On the ground of the Gobi desert march 2008 ran with Johnson Dan Jacob and Steven Lim in the Team MR 25 Gobi, I decided to register for the Namibia 09. The organizer Racing The Planet is running the classic 4 Deserts series every year (Gobi, Atacama, Sahara and Antarctica) and for the past 3 years have run an extra one called “Beyond the 4 deserts” with the third occurrence being in Namibia (South Africa). The decision was taken as I had never run in Africa and a few friends were joining. Being on my own this year it was tougher that get into the discipline of training regularly and the push given by training in team was not there. Fortunately, supported by some running friends I did manage to put on a few miles in Bukit Timah and Mac Ritchie reservoir.
The closest we were to race day the more I realized that this time the number of outstanding competitors was growing! More than 80% had already run a 250km or more and more than 50% had done it twice. Some of the competitor’s names were familiar and the level was going to be much higher than Gobi. The terrain will also be less predictable as no one had ever run in that country and in that desert. Anyway, after a night in the plane and a connecting flight from Johannesburg to Windhoek, it was time for a check-in of the gears and the medical at the Windhoek country club. Again a few familiar faces, everybody getting more anxious and a bag weighting 9kgs…a bit more than expected!
The first shocking news came at the initial race briefing where the long stage was brought forward to Day 4 and extended to 100km non stop…. no comments. The med recommendation to watch out for snakes and in particular the lethal Puff Ada was quite frightening. All of us tried to get some confidence in saying that if you can do 80km you probably can do 100km. Early departure during the night in full racing gear (we will not see our luggage until the end of the race) to the Camp 1 starting line, a trip of 10 hours down south to the edge of the Fish river canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. Nice trip and the occasion to start befriending with tent mates, we will spend a week together in tough conditions. The race being self supported, the organizer is providing only water at check points (1 liter every 10 to 15km) and tents for sleeping at night camps. Your tent mates are surely the closest things to a family during the week.
The arrival at the Canyon was just stunning and the last meal will be taken before attending to the gear and finding some sleep before the big start.
Stage 1 “Fish River Canyon” – distance: 40 km
The stage one was short and warm up for the big descent in the canyon (no running and no passing were allowed). We had to climb deep into the Fish River Canyon, crossing rivers, climbing rope ladders and vertical rock faces on our hands and feet just to get out of the canyon t. I thought more in an adventure race than in a running one and it took me over 4 hours to get out of the canyon with a couple of people being dehydrated on the way. When I reach the edge at the top I felt relieved but it took me a few minutes to take back my breath. The next 20kms were much easier but the Canyon had taken its toll on the joints and I arrived juts before sundown at the camp.
Stage 2 “Leopards and Cheetahs” – distance: 41km
I spent a large part of the night to rub my tendons and joints of both knees and felt very sore at the start. The second stage was mostly about rocks and. …Rocks. Not very rolling. Then came a 60m sand dune slowing down the progression with a finish to the Camp.
Stage 3 “Huns Mountain” – distance: 35km
The pain in the knee was still present but I decided to start pushing it with the aim of having a quick running time and therefore more rest in prevision of the long stage the day after. I was aiming at getting to camp by early afternoon and get maximum rest as usually the start for the long day is very early in the morning by bus first to the staring point. I ran most of the flats and down and took it easy on the up hills but made it to camp by 2pm.
With my tent mates from left to right: Edward, Tony, James, Sandy, Marta and I.
Stage 4 “In the Footsteps of the Bushmen” – distance: 100km
100km…well it is 100km and this is what even some experienced racers are forgetting. The start was at 830am after 4 hours bus ride and you can feel that the temperature was going to be an issue. It looks like sand al over the place. The first stage was slow for me and the Temperatures hit 43°C for the next 20km during which we crossed plains as far as the eye could see. At check point 3 I started seeing the casualties with three of my tent mates that were neutralized by the medic. I tried to “argue” with the medic and checking whether Sandy wanted me to stay around and continue together but the medic made me understand quickly that this was not going to happen. Medics are great people and fortunately they do have the right to stop people that are going over the top of their health. I decided to go on my own and try to reach the 60km CP as soon as I can and decide at that point what to do. At 40km the sun started going down at 50km I was really dark and my poor night vision slowed me down with the terrain becoming really rough and a lot of really steep sand dunes. The progression was really slow and fatigue got in. I finally reach the 60km mark and decided to have a real break and sleep. I had a warm meal and slept a few hours…this was not very “competitive” but will not change much to my result and will allow me to finish strong. At this point it was really tough and I guess anger kept me going on. I was angry toward the organizers to have mapped such a tough course but I was also resolved to stay on and “punish” the guy that map the course by making sure that I will finish it. By then close to 60 participants have given up. I left that checkpoint the sun was starting to raise. It was cold and foggy.
The entire 40km were in the sand with a mix of soft and harder sand, we can see very well that we were getting toward the sea and that the dune desert was in front of us with amazing landscapes. The last CP was further than expected but I made it back to camp with a more than 23h on the legs….
Stage 5 “Out of Africa”– distance: 21km
I felt quite good that morning and ready to “take revenge”. Stage 5 was scrambling over and down the famous sand dunes of the Namib Desert, which at times was an adrenaline boost with its sheer beauty. I ran most of it with a few absolutely spectacular dunes. Climbing these dunes was an inch per inch progression as one get sand up to his thighs. Going down toward the camp was stunning with the Ocean in view and dunning plunging into it…simply stunning. The Campsite was allowing washing clothes in the cold ocean water. What a feeling! The best campsite I have ever been and amazing sundown. One tough element was that I was running out of food and luckily was able to share some with Tony and Matt my two remaining tent mates. At that point the race was over and we were just preparing for the last 8km.
Stage 6 “The Diamond Trail” – distance: 8km
The last 8km was a run on the beach to finish in the port town of Luderitz. It is a heavily guarded area, as it is owned by a diamond concession. The start was staggered allowing everybody a finish together; I was in the first batch and decided to run strong to the Finish line. At the beginning an English competitor and a Japanese one took me over and I decided to observe them. The English man gave up in the dunes and I was following the Japanese one. I had seen him a couple of time during the previous stages and I decided to let him drive the run until I was comfortable to take him over and be the first man to cross the finish line while of course not even being the first on the stage….as it was hard to explain to the Namibian TV. My only thought at that point was to my family that always supports me and … finding some food.
Leow Kah Shin, Fellow utra runner and good friend.
With world class Marco Olmo at camp site
My fellow Swiss companions the Mosimann’s brothers – amazing guys
Conclusion
It was a grueling and taxing race, way above the expected difficulty. A lot of racers were not so happy about this but well…this is part of the unexpected. I made it to the 115th position and only 167 racers did complete the race out f 215 that started. I learned again a lot and came back with amazing pictures in my eyes. Ready for Sahara 2009!