Category: Racing

The “Last Desert” done and dusted..

 

The last week has been an insane experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Antarctica. Yesterday was defiantly the highlight of the trip…we woke up to views of massive white floating ice mountains and there were orca’s, whales and penguins playing next to our boat. Then later that day competitors ran the last stage of the “Last Desert”… running the last 2.3km loop I realised I had done it and my goal / dream to complete the 4 Desert series was coming true. To win all 4 Deserts was a bonus and really rewarding for some long hours of training over the past two years. I was elated crossing the finish line with a South African flag in hand but also relieved to have “done it” as I felt the pressure leading up to the race.

 

Looking back at the last two stages (3 and 4)… I ran a 100km on stage three which was 40 loops of 2.5km. This stage took place on Deception Island and the scenery was awesome! We started running in a blizzard and visibility was not great but after about two hours the weather cleared and it turned into perfect running conditions. We ran along the beach and looped around a “small hill” which felt like a mountain at times. Running past old whaling stations, baby penguins and loads of birds took my mind off the monotony of running 2.5km loops and the first 15 loops flew by. Then I hit the wall – I felt directionless and did not know when we were going to finish the stage… probably only if the weather turned bad. I felt a bit like a hamster on a turning wheel and had to dig deep to keep focused and keep up the tempo. The next 20 loops were a hard slog…  Then competitors were told we were finishing at 5:30pm as the weather was turning bad…I now had a goal of completing 40 loops /100km. Once again time flew by and before I knew it I was boarding the zodiac to head back to the ship. With only one stage to go I could feel my goal /dream was in sight.

 

The last and yesterday’s stage took place in Dorian Bay and we ran on a massive glacier. This stage had the toughest running conditions and the first 2.3km loop was a power walk in knee deep and at times waist deep snow. After the first loop competitors had compacted the snow and running was a bit easier but still very slow. I had to concentrate the whole time as one miss placed step could have led to sprained ankle etc. This was by far the most beautiful stage and the views from on top of the glacier were spectacular.  As I said running was slow and technical but this was it…the last stage of the “Last Desert”. I took my time running the last loop; soaked up the experience and reflected on my journey over the past two years and a bit.  Whoo Hoo I had done it!!

 

We are currently heading back to Ushuaia in some pretty rough seas but are hoping to miss the massive storm… Faaaak!!

 

A massive thanks to Velocity Sports Lab, Salomon, Red Bull, Oakley, Suunto, Hammer Nutrition and Imazine for making my dream come true!! Thanks Ian, Chris, Benita, Sally, Tara, Willie for helping me cross the finish in one piece!! Kelly thanks for keeping everyone posted and getting me out there!!    Thanks to everyone for your support and messages of encouragement, these kept me going through the tough times and I could not have achieved this without you!!

 

Ok time for some breakfast… I will post a race report in the next week or so.

 

Cheers

Ryan

 

Ryan Sandes has done the impossible and won the Final Desert Race in Antarctica – making him the first person EVER to win all four of the Desert Races. In fact we can go one better – not only has he won every single one of the 4 Desert Races, he has also won EVERY stage on these four races… Well done we are SO proud of you!!!

For more info visit www.thelastdesert.com

Ryan Sandes is doing what he does best and has won stage 3 of the Last Desert Race in Antarctica. He has  a very healthy lead over the 2nd place competitor and says he is feeling good.

Stage 3: “Four seasons in one day!” is how Mary Gadams described today’s weather on Deception Island from a satellite phone on the deck of The Antarctic Dream. South African Ryan Sandes retains a healthy lead from Paolo Barghini of Italy whilst in the women’s section the top three are closely stacked: Diana Hogan-Murphy, of Ireland, Samantha Gash of Australia and Mirjana Pellizzer, of Croatia. The competitors were able to race until 17:30 before the weather finally closed in. The Antarctic Dream is now on a 14 hour crossing to Dorian Bay, and it’s hoped that Stage 4 will begin between 09:00 and 10:00. Satellite internet connections remain difficult to establish and maintain so please bear with us on the updating of website content.

 

 

 

 

 

We were woken up yesterday at 4am to be told that Stage one was on hold due to really strong winds. This was not the news I wanted to hear as after 3 days on a boat I was starting to get serious ‘cabin fever’ and really wanted to get the ‘Last Desert’ race started. At about 10am the another announcement was made that stage one would be starting at 12 o’ clock and finish at 9pm….this meant competitors had 9 hours to see how many full 14.5km loops they could do. Whoo Hoo it looked like we were finally getting started!! On the zodiac across to  King George Island it suddenly struck me that the ‘Last Desert’ was here and my adrenalin was pumping.. Stage one consisted of a 14.5km lap with two loops of 4.5km and 2.6km as well as a 150m mandatory walk zone past the Russian base… I assume there are no Russian runners on Antarctica!?

Stage one started and after about 1km I had to peal off all my layers as I found I was overheating…I ran in this gear (tights, 2 base layers, long sleeve running T, buff and a pair of gloves for the last two stages) for the entire stage and never really felt the cold. I was quite a surprised as I thought I would have had to be layered up like an Egyptian mummy. On a few occasions when the wind picked up I could feel the chill on my hands and face. Stage one went really well and I felt comfortable the entire 87km (6 laps)  apart from my near over heating after the first 1km. 70 % of the course consisted of thick snow and Antarctica was a lot more hilly than I expected. Running in snow is loads of fun and in some ways is very similar to running in the sand – just a bit more tricky.

The scenery was insane and it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever run in. While running I could see birds flying everywhere, frozen blue lakes and never ending white frozen landscapes. There were times I forgot I was running a race…  There was one little white bird that tried to attack me every time I ran past it…the first time it dive bombed me and pecked me on the head. It tried this three or four times but after I threw a few snow balls at it left me alone!!

Back to the race I completed 6 laps which was the most and therefore I won stage one. I was stoked with how the day went and also relieved as it is very common for stages to get cancelled during the ‘Last Desert’.  This was a nice start but with the race organisers planning to make stage two 15hours long, the race was far from won.

The plan was to start stage two at 6am and finish at 9pm…most competitors only got to bed at 12pm so a 4am start left little time for any recovery. Stage 2 was also going to be held on King George Island on the same course as stage one. At 4am we were woken with the news that the stage had been delayed due to strong winds and to be honest I was not complaining. I rolled over and went straight back to my coma. At 8am the news was that stage two would be starting at 11am. I ampt myself up and boarded the zodiac to the start line, but on the way there a mass of black clouds were building up overhead and things were not looking promising. Never the less we started stage two but unfortunately the stage was stopped after the first loop (9km).I finished first but as this race is run on distance everyone who finished the first loop gets credited for the 9km. I was super disappointed to be stopped but at the moment we are sitting on the boat in a blizzard. There is talk that we will go out again later… so who knows. I think the most frustrating thing about the ‘Last Desert’ is how uncertain the racing is as we are controlled by the weather conditions.

OK apparently we may go back out to the course at 3:30pm so I better get ready!!

Thanks to everyone for their messages of support and encouragement!!

Cheers

Ryan

 

Stage 1: The stage finished approx 21:00 today. Ryan Sandes has about an hour lead on the nearest competitor completing nearly 90 kilometers today amid freezing temperatures. Most competitors completed a full marathon distance. Two competitors had to withdraw from the stage, Mark Jaget and Ken Perry of the USA. Both had issues with the cold but are resting and in good spirits. Guy Evans of the UK summed up the stage well: “This was simply the toughest day of any race ever. If we do not run another kilometer all week, we would have earned our medal.” For the women, Diana Hogan-Murphy of Ireland finished top of the rankings. The Italians all had a great day with Emanuele Gallo, Marco Vola and Paolo Barghini all doing very well. Adding a sober dimension to the stage and bringing the harsh nature of this wilderness home to competitors was a crab-eater seal in the middle of the course which had been attacked by an orca whale. The seal took many hours to crawl to sea with everyone holding out hope it would make it, which it did by 20:00 much to competitors’ relief. All competitors are now back on the ship enjoying pizza and pasta. Tomorrow’s stage will return to King George Island starting at 06:00 and lasting until 21:00.

Breaking News about Stage 2 of the Last Desert Race in Antarctica: As the Chinese meteorologist forecast yesterday the weather has deteriorated overnight. Today’s stage was scheduled to begin at 06:00, but the course team and competitors are waiting for an improvement in the conditions. It’s hoped that Stage 2 will kick off by 09:00.

So far life on the Antartic Dream has been good…I have done a lot of eating, sleeping and catching up with fellow competitors. The crossing has been relatively smooth – according to the ship captain conditions are about a 4 out of 12.

Competitors have just been briefed on the first stage which will start tomorrow at 6am and end at 9pm. The first stage will be based on time and  therefore I will  have 15hours to see how far I can run….Faaak the longest I have ever run for in one go is about 11 and a half hours. This is going to be a new challenge and I am super excited to start the first stage on King George Island. The weather conditions are looking good for the first stage and the course director thinks the faster guys should be able to cover 10km an hour.

OK I better go sort out my gear now, but I will keep you posted..

Thanks to everyone for your messages of support!!

Cheers

Ryan

It’s less than three hours until we finally head to Antarctica. I must say there are a few butterflies floating around my stomach this morning, but the adrenalin is pumping through me and I can’t wait to start. I think the first stage will be on Saturday and could be a 100miler… what a place to run my first 100miler!?

Otherwise all is good, I have spent the last few days taking it really easy and shooting some footage for www.wanderingfever.com Dean (Wandering Fever) and I hiked up to a massive glacier above Ushuaia, which was insane until it started pouring down with rain and the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. We went to the National Park yesterday, which was really beautiful but I don’t think Dean appreciated hiking 8km with a 20kg bag loaded with camera gear!!

Ok time to head for quick run before getting on the boat…. The sea looks super calm today…I hope it stays that way!!

Thanks to everyone for your messages of support and encouragement!!!

Keep you posted

Ryan

 

I am currently in the small city of Ushuaia, in Southern Argentina. I have not seen any penguins yet but it is COLD here.. All the training and prep work is done and now it is a waiting game. My mind always seems to work over time with a hundred different race scenarios going through my head; I can feel the pressure growing and just want the race to start. This race is very different to the other ‘conventional’ desert races I have done and there is a huge unknown element. I suppose I did not know what to expect going into my first race in the Gobi, but then at least I was also an unknown… The media, race organisers etc have touted me as one of the favorites to win the ‘Last Desert’, which looking at my past results I must be. But I know anything can happen out there in -30 degree temperatures and I would be a fool to think the race is in the bag before I have even started it. The ‘Last Desert’ is going to be an experience of a lifetime with some really harsh conditions but I can’t wait for the challenge.

My build up to the race has gone extremely well, with a great year of racing injury free.  For the last two months I have specifically focused on training for Antarctica. This has included a few runs in the Cape Union Maart Ice Chamber to test out my prototype gear designed by Salomon. It is really awesome to have the support of guys like Salomon (make me specially designed gear and shoes), Velocity Sports Lab (training facility in the process of being built with some specialist equipment to help improve my performance), Red Bull, Imazine, Oakley, Suunto and Hammer Nutrition.

My legs are starting to freshen up and I can feel a spring in them after a two week taper so I am hoping by the time we start the first stage they will be like coiled springs waiting to explode. I have got into the right headspace over the last few days and I am feeling really focused and excited about the challenge ahead. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am going to make the most of it!!

A massive thanks to everyone for your messages of support and encouragement leading up to the race!!

Thats all for now…

Cheers

Ryan

 

It was supposed to be easier this year. The experience gained from having pushed those unknown boundaries last year, the ‘been there, done that’ mindset implies you can do it again, but from a week out I knew this was not going to be any easier second time around. The months of training and preparation went well, but come race day there are two things you cannot do. You can’t change the weather. And you can’t outrun a storm.

We set of from Ferryman’s with the wave of a hand and a cheer from the dedicated few who arrived to show their support. A little more than 90 minutes later and I’m on Table Mountain. With a lump in my throat I see our halfway point, over 60kms away. I lower my head in respect for what lies ahead and focus on the rocks underfoot as the descent to Constantia Nek begins. At Vlakkenberg the first sign of the rising temperature appears. Cramp. Both quads, and I’m reduced to limping up here trying to keep both legs straight. The cramps and the subsequent mind games are set to stay with me for most of the race.

More than 40km later and the long road to the reserve gate is steadily broken down and beaten in small run-walk chunks but for the first time that day I glance up and see a small bank of clouds in the western sky. Suddenly the nervous anticipation of the storm becomes real and I’m wondering how fast will it arrive? How fierce will it be? How far will we get before it hits us?

We pass the halfway point and the mild nausea that’s been plaguing my thoughts for the last few hours are finally too much and I am forced stop to rid my system of the day’s food. The quietness of being in the reserve, the feeling of absolute solitude and aloneness, adds to the moment and we all feel our spirits soaring for a few brief moments, but the nausea soon returns and my spirits slump.

The predicted gale force wind is picking up and I brace myself for the onslaught. Running head on into it becomes futile and I slowly tick off the mental landmarks that bring us closer to Redhill. At Elephant’s Eye I desperately try to get a glimpse of Table Mountain up ahead but its dark and covered in billowing cloud. I’m left wondering nervously what on earth are we in for up there?

The gruelling climb from the neck, up into the thick mist and rain, takes its toll and the dizziness returns before hallucinations set in to accompany me all the way to Maclear’s. The descent off Table Mountain, down Platteklip gorge, is a nightmare with the wet rocks. The painful zigzag path never seems to end, but like everything else this run has thrown at us it too is slowly overcome, step by step.

The last few kilometers along Signal hill are run in high spirits, I’m deeply disappointed by having goals for the run evaporate into the clouds, but equally relieved at getting this far and all that matters now is getting to the finish. As we round the last corner just before 10:00 there were friends and cheers, and streamers and tears, and when at last I stopped and collapsed I just smiled because this time, I didn’t have to speak to myself to get up and carry on running.

Imagine 24 brides all dressed up in their beautiful wedding gowns. Now imagine the same 24 brides lining up and dicing each other to a finish line in those same pretty dresses! The end result is a unique and hilarious 1km Bride’s Dash held in the Southern Cape.

TRAMONTO WEDDING RUN 10KM, 5KM & 1KM BRIDE’S DASH, GEORGE, SOUTH WESTERN DISTRICTS, 21 AUGUST

The first Tramonto Wedding Run was held this year in the small town of Geelhoutboom, outside George. With over 300 athletes entering the race in the first year, the Wedding Run can only go from strength to strength! Entrants could choose between a 10km and a 5km race, but the highlight of the day was of course the 1km Bride’s Dash!

The day was blessed with beautiful sunshine, mouth-watering food and lots of laughter. The race was sponsored by Southern Cape wedding planners Tramonto, who initially came up with the idea of hosting a race at their venue. The Nedbank Running Club in George, which organised the race, took it one step further and suggested a 1km Bride’s Dash, with one requirement: all entrants had to wear wedding dresses.

Together with the NLR Wine Trade show, with its 16 top class farms and a lively performance by popular band Watershed, the scene was set for a perfect day out! There were some awesome performances over the 10km and 5km distances, but it was the 1km Bride’s Dash that stole the show. Seeing 24 women dressed up in their (or borrowed!) wedding gowns, ready to race 1km, was surely unique, and hilarious! Prizes of R5 000 were up for grabs, with Tanya Weyers crossing the line first while Bianca Serfontein was crowned as the best dressed bride.

The club plans to add a half marathon next year, and the Bride’s Dash looks set to become an annual tradition, so get those dresses ready for next year and don’t miss out on the fun. The next date is set for 20 August 2011.