The route is marked throughout the course, and offers incredible contrasts with landscapes ranging from fertile vineyards along the Orange River to steep rocky outcrops, sweltering sandy gorges and the vast stretches of nothing which are characteristic of the Kalahari Desert. Temperatures vary from mid to high 40’s (degrees Celsius) during the day to single figures in the evenings.
After a week end of unheard-of rain, the 10th KAEM kicked off on 4 October with a record field of 73 entrants from all over the world. Within minutes the runners were covered in swarms of fierce “miggies” (midges) intent on diving into our ears/nose/throat/eyes and biting whatever exposed flesh they could find. Those of us who had come to the start armed with nets to wear over our faces patted ourselves on the back. It was with great relief that we made it to the end of day one with only one casualty. The runners were “housed” in 4 tents, the occupants of which quickly became “family” despite their sweatiness, incessant snoring and uncomfortably close proximity. The camaraderie and humour on a race like the KAEM is remarkable and lifelong friendships are often forged in 7 days.
The first 2-3 days are always the hardest as one struggles to adapt to the extreme heat and the new routine of running all day in very testing conditions, living rough and sleeping very little at night. Half way through day 2, I battled my usual dehydration, nausea and dizziness demons and had little choice but to sit down in the shade for half an hour while I cooled down, alternatively sipped water and Rehydrate and contemplated my options. I realised at that point that there was absolutely no reason to try to race the KAEM, my only aim would be to survive it. I walked the next 5 km’s in the company of the irrepressible Dick Stubbs who distracted me from my self pity, made me laugh and provided me with salt tablets (illegally I suppose?) the combination of which resulted in a rapid recovery of my equilibrium. From that moment on I felt better and better. [The feeling of euphoria was dampened substantially by the fact that my arms swelled up like pork sausages from the multiple midge bites and from having to hold my friend and brother in arms, TJ van de Walt, (arguably the most brave and stoical low reactor I have ever come across) down while another tent mate injected his horrendous blisters with methylate – with more relish than necessary I might add! For the record, TJ finished the race without wingeing and with feet that looked to me as if they should have both been amputated. What a legend!]
By day 4 I had the extremely good fortune of teaming up with Louise Clamp and Daksha Hargovan, (both legendary athletes and women of extreme substance and humour, incidently both wearing NB RX 1441 AT’s and both blister free) and to my enormous surprise I discovered half way through the dauntingly long day/night stage that I was in fact having fun! We discovered that our energy levels and speed were directly proportionate to the amount of conversation (dazzlingly witty and intelligent but tending to focus rather obsessively on food fantasies after days of freeze dried and smash!) we generated and the checkpoints literally whizzed by.
By stage 5 I was feeling so good (completely injury and blister free, thanks to a lot of prayer, good foot care and a brilliant pair of NB’s!) that I felt obliged to fake the odd limp in front of the many walking wounded. By that stage many feet were beginning to fall apart and their owners were literally hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
Despite the anticipation of a Karoo Lamb braai, a shower and a soft bed I was genuinely sad that it was all coming to an end on the 7th day and the trot to the finish line seemed to be over in no time despite the extremely taxing gorges, rocks and river bed. Congratulations to the winners and thanks again to Estienne and Nadia Arndt and all the brilliant crew and medics for another superbly organised event.