We got some facts regarding the race this morning:

RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009 Competitors
Some interesting facts:
There are a record number of female competitors entered for RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009 – a total of 57, including six past champions:
Lia Farley of the United States (Gobi March 2008), Stephanie Case of Canada (RacingThePlanet: Vietnam 2008), Nina Breith of Germany (Sahara Race 2008), Sandra McCallum of Canada (Sahara Race 2007), Lucy Marriott of the United Kingdom (Atacama Crossing 2006) and Sissell Smaller of Norway (Atacama Crossing 2006).
Private banker, Laura Corti of Italy, who has completed the 4 Deserts will be competing. She is one of only four women in the world to complete the 4 Deserts.
Best-selling children’s book illustrator Yukako Hayashi of Japan will be competing in her sixth RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event.
Jennifer Murray of the United Kingdom, who is the first woman in the world to fly a helicopter around the world, will be competing in her first RacingThePlanet event.

Annabelle Bond of the United Kingdom, who has completed the Seven Summits, will be competing.

There are a total of sixteen past RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts champions, male and female, in the field.

Several who have completed the 4 Deserts will also be competing: Dave Kunhau of the United States, Joel Burrows of the United States, Alasdair G. Morrison of Scotland, Martyn Sawyer of the United Kingdom, Ji Sung Yoo of Korea, Vincent Carroll of Ireland, Matt Chapman of Australia, Carlos Garcia Prieto of Spain, Evgeniy Gorkov of Russia, Jacob Hastrup of Denmark, Joe Holland of the United States, Yoshiaki Ishihara of Japan, Derek Kwik of Hong Kong, Harold Roberts of the United Kingdom, Chuck Walker of the United States, Kazuo Isomura of Japan, Gunnar Nilsson of Sweden and Paul Liebenberg of South Africa.

4 Deserts champion Francesco Galanzino of Italy will be competing.

Bush doctor Paul Liebenberg, who became the first in the world to complete the 4 Deserts in a calendar year, is competing.

RacingThePlanet is also pleased to welcome 60-year-old Marco Olmo of Italy. Marco is one of the most famous ultra-marathoners in Europe who has won many prestigious ultramarathon events. A major movie is currently being made about Marco. I can just see this dude sprinting coming past...