This blog covers the period from 6-12 August 2018. Only two weeks to go before the start of my next desert race, the 250km Fire and Ice Ultra in Iceland. It is almost spring in Johannesburg, but it is still fairly chilly in the mornings and evenings – a friendly reminder of the weather which... Continue Reading →
Giving Back by Running for a Cause
17 days to the start of the 2016 Grand to Grand Ultra … We all run for a reason. Some have the talent to win races and break records, while others aim to get fit or achieve personal milestones. Some also use their running, regardless of distance or speed, to support good causes, help those in... Continue Reading →
Grand to Grand Ultra 2016 – Only One Month to Go
31 days days to the start of the 2016 Grand to Grand Ultra … The Grand to Grand Ultra starts in exactly one month from today. It is amazing how quickly time flies. It feels like yesterday when I decided to enter this race after completing the Atacama Crossing in October 2015 in Chile. With a month... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing 2015 – Stage Six
10 October 2016 The Atacama Crossing 2015 in Chile is done and dusted. I finished the 250km race in 40h24, in 26th position overall. The Atacama Crossing forms part of Racing the Planet’s 4 Desert Series, named by TIME magazine as one of the Top 10 Endurance Competitions in the world. Having already completed the other... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing 2015 – Stage Five
9 October 2015 Greetings from Camp 6 at the end of stage 5 The Long March is done and dusted – 75km in 12hours. It was a long day in a very strong wind, mostly blowing straight in our faces. The terrain covered everything the Atacama has to offer – water/swamp within the first 5km,... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing 2015 – Stage Four
7 October 2015 Greetings from Camp 5 at the end of Stage 4 Ryan and I are like Laurel and Hardy, without proper feet, but we are still in it and going strong. We finished the 44km stage in 7h50. It was hot and tough, but we kept going and are still in one piece... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing 2015 – Stage Three
6 October 2015 Greetings from Camp 4 at the end of Stage 3. If yesterday was tough, today was just brutal. Ryan and I needed 7h35 to complete 39.9km. We passed 20km under 3 hours, but thereafter it was just a long slog over salt mushrooms, “crusty ploughed mud”, sandy plains, slate rocks, up and... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing 2015 – Stage Two
5 October 2015 Greetings from Camp 3 at the end of Stage 2. A brutal day in the Atacama Desert. Ryan Hill and I took 7 hours to complete the 44km stage. But we finished joined 23/24thwhich is not too bad. The course was a mixed bag of everything the Atacama has to offer -... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing 2015 – Stage One
4 October 2015 Greetings from Camp 2 at the end of Stage 1 of the 2015 Atacama Crossing in Chile. Stage 1 is done and dusted. Ryan Hill and I finished the 37km first stage together in 4h47, joined 14/15th position. However, before I tell you more about today's run, I would like say happy... Continue Reading →
Atacama Crossing – How to follow me during the race
Greetings from San Pedro in Chile. Tomorrow is the start of the 2015 Atacama Crossing. After many months of training and preparations, it's time to take on the mighty Atacama Desert. The 11th edition of the Atacama Crossing – 250km over 6 stages / 7 days – will be held from 4-10 October 2015 in... Continue Reading →