Since returning from the Atlantic
Challenge in January 2006 the crew have all found ‘normal’
life a bit wanting and have looked for other challenges.
David and Neil have decided that the next challenge
will be very different from the last with sand being
more of a problem than water.
The event is the Augrabies
Extreme Marathon, 250 kilometres running over 6
days in October 2007.
The Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon is a self-sufficiency
run held over six legs in seven days with set distances
for each day, from 28km to 75km. Participants must carry
all their supplies, clothes and compulsory safety/survival
equipment for the duration of the event. Overnight shelter
in camps, and water, which is strictly controlled and
distributed during the race, is supplied.
The event goes way beyond merely covering 250 kilometers
in extreme conditions; it is a challenge to get past
what normal people would regard as crazy, and achieve
one’s personal goals. Each participant is required
to produce a medical certificate prior to the event.
A full medical team monitors the runners daily, and
attends to all their medical needs during the event.
Every entrant and their pack is inspected prior to the
start to ensure that they are carrying all their compulsory
equipment and that their daily food’s calorie
count is sufficient to sustain them, as any outside
assistance may result in them being withdrawn from the
race. The management of controlling eating to energy
used plays a major role in the success of crossing the
finish line.
The route details are only given to the participants
on the day of registration, so there is no unfair advantage
in planning. The route is marked throughout the course,
and offers a great contrast for everyone, with landscapes
from fertile vineyards to rocky outcrops, the vast outstretches
of the Kalahari Desert, with temperatures varying from
mid 40 degrees Celsius during the day to single figures
in the evenings.
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