Stage 1: Fish River Canyon, approximate distance – 40 kilometers
After spending the night at Camp 1, “Africa’s Grand Canyon,” tucked away in Namibia’s great natural wonder, the Fish River Canyon, the 2nd largest and deepest canyon in the world, and the largest in Africa, RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009 commences. With breathtaking scenery, competitors will start a deep descent into the canyon where the ground will be uneven and rocky and there may be multiple river crossings and climbs depending on the water level. The canyon is teeming with exotic flora and fauna, and there may be sightings of wild zebra, baboon, oryx and other animals. More than 350 million years old, this ravine is made up of spectacular, rich orange hued, horizontal dolomite strata, and hot sulphur springs which at times can be rough and broken. After exiting the Fish River Canyon, competitors will head towards Camp 2, which is named “Southern Cross.”
Stage 2: Leopards & Cheetahs, approximate distance – 42 kilometers
The high, forbidding cliffs of the canyon give way to the scrubland of the African Bush in Stage 2. Ground varies between hard, broken rocks to hardened riverbed sand with wet patches. There may be a few ascents up loose, sandy slopes as the path through this area of the African Bush mostly consists of winding roads traversing small mountains and hills. Competitors may be lucky enough to catch sight of a few leopard or cheetah tracks on their journey. Camp 3, is named, “Nama,” after the indigenous tribe in the surrounding area who form a majority in this part of the world.
Stage 3: Huns Mountains, approximate distance – 39 kilometers
Stage 3 begins with large flat areas and easier terrain than the previous stages skirting the Huns Mountain range. Derelict dwellings populate the dirt roads winding through easy to medium ground up and down small rises. There may be a descent into a riverbed, as well as rocky, broken ground with the occasional scramble, towards the end of the stage before returning to easier flattish ground. Camp 4 is, “Quiver Forest,” so named due to the native Quiver Tree, an indigenous succulent that grows in this area.
Stage 4: In the Footsteps of the Bushmen, approximate distance – 40 kilometers
The route through Stage 4 continues through the African Bush, following easy broken road meaning a moderate pace may be maintained. Although the path may at times be uneven, it is expected to be a quick stage due to the long areas of flat and gentle downhill passages through lunar terrain. As Stage 4 progresses, there are plenty of animal tracks and even a few prehistoric rock drawings to be sighted. There are only predicted to be a few small inclines, although there may be patches of rough sand. Camp 5, the eponymous “Springbok” is situated in an area where the local species of deer herds in numbers.
Stage 5: Out of Africa, approximate distance – 80 kilometers
Stage 5 will have a complete change of landscape as competitors make their way towards the stunning but harsh Skeleton Coast, where some of the largest and oldest sand dunes in the world exist. The sand dunes are typified by their bright copper tones, as the mineral and metal deposits in the sand have oxidized over time, thus signifying their immense age – some of them reach up to hundreds of feet high. There are areas of the Skeleton Coast that competitors will pass through, that no human foot has ever landed before, due to previous diamond mining restrictions in the area. Soft, loose sand dominates the stage with wicked winds expected. Camp 6, “Skeleton Coast” is located near a purpose built wind barrier constructed by the local team in order to provide shelter for the competitors at their last campsite.
Stage 6: The Diamond Trail, approximate distance – 20 kilometers
Stage 6 kicks off with a very sandy coastal track bringing competitors, at times, very close to the water’s edge. The notoriously windy Skeleton Coast, and sometimes an impenetrable fog can form making visibility difficult – the Skeleton Coast gets its name from the high number of ships that wrecked in this inhospitable part of the world. The coast is mostly flat, but occasionally relieved by rocky outcrops and small, rolling hills. The land that competitors pass through was previously diamond mine territory. Eventually, the coastal track will lead competitors into the picturesque, historical town of Lüderitz where the race will end with great fanfare.
Friday, May 8, 2009
News update from Namibia
Hi
We received email today with the following news:
Dear Competitors,
Our course director, Dave Annandale, is currently in Southern Namibia
putting the final touches on the course. He is reporting that it gets down
to almost 0 C (32 F) at night and reaches between 35 and 40 C (95 - 104 F)
during the day. He is also now reporting very light winds in the early
stages of the course. Remember that it is likely to be very windy on Stages
5 and 6. We have updated the website with a brief description of each
stage. A complete Course Book will be provided to you in Namibia.
We also wanted to clarify two Mandatory Equipment List questions that we
have been receiving. 1. You must bring a pair of tights (or long pants) to
wear, and you must bring a lightweight jacket with lining (or a lightweight
jacket with base layering underneath). It gets chilly at night, and since
it gets dark before 6 pm each day, some of you may end up spending part of
every stage in the dark. Please see attached Mandatory Equipment List with
Tights and Jacket items clarified.
We received email today with the following news:
Dear Competitors,
Our course director, Dave Annandale, is currently in Southern Namibia
putting the final touches on the course. He is reporting that it gets down
to almost 0 C (32 F) at night and reaches between 35 and 40 C (95 - 104 F)
during the day. He is also now reporting very light winds in the early
stages of the course. Remember that it is likely to be very windy on Stages
5 and 6. We have updated the website with a brief description of each
stage. A complete Course Book will be provided to you in Namibia.
We also wanted to clarify two Mandatory Equipment List questions that we
have been receiving. 1. You must bring a pair of tights (or long pants) to
wear, and you must bring a lightweight jacket with lining (or a lightweight
jacket with base layering underneath). It gets chilly at night, and since
it gets dark before 6 pm each day, some of you may end up spending part of
every stage in the dark. Please see attached Mandatory Equipment List with
Tights and Jacket items clarified.
WE HAVE OUR KITS
Hey Guys
I hope all is well. Great news .... Andie went to collect out race kits yesterday ... and they look soo hot, even if I say so myself!!
Watch this space for photos's!!
R
I hope all is well. Great news .... Andie went to collect out race kits yesterday ... and they look soo hot, even if I say so myself!!
Watch this space for photos's!!
R
Thursday, May 7, 2009
News Update
RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009 gets underway in just two weeks with two hundred and fourteen (214) competitors from 38 countries expected to participate including a record number of past champions who will be vying for top places
(9 May 2009, Hong Kong) -- RacingThePlanet is set to stage its next endurance event in Namibia on 17 May 2009. Traversing some of the most spectacular dunes and stunning landscapes of the oldest desert in the world – the Namib Desert, RacingThePlanet’s six stage, seven day, 250 kilometer self-supported footrace, features a field of 214 from 38 countries. The event kicks off with a steep descent into the Fish River Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, an area rich with local wildlife such as Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Oryx, Steenbok, Springbok and even leopard. Competitors will make their way through the African bush traversing lunar landscapes and over some of the most demanding and challenging sand dunes in the world to finish at the Skeleton Coast in the charming town of Lüderitz.
The field of 214 features a record seventeen (17) former champions including 27-year-old Ryan N. Sandes of South Africa, who has won two previous RacingThePlanet events and 60-year-old Marco Olmo of Italy, a recent champion of many top ultramarathons. Seven teams will be competing including a four-person team from Israel, a Spanish team, a father/son/daughter team, a Japanese team, an HSBC bank team, an American/Danish team and an all female team. A record number of women will be competing with 54 on the roster. The largest contingent of competitors hails from the United Kingdom with 58, and a record 63 competitors are coming from Hong Kong.
Many competitors will be raising money for charities including Briton’s Mark and Philipp Mosimann, brothers from the United Kingdom who have already raised more than US$50,000 to support an Operation Smile mission in Namibia; American Norman Waite, a banker with Nomura in Hong Kong, who is hoping to raise US$250,000 to support the Otto Wong Neuro-Oncology Clinic; and Garrett T. Quigley, Zein J. L. Williams, Gordon D. Oldham, Douglas H. Maclagan and Stephen R. Moore, who are supporting the Child Welfare Scheme in Nepal. More than 60 competitors will be raising money for local and international charities.
Thanks to the unwavering support of the Namibia Tourism Board, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and other government agencies in Namibia, competitors will have access to some of the most remote and pristine areas in the country, and will be the first ever humans to have crossed parts of the landscape.
Competitors in RacingThePlanet: Namibia will have access to a cybertent which will feature fifteen Intel-powered Classmate laptops. RacingThePlanet has utilized these laptops for the past year, testing and validating the devices for use in rural schools. The laptops have become a key resource for the event. Breaking news from the field will be sent utilizing these Intel-powered laptops and BGAN satellites.
Omaruru Beverages (PTY) Ltd. of Namibia will supply competitors, staff and volunteers with nearly 18,000 liters of OASIS® Natural Mineral Water, the most popular water in Namibia.
Website coverage of RacingThePlanet: Namibia can be found at www.4deserts.com/beyond/namibia featuring hundreds of pictures, breaking news texts, daily journals, video clips, field updates and full results.
About RacingThePlanet
RacingThePlanet® is a unique category of rough country footraces that take place over seven days and some 250 kilometers in remote and culturally rich locations around the world. Competitors must carry all their own equipment and food; they are only provided with water and a place in a tent each day but are supported by professional medical and operations teams. RacingThePlanet is international; the events typically involve competitors from over 20 different countries who are able to mingle around the campfires and in their geographically mixed tents. Currently the events consist of the 4 Deserts, a series which encompasses the Gobi Desert in China, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the Sahara Desert in Egypt and Antarctica, and a fifth event which roves to a new location each year. Time Magazine recently ranked the 4 Deserts #2 on its list of the world’s top endurance competitions.
RacingThePlanet also maintains an online store which carries only the best products for endurance events, travel and the outdoors. The store can be found at www.racingtheplanet.com
(9 May 2009, Hong Kong) -- RacingThePlanet is set to stage its next endurance event in Namibia on 17 May 2009. Traversing some of the most spectacular dunes and stunning landscapes of the oldest desert in the world – the Namib Desert, RacingThePlanet’s six stage, seven day, 250 kilometer self-supported footrace, features a field of 214 from 38 countries. The event kicks off with a steep descent into the Fish River Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, an area rich with local wildlife such as Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Oryx, Steenbok, Springbok and even leopard. Competitors will make their way through the African bush traversing lunar landscapes and over some of the most demanding and challenging sand dunes in the world to finish at the Skeleton Coast in the charming town of Lüderitz.
The field of 214 features a record seventeen (17) former champions including 27-year-old Ryan N. Sandes of South Africa, who has won two previous RacingThePlanet events and 60-year-old Marco Olmo of Italy, a recent champion of many top ultramarathons. Seven teams will be competing including a four-person team from Israel, a Spanish team, a father/son/daughter team, a Japanese team, an HSBC bank team, an American/Danish team and an all female team. A record number of women will be competing with 54 on the roster. The largest contingent of competitors hails from the United Kingdom with 58, and a record 63 competitors are coming from Hong Kong.
Many competitors will be raising money for charities including Briton’s Mark and Philipp Mosimann, brothers from the United Kingdom who have already raised more than US$50,000 to support an Operation Smile mission in Namibia; American Norman Waite, a banker with Nomura in Hong Kong, who is hoping to raise US$250,000 to support the Otto Wong Neuro-Oncology Clinic; and Garrett T. Quigley, Zein J. L. Williams, Gordon D. Oldham, Douglas H. Maclagan and Stephen R. Moore, who are supporting the Child Welfare Scheme in Nepal. More than 60 competitors will be raising money for local and international charities.
Thanks to the unwavering support of the Namibia Tourism Board, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and other government agencies in Namibia, competitors will have access to some of the most remote and pristine areas in the country, and will be the first ever humans to have crossed parts of the landscape.
Competitors in RacingThePlanet: Namibia will have access to a cybertent which will feature fifteen Intel-powered Classmate laptops. RacingThePlanet has utilized these laptops for the past year, testing and validating the devices for use in rural schools. The laptops have become a key resource for the event. Breaking news from the field will be sent utilizing these Intel-powered laptops and BGAN satellites.
Omaruru Beverages (PTY) Ltd. of Namibia will supply competitors, staff and volunteers with nearly 18,000 liters of OASIS® Natural Mineral Water, the most popular water in Namibia.
Website coverage of RacingThePlanet: Namibia can be found at www.4deserts.com/beyond/namibia featuring hundreds of pictures, breaking news texts, daily journals, video clips, field updates and full results.
About RacingThePlanet
RacingThePlanet® is a unique category of rough country footraces that take place over seven days and some 250 kilometers in remote and culturally rich locations around the world. Competitors must carry all their own equipment and food; they are only provided with water and a place in a tent each day but are supported by professional medical and operations teams. RacingThePlanet is international; the events typically involve competitors from over 20 different countries who are able to mingle around the campfires and in their geographically mixed tents. Currently the events consist of the 4 Deserts, a series which encompasses the Gobi Desert in China, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the Sahara Desert in Egypt and Antarctica, and a fifth event which roves to a new location each year. Time Magazine recently ranked the 4 Deserts #2 on its list of the world’s top endurance competitions.
RacingThePlanet also maintains an online store which carries only the best products for endurance events, travel and the outdoors. The store can be found at www.racingtheplanet.com
New Logo
Let us know what you think of our "Further Than Far" logo.
Apparently our race kit is ready, and I am quite excited about picking it up.
Will post photos of the kit as soon as they're done!
Apparently our race kit is ready, and I am quite excited about picking it up.
Will post photos of the kit as soon as they're done!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Swimming
Howdee.
Been swimming a few times this week just to keep things ticking over. I think I have the majority of our stuff for the race ..... getting close now!!
Good luck to everyone who's leaving for Africa X. I hope its a kick ass race!
R
Been swimming a few times this week just to keep things ticking over. I think I have the majority of our stuff for the race ..... getting close now!!
Good luck to everyone who's leaving for Africa X. I hope its a kick ass race!
R
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday
Quick swim this morning - my arms hurt a bit from gym yesterday, but felt good.
Yesterday was probably the first day in months where I had a moment to take lunch and get a couple of things for next week, and its surprising to see how many things are ticked off on the list already.
Yesterday was probably the first day in months where I had a moment to take lunch and get a couple of things for next week, and its surprising to see how many things are ticked off on the list already.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Another Taper Weekend
Hi Guys
I hope the weekend was good! We had a great run with Kent on Friday morning - his last being a single man!! We stuck to the Greenbelt - I must say I ran this EXTRA carefully because could you imagine the embarrassment of being this "Mountain Man" and falling over in the mud of Greenbelt in front of Triathletes- hahahaha - I would never live that down!!
Saturday - a bit hung over from the wedding the night before - I found myself on Vlakkenberg with the usual gang (minus Andrew who was honing his downhill skills at Elephants Eye) and about 20 upstart trail runners (incl. kids, dogs etc etc). It was good fun. We ran ahead to bag the 2 Vlakkenberg Peaks, taking us that much closer to closing the 32/33 peak chapter, and then caught up to the rest of the pack. Carla seems to be grasping trails quickly and from what I saw she looked very comfortable. We ran ahead of the pack to go and check out the actual Manganese mine (Ive been on the path so many times but never to the actual mine). It was awesome to see. Back to the path and then to try catch up to the pack again. We all finished at East Fort - A great run!!
Sunday - 2 peaks left of the 32/33. Lions Head and Signal Hill. Ian, Andrew, JT, Tony, Ryan Otto and I took off from the Lions Head Car Park. We pretty much hiked up to the top. AWESOME up top!!! WE looked down on a blanket of cloud. Lions Head is really one of the most underated peaks from a view perspective. We trotted down the peak - got into to the car - hahahaahaha and drove to the top of signal hill. A 50m walk and dunt da da 33 Peaks complete. I think Andie is going to smash Vlakkenberg on Tues with JT then we can send in all our photos!
:)
R
I hope the weekend was good! We had a great run with Kent on Friday morning - his last being a single man!! We stuck to the Greenbelt - I must say I ran this EXTRA carefully because could you imagine the embarrassment of being this "Mountain Man" and falling over in the mud of Greenbelt in front of Triathletes- hahahaha - I would never live that down!!
Saturday - a bit hung over from the wedding the night before - I found myself on Vlakkenberg with the usual gang (minus Andrew who was honing his downhill skills at Elephants Eye) and about 20 upstart trail runners (incl. kids, dogs etc etc). It was good fun. We ran ahead to bag the 2 Vlakkenberg Peaks, taking us that much closer to closing the 32/33 peak chapter, and then caught up to the rest of the pack. Carla seems to be grasping trails quickly and from what I saw she looked very comfortable. We ran ahead of the pack to go and check out the actual Manganese mine (Ive been on the path so many times but never to the actual mine). It was awesome to see. Back to the path and then to try catch up to the pack again. We all finished at East Fort - A great run!!
Sunday - 2 peaks left of the 32/33. Lions Head and Signal Hill. Ian, Andrew, JT, Tony, Ryan Otto and I took off from the Lions Head Car Park. We pretty much hiked up to the top. AWESOME up top!!! WE looked down on a blanket of cloud. Lions Head is really one of the most underated peaks from a view perspective. We trotted down the peak - got into to the car - hahahaahaha and drove to the top of signal hill. A 50m walk and dunt da da 33 Peaks complete. I think Andie is going to smash Vlakkenberg on Tues with JT then we can send in all our photos!
:)
R
Tent Listing
Hi
We've just received the tent listing.
All the tents are named after animals that we potentially may see along the route.
Ours is the Ostrich tent.
ESPIN, Andrew M. South Africa 18 - OSTRICH M
GRAHAM, Rob J. South Africa 18 - OSTRICH M
KNOWLER, Shane New Zealand 18 - OSTRICH M
MORI, Terumasa Japan 18 - OSTRICH M Team Funky
OHI, Kenji Japan 18 - OSTRICH M Team Funky
OLIVER, Cleo J. United Kingdom 18 - OSTRICH F
SANDES, Ryan N. South Africa 18 - OSTRICH M
SHIMA, Naoyuki Japan 18 - OSTRICH M Team Funky
We've just received the tent listing.
All the tents are named after animals that we potentially may see along the route.
Ours is the Ostrich tent.
ESPIN, Andrew M. South Africa 18 - OSTRICH M
GRAHAM, Rob J. South Africa 18 - OSTRICH M
KNOWLER, Shane New Zealand 18 - OSTRICH M
MORI, Terumasa Japan 18 - OSTRICH M Team Funky
OHI, Kenji Japan 18 - OSTRICH M Team Funky
OLIVER, Cleo J. United Kingdom 18 - OSTRICH F
SANDES, Ryan N. South Africa 18 - OSTRICH M
SHIMA, Naoyuki Japan 18 - OSTRICH M Team Funky
Short Weekend
Hi
It was a relatively short weekend this weekend training wise.
I tackled the Elephant's Eye loop on Saturday for the first time since I snapped my ankle on Tuffer Puffer - I think it was a good thing head wise to eventually go back and run it and I don't think I ran it too badly either.
Strangely enough as I ran up the path I actually slipped ever so slightly off a rock (ironically it was close to the same place as last year August) and I felt my ankle start to go over, but compensated for it immediately. And I didn't get freaked out.
The only stupid thing is that I wasn't wearing my usual ankle strapping. After doing that path a second time, I dropped down to level five and ran all the way to the tar road that eventually takes you out to Vlakkenburg and then back the Elephants Eye route again, so suffice to say that I think I shoved a boot up that particular demon's ass.
Sunday, was Lion's Head and Signal Hill. It was a good run - well more walking than actual running to be honest. I now only have to do the Vlakkenburg peaks and I've finished the 32 Peaks challenge. Just need to figure out which are the beacons and will try and get to them in the week. I think it will be cool to have finished them before I leave for Namibia.
It was a relatively short weekend this weekend training wise.
I tackled the Elephant's Eye loop on Saturday for the first time since I snapped my ankle on Tuffer Puffer - I think it was a good thing head wise to eventually go back and run it and I don't think I ran it too badly either.
Strangely enough as I ran up the path I actually slipped ever so slightly off a rock (ironically it was close to the same place as last year August) and I felt my ankle start to go over, but compensated for it immediately. And I didn't get freaked out.
The only stupid thing is that I wasn't wearing my usual ankle strapping. After doing that path a second time, I dropped down to level five and ran all the way to the tar road that eventually takes you out to Vlakkenburg and then back the Elephants Eye route again, so suffice to say that I think I shoved a boot up that particular demon's ass.
Sunday, was Lion's Head and Signal Hill. It was a good run - well more walking than actual running to be honest. I now only have to do the Vlakkenburg peaks and I've finished the 32 Peaks challenge. Just need to figure out which are the beacons and will try and get to them in the week. I think it will be cool to have finished them before I leave for Namibia.
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