing this, but as I’m typing I can hear the muffled screams of less meticulous runners having their blisters “seen to” (read poked and prodded with sharp implements) in the medical tent. I’ve also just been told that Shaun Watton and our trusty sweeper David Smith have had to pull out due to injuries, joining American Bob Sitler who sadly has to call it quits late yesterday. Hard luck guys.

Right now the rest of the competitors are either chilling under the shade cloth or receiving some much needed attention from the physios. I can’t tell you what an incentive it is knowing these guys will be there at the finishing line ready to ease aching legs and shoulders. For many off us it’s the only thing that keeps us going those last few painful kilometers! Oh, and Chrissie’s foot baths. Having your feet scrubbed by a delightfully talkative tannie might not seem like everybody’s cup of tea, but trust me, after 30 km of hard pounding it’s sheer heaven. Thanks Chrissie!

It looks like we’ve got some rain coming so I’m going to head off and secure a spot in one of the tents. Thanks to everybody who has been sending e-mails to the competitors – it really cheers the guys up so keep them coming!

The novelty is starting to wear off now! Being woken up before six every morning, having the tent dropped while you’re still trying to pack your rucksack, forcing down some cold Oats-So-Easy and then shouldering a pack that should in theory be getting lighter, but isn’t, has started to take its toll on even the most cheerful of competitors. Add to this blistered feet, aching limbs, stinky armpits and searing temperatures and you’ll see that there’s nothing glamorous about running through a desert.

Still, there’s also a lot to be thankful for. The crew continues to offer fantastic support, cheering us along at every checkpoint and topping up our bottles with lovely cold water. The planning and organization have been superb, and the scenery is completely, bogglingly beautiful. Anybody who thinks that the Northern Cape’s attractions are limited to a groot gat  and a waterfall need to come and visit some of the areas we’ve been running through. Every time you turn a corner you are welcomed by a new sight – shattered granite koppies, forests of quiver trees and endless shimmering plains. It’s stunning! Even the ground we’re running over is a riot of colour thanks to the rose quartz, mica and other glimmering minerals that are scattered everywhere.

And we’re camped on the Orange River tonight, which has brought much welcome relief to the hot, tired runners. Right now most of the team are wallowing in the water, doing much needed ablutions, washing socks and just cooling off. Everybody is taking it very easy, no doubt in anticipation of tomorrow’s big (77 km) day. Gulp! Thankfully today’s run was much easier than yesterday’s, following farm roads and game fences through predominantly easy terrain. This is also reflected in the faster times, with Tommie and Aaron coming in together at 3 hrs 50 mins, Rene taking second place with 3 hrs 52 and Deon third with 4 hrs 3 mins. There was a slight upset with the ladies, with Lynne losing her way right near the finish, allowing Shaen to pip her to the post with 5 hrs 32 mins. Lynne’s time of 5 hrs 40 mins still keeps her in poll position.  Good news is that our trusty sweeper David, who I reported as having dropped out yesterday, is trustier than we thought and is back in (with a slighter smaller backpack this time!).  Unfortunately one of the Canadians, Serge, has had to drop out due to toe issues, and Dirk, who chugged into camp late last night to an emotional welcome from all, has also decided to call it quits.

It really is sad to say goodbye to these guys. Although we’re only three days into the event, a strong feeling of kinship has grown between all the runners. Indeed, for many this is one of the main reasons for doing the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. There’s also some good team rivalry on the go, with the Dung Beetles (Geoff, Kobus, Riaan and Mike) getting some stiff competition from an unofficial band named the Bok Drolle, comprising Shaen, Petro, Steve and myself. Steve, who is from the UK, is still trying to work out what bok drolle actually are, although he seems to be on the right track, suggesting that it might have something to do with the name of his running group back home, the magnificent Team Sh**. Chrissie is currently giving him a crash course in Afrikaans, and he should be fluent by the end of the week. 

So – what does it feel like to run 77 km? Ask any of the competitors right now and you’ll probably get a one-word groan, if anyhing. Stiff, sore and tired may be appropriate terms for describing how one feels after, say, completing a half marathon, but they simply aren’t appropriate here. Exhausted and buggered are a little closer to the mark, but I think you’ll find the words most of the runners would use right now can’t really be published in a wholesome, family website such as this.

You’d getter a much better idea if you could just see the runners now. We’re all lying in a jumbled heap under the shade cloth, snoozing, tending to our war wounds, or just staring into space with a slightly dazed, distant expression. Whenever anybody gets up they walk with a distinctive hobble, either thanks to their aching legs or blistered feet (or both!). Some are forcing down protein shakes and other vile energy supplements, trying to get their bodies back in shape for tomorrow’s 43 km leg, but most of us don’t want to think about that yet – we’re just super chuffed to have completed the ‘Big One’.

And yes, it does feel good! Before this event I had never run anything longer than a half marathon, so you can imagine the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a course almost four times that distance. There’s also the knowledge that we’ve broken the back of this crazy race, and that the finishing line is now in sight. There were times last night, however, when that goal seemed completely unattainable, and all one’s energy was just focused on making it to the next water point. It’s on days like this that experience really counts, and not surprisingly it was the runners with a couple of ultras under the belt that coped the best. Tommie Du Preez had an excellent race, completing the leg in an impressive 11 hours.

This pushes him into first place ahead of Aaron Ngwenya, who succumbed to bad dehydration and had to rest along the way. Rene Constantineau, Deon Fawell, AO Okreglicki and Steve Shipside also ran really well, all getting times of under 12 hours. Perhaps the most impressive performance of the day, however, came from Shaen Adey who, despite no long distance running experience, managed to keep up a cracking pace for most of the route and came in at just over 13 ½ hours. Unfortunately for her it still wasn’t enough to beat Lynne Simpson, whose time of 13 hrs 10 min ensures that she still keeps her position as leading lady.

As one would expect from a gruelling day like this, there were also a number of casualties. First down was Christie Bouwer. Christie has completed whopping 108 ultra marathons, so his withdrawal came as a big surprise to many (you just have to have a look at the size of the blisters on his feet to see why, though). Next was Canadian Maurice Beausejour, who became badly dehydrated. We’ve also had to say a sad goodbye to Billy Bremner and Kobus Cronje, both of whom have had to head home urgently due to family deaths. So our merry band has dwindled to a mere 20 runners. Let’s hope we can all make it to the end now.

Despite having a full day to recover after the 77 km leg, I woke up this morning feeling like I’d been run over by a small Greyhound bus. Under normal circumstances I would

have called in sick and spent the day in bed. Instead I had to pull on my shoes run a marathon! Fortunately I wasn’t alone in my suffering - judging by all the hobbling and pained expressions, I don’t think there was a single competitor who started off today’s race feeling fresh.

Not that this seemed to stop the stronger runners from bulleting off the moment the starter’s gun was fired (actually Estienne just shouts “Go!”). Almost immediately a “peleton” broke away from the group, leaving the rest of us to eat their dust. Leading the pack was Steve Shipside, with Aaron, AO, Rene, Tommie and Deon snapping at his heels.  By all accounts they were neck and neck for most of the way, with the first four pulling ahead near the end and all coming in within a minute of each other (apparently there was quite a sprint for the finishing line!). Well done to Richard Shannon who, after taking it relatively easy so far, decided to push it a bit today and completed the 43 km in an impressive 5hrs27mins. Geoff also had a great day with his “new horse” Bob Sitler, who returned to the race as his guide.

Most of the competitors seem to have enjoyed today’s course, which predominantly kept to decent roads and paths. It wasn’t all plain sailing, though. The section between checkpoint two and three followed a rough 4x4 track, with a brutally steep climb right near the end, and the final leg to the camp was sandy and unbelievably hot, forcing many of us to walk even though it was downhill. Good news is that there were no running casualties today, although Estienne managed to wipe out on his quad bike and seems to have cracked a rib. (Check out the pics of him getting an anti-inflammatory jab from Hermie!) Unfortunately Hermie pulled Miema out of the race due to severely blistered feet, so now our merry band is down to 18 runners.

18 very excited runners. Tomorrow is the final stage, and already everybody is dreaming about ice-cold beers and juicy steaks (hint hint Nadia!). It’s hard to believe that we are nearly there; that our poor feet have actually managed to carry us for so far. It’s been a long, painful journey that has been whittling down both our bodies and minds, but with the end in sight spirits are soaring once again.

We’ve done it! All 18 runners who started off this morning have made it across the finishing line, successfully completing the 2004 Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. And boy does it feel good! Those stiff legs and throbbing toes were instantly forgotten as we pulled our packs off for the last time and collapsed onto the lovely cool lawn at Khamkirri. It’s hard to believe that it’s all over now. When you spend seven days running through the desert you become almost detached from reality – life becomes distilled to a seemingly endless routine of sleeping, eating and, of course, completing each day’s leg. You can vaguely remember what it’s like to be clean, to eat real food, to sit on a toilet and sleep on a proper bed, but it all seems very alien – like something you did in another lifetime. At the back of your mind you are aware that it will eventually end, but the finishing line always seemed a long, long way away.

And then suddenly it’s the last day, and you wake up and realize “Shit! I’m only 27 km away from ice cold beer and a hot shower.” So you run. Like the clappers. Even though your whole body’s aching and your legs can barely move, you’re magically able to sprint like an Olympic athlete. Fortunately Estienne was kind to us and made this last leg relatively easy, so we were all able to get into a good rhythm and just keep on going. Because everybody ran so well there were no major changes in the positions  – Tommie Du Preez maintained his lead and is this year’s winner. Well done Tommie! In second place was Aaron Ngwenya, with Rene Constantineau coming in third. Lynne Simpson won the ladies section, with Shaen Adey taking second place.

Regardless of who came in where, I’m sure it’s safe to say that all the competitors have had an amazing time. Long after the sock tans have faded and the last grains of Kalahari sand have been coaxed out of our ears, I know we will all still be basking in the warm memories of this fantastic week in the desert. Without trying to sound too melodramatic, completing an event like this is truly a life changing experience. No really! What else could explain the tears of joy that welled up in my eyes when I was offered an olive earlier on (thanks Laurie!). A big thank you to Estienne and Nadia for the months and months of hard work that went into making the Kalahari Augrabies possible, and to the rest of the crew for their amazing support throughout the event. You guys are the best! From my side I just want to say what a pleasure it’s been compiling these daily reports. Actually that’s a blatant lie. Trying to string together logical sentences after a day of hard running has not been easy, and I apologize if my writing seemed lame at times.

Right, if I don’t hop into the shower now there’s a serious risk Al Quaeda will steal me away and release me into the London underground as a chemical weapon. Over and out.