Watch The Expedition Africa Adventure Race Online

Back in early May, the Expedition Africa adventure race took place in South Africa. The 500km long event sent teams of four out into the bush on one of the most challenging course in AR this season. In the end, Team Merrell Adventure Addicts claimed victory after 63-hours of racing. They were shadowed throughout the race by a camera crew, and the video of their race is now available for fans of adventure racing everywhere.

The video, which you'll find below, was produced by D4 Productions, a company that specializes in filming outdoor endurance events such as EA. Of course, the only way to film an adventure race is to get out there and do it yourself, carrying a camera with you the whole time no less. As you can see from the video, this was no easy task for the athletes or the crew that followed them.

Make sure you have plenty of time to watch, as the video is 52+ minutes in length. Kick off your shoes and get comfortable for this one, it's worth the time.


2011 Merrell Adventure Addicts @ Expedition Africa from D4 Productions on Vimeo.

Adventurer Prepares To Circumnavigate The Globe Via The Poles

South African adventurer Ray Chaplin hopes to circumnavigate the globe, under his own power no less, in just 80 weeks. But even more impressive is that he will do so via both Poles, and not traveling around the planet in a east-west direction as is typical for these kinds of expeditions. If successful, he'll be the first person to circle the globe in this direction and manner.

Ray has named his expedition SHOVA360, and plans to get underway in August from Table Mountain, in Cape Town. He has broken down the journey into stages, with the first stage covering Africa as he travels north. From there, it is on to the Middle East, then Europe, before moving into the Arctic. If all goes according to plan, he'll pass through the North Pole and begin heading south once again at long last. The next stage of his journey will take him across North and South America, then a crossing into the Antarctic, followed by a traverse of that continent. When he's done there, he'll cross the Southern Ocean back to South Africa, and return home. Remember, he wants to do all of this in 80 weeks, which is fairly ambitious all things considered.

Since he's also doing all of those miles under his own power, that means he'll either be trekking, skiing, or pedaling while on land and paddling, either in a kayak or boat, while at sea. Along the way, Ray hopes to stop at more than 200 World Heritage Sites, while covering more than 66,000km (41,010 miles).

Update: For those wondering the source of this story, I came across it in a link from the Explorers Club tweets yesterday. The original article can be found here. Obviously there are a few discrepancies on Ray's website, and as I've noted, his scheduled of going around the world in 80 weeks seems rather ambitious, but I wanted everyone to be aware of where I found this story.

FEAT Announces First Ever FEAT Awards

Regular readers have heard me mention FEAT multiple times on this blog.  It is the fantastic new program that launched last fall in Johannesburg, South Africa with a second event held in Cape Town this past February. FEAT stands for Fascinating Expedition and Adventure Talks, and true to its name, both shows featured South African adventurers given exactly seven minutes to share their experiences with the audience. FEAT was such a success in its inaugural season that there are already plans afoot to expand it in the future, but organizers for the event have made an exciting new announcement that will sure to please other aspiring South African adventurers.

A few days ago FEAT announced the first ever FEAT Awards which are designed to help allow recipients to chase after their adventurous dream, no matter what it is. The application is open to adventurers of all ages and their expedition can be of any length or go to any location. The one stipulation is that they must be South African (Sorry everyone else!) and the adventure must be undertaken by non-motorized means. The award winners will receive R10,000 (About $1500) to help fund their adventure.

FEAT founder Lisa de Speville says, “There are some really good adventurous concepts out there but cash is often a major limitation and so these adventures go un-attempted.” She wants to help change that through the FEAT awards, and some lucky South African is going to get a nice boost to help fund their plans.

It seems that FEAT is just continuing to expand and grow. When I first heard about the concept last year, I thought it was brilliant, and was excited to hear that the first event went so well. That was followed up with another successful show in Cape Town a few months ago, and it seems that FEAT has a lot of momentum going for it right now. The awards are just another great way to tap into an already thriving adventure community that exists in South Africa, and perhaps someone will get an opportunity they wouldn't normally have thanks to some funding from FEAT.

Major congratulations to my friend Lisa for launching this fantastic program and turning it into a resounding success so quickly. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to see you at a future FEAT event! :)

Training To Be A Safari Guide In South Africa

As many of you know, back in early February I was off to South Africa for a quick adventure. While I was there, I visited the Makuleke Concession, located inside Kruger National Park, where I stayed at a training camp for new safari guides. The camp was run by a company called EcoTraining, which has built itself a reputation for turning out the best prepared and most qualified guides in all of Africa, and as a result, their students are in demand in a number of countries there. Over the course of a week, I was lucky enough to observe that training, while getting to explore parts of Kruger. I shared some of those experiences this morning on a piece that I posted on Gadling that you can read by clicking here.

Essentially, EcoTraining gives anyone with the interest an opportunity to become an African safari guide. They teach them everything they need to know, and then some, and offer a number of extra course to help sharpen their skills and build more specialized experience. Most of the students take a 28-day course that gives them the basics, such as driving a safari vehicle while spotting game, identify the various creatures they see, learning to track those creatures on foot, and so on. They also learn how to handle a rifle (Very important when traveling on foot in the bush!), basic first aid, orienteering and navigation skills, and much more.

After completing the 28-day course, most of the students will head off to work as a guide somewhere, and while the have the basic skills, they still lack experience in the field. That comes over time of course, but they can also pick up some of that experience through EcoTraining's other course, which range in length from 4-7 days and focus on such topics as birding, advanced tracking, and so on. For those who want to go all out, there is also a yearlong course that will turn out a fully qualified guide, ready to start leading game drives in the African wilderness.

What I found interesting was the diversity of people who were taking the course to become a guide. There were an equal number of men and women in the camp, and ages ranged from as young as 19 all the way up to late 50's. They were each there for their own personal reasons, but they shared a love of the outdoors, a fascination with wildlife, and desire to see the natural wonders of Africa. The students were all very dedicated, studying hard when ever they had down time, but also had big personalities that would serve them well when dealing with their future clients.

One of the best aspects about the trip for me was getting to go on game drives with the students and their instructors. The wilderness treks on foot were especially fun, as you had the potential to encounter any number of creatures face to face. That put an element of danger in the situation which you don't get while on safari in a vehicle. On our walks we spotted buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs, elephants, and more. And while we heard lions around us, we didn't encounter one directly. They are common just outside of camp though, and one of the instructors came across a pride while on his daily run one afternoon.

As you can probably gather, the wildlife in Kruger is spectacular, and one of the highlights of any visit to the region. Elephants were especially in abundance, traveling in large breeding herds, and often acting aggressively to us infringing on their space. At one point, when were driving back to the camp from visiting a nearby village, we actually came across a big bull on the road. He was none too happy to see us, and actually charged the small van we were driving in. Thankfully, our driver was skilled enough to avoid him, but it was a rather close call.

Speaking of the camp, it made for quite a setting as well. It was extremely eco-friendly, with no electricity in our tents, although we did have running water, a shower, and a proper toilet. Those are luxuries on a trip like this one as far as I'm concerned, and while I'm use to going a few days without a shower, it was nice to be able to take one on a nightly basis none the less.

The tents were large and spacious, and propped up off the ground on a stilted platform. That allowed for animals to come and go without disruption, and it was not uncommon to hear things moving around us in the night. Our first morning there we were also awoken by the roars of lions not far off, which is the way every African morning should begin!

I intend to write more about the trip, both here and on Gadling, over the next week or two. There were a number of great experience to be had and would love to share them with everyone. Kruger is a fantastic destination and a top spot for someone wanting to go on safari. It was very different from my trip to the Serengeti a few years back, and if you've already been there, you may consider a second safari in South Africa as well.

Cape Town Edition Of FEAT A Big Success

Back in October I posted about an event called FEAT (which stands for Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks) that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. FEAT was billed as TED Talks for the outdoor crowd, featuring 12 South African adventurers who were given exactly seven minutes each to share an aspect of their expeditions with the audience.

The Jo'burg event was such a hit, that it spawned a second edition that took place in Cape Town on February 12, and by all accounts that show was a fantastic success as well. Amongst the speakers at this second edition of FEAT were freediver Hanli Prinsloo, Pete van Kets, who has rowed the Atlantic Ocean, and long distance runner Braam Malherbe, who ran the entire length of the Great Wall of China.

FEAT is now building into a yearly event in SA, and plans are already in motion to expand it with a film festival in 2011. It seems that all involved had a fantastic time, and I'm just disappointed that my schedule didn't allow for me to stay in the country and attend while I was in South Africa earlier this month. It seems that it was another really great evening of discussions based around my favorite subject – adventure!

Check out a bit of what happened at FEAT Cape Town in the video below and  visit the FEAT website over the coming days to catch even more highlights and videos form the illustrious group of adventurers who spoke that night. It's the next best thing to being there.

Adventures in South Africa

So I've been home from South Africa for nearly a week, and I haven't had much of a chance to share my experiences from while I was there. You'll definitely be hearing a lot more about my time in SA in the days ahead, as I will be writing a number of stories about what I did there. Of course, I visited Kruger National Park, one of the greatest places in the world to spot wild animals, and while we did go on game drives, I wasn't there to go on safari per se. In fact, I was actually there to learn how safari guides are trained and to observe the process of how they are evaluated so that they can take us out into the field in a safe, fun, and educational manner. I spent five days at the Makuleke Camp, operated by Eco-Training, watching potential guides of all ages be put through their paces as they worked towards certification and eventual opportunity to go to work in field in a number of countries across Africa.

Like I said, you'll hear much more about that in the days to come as I start to write stories about the training process. But I'll also share some thoughts on Kruger itself, the amazing creatures that live there, and some of the unbelievable experiences I had there. I'll even share the storyof the Makuleke Tribe, who were forced off their land back in 1969, but had it restored to them in the 90's. Part of that land falls within Kruger, which has made for a unique opportunity for the tribe and an unusual relationship between them, the South African government, and safari companies that operate within that area.

For now, I've put together a photo gallery with a few images from the trip. You can access them by clicking here. They give a bit of insight into what it was like for me there. I hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for much more.

International Multi-Day Adventure Race Calendar Goes Live!

Are you wondering what expedition length races are on the adventure racing schedule for 2011? Looking for a race for you and your team to compete in? Than look no further than this AR Calendar created by South African endurance athlete, writer, and all-aroud amazing gal Lisa de Speville.

It is no secret that adventure racing seems to be on the rise once again, with great races of various lengths taking place all across the globe. It is difficult to keep track of all of the big events that are going on each month, and Lisa's new calendar is the best resource I've seen for keeping track of just where and when the multi-day races are taking place. Lisa not only lists the dates and locations of the race however, as she also offers up the length of the course, disciplines that will be included, costs of entry, and more. This is definitely a great resource for teams deciding when they'll be racing in the months ahead.

If you're a race director, and you don't see your race on the list, you'll definitely want to let Lisa know. She can be contacted at: lisa@ar.co.za and she'll want the following information to get your race on the calendar:

• Town, Country
• Date
• Name of event
• Distance and/or duration
• Disciplines
• Non-stop or staged (if staged, how many days)
• Team format (solo, pairs, 4's etc)
• Assisted or unassisted
• Entry fee per team or per person
• Prize (only prize for 1st place)
• Note (any special information you would like mentioned)
• Contact (name, email, website)

And when your'e done browsing the calendar, give Lisa's whole AR website a look. It is also an excellent resource for racers both new to the sport and experienced. 

Great job Lisa!

FEAT Prepares To Invade Cape Town

Back in October I told you about an event that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa called FEAT, which stands for Fascinating Expedition and Adventure Talks. Billed as the "Ultimate Armchair Adventure Experience," FEAT was a mix of TED Talks and the Banff Film Festival, with some of South Africa's top adventurers on hand to share their experiences in a unique format that gave them just seven minutes each to share a unique message about their travels.

It turns out that FEAT was such a success that it's now hitting the road for Cape Town and bringing all the fun and adventure with it. FEAT CT, as it is being called, will take place on February 12, 2011 at the Artscape Theatre on the Foreshore, with tickets going on sale tomorrow from Computicket.

For the Cape Town version of FEAT, director Lisa De Speville has put together an entirely different group of adventurers to speak. Amongst those scheduled to appear are ocean rower Peter van Kets and ultrarunner Braam Malherbe, as well as adventurer Howard Fairbanks, who recently made a 42-day trek to the North Pole.

Want an idea of what to expect at the event? Check out the clip below of mountaineer Mandy Ramsden from the Jo'Berg edition of FEAT. Mandy is the first African woman to complete the Seven Summits, and topped out on Everest this past spring. In the clip, she talks about her experiences on that mountain.

New Record Set For London to Cape Town Drive

A couple weeks back I posted a story about three adventurous Brits who were setting out to drive from London to Cape Town, South Africa, and in the process they hoped to set a new record for completing that journey overland. On Thursday of last week, the trio reached the finish line, smashing the old mark by nearly two days.

Mac MacKenney, Chris Rawlings and Steve MacKenney covered more than 16,000km (10,000 miles) on their Max Adventure, crossing through 20 countries and three continents on their way to setting the new speed record. The entire drive took 11 days, 14 hours, and 11 minutes to complete. That mark is 1 day, 18 hours, and 37 minutes better than the previous record, which according to ExWeb, was set by Eric Jackson and Ken Chambers back in 1963.

As I mentioned previously, the journey wasn't made simply for the adventure but also as a fund raiser. The team is hoping to raise money and awareness for the Help The Heroes fund, an organization that aids British soldiers that have been wounded in the line of duty. Mac, Chris, and Steve are hoping to raise as much as £100,000 for the group.

Covering 10,000+ miles in just 11 days is quite an impressive feat. This record will probably stand for some time, although there are likely to be challengers soon. Like I said the first time, I'd love to make this trip, but I'd want to do it at a much slower pace.

Overland From London to Cape Town

WideWorld Mag posted a very cool story yesterday about an adventurous trio of Brits who set off from London this past weekend to drive overland to Cape Town, South Africa in an attempt to break the record for that drive. The current record the drive is 13 days, 8 hours, and 48 minutes, meaning the team will hae to drive almost non-stop if they hope to set a new record.

The expedition is fittingly enough entitled Max Adventure, which seems perfect for this type of journey. The three men making the drive are Mac Mackenney, Chris Rawlings and Steve Mackenney, who will be spending the next fortnight in the cramped quarters of a Land Rover Discovery as they cross through three continents and 21 countries, cover over 16,000km (10,000 miles) in the process.

The expedition isn't just about making an epic drive however, as the boys hope to raise funds for the Help For Heroes organization, non-proft that works diligently to offer practical help for British soldiers wounded while serving their country. You can find out more, as well as donate to the cause, at the Max Adventure fundraising page located here.

On a side note, does anyone else think that this sounds like the ultimate road trip to take with some buddies? Load up in a Land Rover and hit the road? Sounds like a complete blast to me, although I wouldn't want to do it to break any kind of speed record. I'd much rather take my time and see the landscapes and cultures along the way. Maybe I need to upgrade the Adventure Blog Mobile to a Discovery and take this show on the road.

South African Adventurers Gear Up For FEAT Tonight

I've mentioned FEAT more than once here on the Adventure Blog. It's the event that goes down in Johannesburg, South Africa tonight that features 12 top adventurers from that country, with each of them given exactly seven minutes to share an aspect of their expeditions with the crowd. Billed as "the Ultimate Armchair Adventure Experience," it seems like this is going to be one really great evening, with a whole host of interesting speakers on hand to discuss a wide array of topics. I know I wish that I could be there to see it for myself.

The event is sold out, so if you don't already have tickets, you're out of luck. But with just a few hours to go until it begins, I wanted to wish my friend Lisa de Speville the best of luck tonight. Lisa is the founder and organizer of FEAT and I know that she has worked hard to put the event together. Considering it is in its first year, and is already a sell out, I think it is safe to say that it is a success.

For those in attendance tonight, I'm told there are a few surprises that won't be revealed until you're there. So, sit back, enjoy the evening and have fun with your fellow adventurers, armchair or otherwise.

Congratulations Lisa! Enjoy your night as well!

Learn To Live The Adventure Lifestyle at FEAT

Back in July I told you about an upcoming event in South Africa called FEAT which promises to be "the ultimate armchair adventure experience." The acronym stands for Fascinating Expedition and Adventure Talks, and with a line-up that includes mountaineers, ocean rowers, and long distance trekkers, all from South Africa, it promises to be a very interesting evening to say the least.

FEAT is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 7, at the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, which means that it is now just four weeks away. On the docket are 12 fantastic adventurers, each of whom will have seven minutes to share their story, which is part of what gives this event a unique appeal. The presentations will have to be tightly focused and offer a clear message if they are going to achieve their goals in the allotted time frame.

One of the key message for the evening will be about how modern day explorers can get sponsored and fund their adventurous lifestyle, which can be a tricky proposition in this day and age. Mountaineer and polar explorer Alex Harris will be on hand to discuss making a career out of adventure, while Julian Dallamore, a corporate Brand Manager, will give hints on how to appeal to corporate sponsors. Similarly, adventurer Ray Chaplin will offer his insights on how to handle media relations and the technologies used to stay in contact from the field.

I was already jealous of those that were able to attend FEAT when I originally wrote about the event, but hearing about this topic of discussion makes me want to go all the more. This is shaping up to be a fantastic evening and a real opportunity to get to meet some great adventurers first hand.

For information on purchasing tickets for FEAT click here.

South Africa's Baviaanskloof Trail Run Scheduled For Sept. 18

One of South Africa's top endurance trail running events, the Baviaanskloof Trail Run, is scheduled to take place on Sept. 18th in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve along the Eastern Cape. Last year, in its inaugural run, the race earned a reputation for being an incredibly tough test for adventure athletes, who not only have to contend with a trail that is already legendary for its challenging terrain, but also a wide variety of weather conditions as well. Race organizers warn the runners that "temperatures could be in excess of 40°C (104ºF) or it could snow"

The course is 40km (24.8 miles) in length and covers some of the most challenging backcountry in all of South Africa. There is one feeding station along the route, but otherwise the runners are expected to be completely self sufficient while on the trail, where they'll have to contend with plenty of rocky terrain, elevation changes, and tough trail conditions.

As if dealing with a rugged and remote trail, and the elements, wasn't enough, the reserve, which happens to be a World Heritage Site, is also home to some very formidable animals. Cape Buffalo are in abundance, and Black Rhinos roam the region too, and the race website warns that Cape Cobras are amongst the dangers as well. Last year, the runners had to take a slight detour around a baby rhino that decided to camp out right on the trail, and while he wasn't much of a threat, his overprotective mother could have been.

A recent race update sent out to the more than 100 competitors informed them that this year they have a whole new creature to keep their eyes peeled. Apparently a rather large male leopard has been spotted in the area, and like all cats, he doesn't mind chasing his prey before he has dinner. Live traps have been set up to capture him before the day of the race, but at this point it is just one more obstacle to keep the runners moving. (I'll take this opportunity to once again remind the competitors that they don't have to out run the leopard, they just need to out run their closest competition on the trail!)

Now in its second year, the Baviaanskloof Trail Run is already looking like quite the yearly event. The setting, with its remoteness and rough trails, is perfect, and the element of the the amazing animals just adds to the adventure. I'd love to attend a future edition and cover it first hand, as it looks like quite the event.

And yes, the below photo is an actual image of the leopard that has been spotted on the course.

Poachers Kill Last Female Rhino In SA Reserve

I wrote about this over at Gadling this morning, and thought it was worth mentioning here as well. According to this story from the Guardian, poachers have killed the last female white rhino in a popular South African game preserve in order to harvest her horn. The brutal act also orphaned her calf and brought the death toll to 136 rhinos at the hands of poachers so far this year.

The incident occurred last week in the Krugersdorp game reserve, not far from Johannesburg. Rangers believe that the poachers flew into the park in a helicopter and shot the rhino with a tranquilizer from the air. They then land, and use a chainsaw to cut off the horn. They're generally back in the air before they even shut the rotors down, and the animals are left behind. Most end up bleeding to death or overdose on the drugs that knock them out. 


The horns are then smuggled out of the country and sold on the black market in Asia, where they are prized for their alleged medicinal purposes. Made almost entirely out of keratin fibers, which are thin and resemble hair. The substance is the main ingredient of a number of traditional medicines throughout Asia, and the booming economy there has caused a spike in demand. 


South Africa has ramped up its enforcement of these crimes in recent years, and they are now generally handled by the "organized crime" division of the police force. Sentences have also gotten stricter and longer, and criminals are being pursued more aggressively in the past. Prior to 2005, the country averaged less than 36 rhino deaths per year by poachers. Last year that number was 129, and we're on track for a record number of kills this year.


I found this to be an incredibly sad story. Poaching is a horrible crime and when you consider that only an estimated 18,000 rhinos still live in all of Africa, you begin to see the magnitude of what is going on there. I suspect that this will continue as long as their is a demand or until there are no rhinos left in the wild. 

South African Adventurers To Be Celebrated At FEAT!

South Africa is home to some of the most accomplished explorers and adventurers on the planet. The country has more than its fair share of mountaineers, polar explorers, sailors, and more. To celebrate these amazing men and women, a new adventure symposium will take place later this year in Johannesburg that will offers an intriguing mix of the Banff Film Festival and TED Talks.


FEAT, which stands for Fascinating Expeditions & Adventure Talks,  promises to be the ultimate armchair adventure experience.  Billed as: "1 Night, 12 Adventurers, 7 Minutes Each", that is an apt description of the format for the evening as well. 


Each of the 12 speakers will have exactly 7 minutes to, no more and no less, to share a specific aspect of one of their recent expeditions. They'll use photos and their own words to tell the story of the challenges they had to overcome to discover something about people, places, or even themselves. 


Amongst the featured speakers are Alex Harris, who has climbed the Seven Summits and Peter van Kets, who has rowed solo across the Atlantic, twice no less, as part of the Atlantic Rowing Race. Others include climber Marianne Schwankhart, who recently started the Seven Summits, Seven Flights expedition, and Riann Manser, who quite literally rode around Africa on his bicycle. 


Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday, August 2nd at Computicket, with the inaugural event taking place at the Wit Theater in Braamfontein on October 7th. 


This looks like it's going to be a really great event. I love the format and the line-up of speakers is excellent. If I were in or around, Jo'burg in early October, I'd certainly try to find away to attend this event. Looks like a fun evening. 

Tour d'Afrique 2010: Race Finished, Australian and German Cyclists Win!

The 2010 Tour d'Afrique came to an end this past weekend when the riders rolled into Cape Town amidst cheers from the locals gathered to welcome them. Sunday marked the final day of the annual race from Cairo to Cape Town that saw competitors in the saddle for more than 120 days, and covering over 7500 miles across the length of Africa.

27-year old Australian, Stuart Briggs was the winner in the men's category, claiming victory with an overall time 398:26 for the race. South African Jethro de Decker took second place with a time of, 16 hours back, and American Tim Thomas came in third at 418:09. de Decker won the most stages with 18, and the most sections, with 3, but Briggs was the overall more consistent rider from start to finish.

In the women's division there was no problem figuring out who won, as 26-year old German Gisela Gartmair dominated the field. Garmair racked up an incredible 56 stage wins, claimed all 9 of the race’s “mando” days, and was victorious on 7 of the 8 tour sections. Her final time was 404:34, second only to Briggs in the overall standings. Juliana Austin-Olsen, 39 and Jennifer Crake, 40, both of Canada, finished second and third respectively with times of 452:38 and 531:33.

There were 55 riders that rode the entire length of the Tour, with others coming and going from different sections. For some, iti s a highly competitive event, as winning a stage race of 120+ days is quite a feat. For others however, it is more about the adventure of the ride, which crossed through Egypt, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Personally, I can't think of a more amazing way to tour Africa, and it's many diverse landscapes.

Registration for the Tour d'Afrique 2011 is already open, so if you would like to take part in the adventure next year, sign up now and start planning. It's going to be a heck of a ride.

Solo Sailing Update: Jessica Finishes Tomorrow!

For a number of months we've been following Jessica Watson and Abby Sunderland as they both have attempted their daring solo circumnavigations of the globe in the hopes of becoming the youngest to achieve that goal. Both of these remarkable young ladies are just 16 years old, and both have had quite the adventure out on the open seas. But now, one is closing in on the finish line, while the other takes a break for some much needed repairs.

The biggest news at the moment is that Jessica is now just hours away from completing her solo sail around the world. She is expected to arrive in Sydney, Australia sometime tomorrow, with thousands of well wishers on hand to welcome her home. Jess began her voyage back in October, and hasn't stepped foot on land since, but she is now looking forward to meeting friends and family when she sails into the Sydney harbor tomorrow.

Of course, there is already some controversy brewing around the completion of the journey, or at least at any records she would hope to claim. The World Sailing Speed Record Council has already said that they would not recognize her as the youngest to sail around the world, as they have a strict policy that those who attempt that journey should be at least 18 years old. But perhaps more importantly, there are some who say her voyage wasn't long enough to be considered for any speed records either. Jessica's route is some 2000 miles shorter than what is a typically considered for those kinds of records, and while she did go above the equator, as the rules for these types of expeditions require, she didn't spend much time in the Northern Hemisphere.

Still, the question is does it really matter? I'm guessing it doesn't mean a think to Jess, who is completing this journey for herself and for the epic adventure. She may not go into some of the official record books, but she finished what she set out to do, regardless of what some of the old sea dogs think about her route.

Meanwhile, Abby Sunderland reached Cape Town, South Africa last week, and has spent several days there having her boat checked out. She limped over to Africa thanks to a failing autopilot that has been giving her problems almost since her voyage began. Divers have also inspected her ship, the WIld Eyes for damage, and while they found a few minor things, there hasn't been anything significant to repair. They did clean out some sea weed from the prop, which may have been causing minor engine issues, and they've patched some scratches on the hull, but nothing significant has been discovered.

Abby's brother Zac has been spending time with her in South Africa, but is heading home today. Zac completed his own round-the-world sailing trip last year, inspiring his sister to follow in his wake. With the repairs done, and Zac headed out of town, Abby will now wait for a weather window to return to the sea. She expects that to happen on Tuesday, so soon she'll be back out on the water as well.

Because she stopped for repairs, Abby is officially out of the record books as well, as these solo circumnavigation attempts are suppose to be non-stop. Regardless of that rule however, Abby is actually younger than Jessica, and probably wouldn't have been officially recognized for her achievement either. The course she selected is longer however, and will probably fulfill the requirements in that area at least. Abby has reiterated however that she is not doing this for records either. She is doing this for herself and will continue on her voyage despite having to stop for these repairs.

You certainly have to admire the adventurous spirit these two young women have. I want to congratulate Jess for finishing her journey and wish Abby well on the next leg of hers.

World Run II Update: The End of Africa

A few weeks back I posted a story about the World Run II, a long distance endurance run like nothing I've ever seen before. The event is the brainchild of Danish ultrarunner Jesper Olsen, who is about to become the first person to ever run the length of Africa, north to south, as he finishes the first half of an amazing long distance odyssey on foot.

On Saturday, March 13, Jesper will be running into Cape Point, South Africa, which will mark the end of the first stage of World Run II, which began back on July 1st of 2008, when he set off from the northernmost tip of Norway, and started running south. Now, 20 months, and nearly 21,250 kilometers later, he's about to set some very impressive firsts. In addition to becoming the first person to run across Africa, north to south, he'll also become the first person to run from the most northerly point in Europe, to the southernmost tip of Africa, and he'll be the first to complete two documented runs of more than 20,000km, having finished his first during World Run I back in 2005, which went for more than 26,000km.

Upon reaching Cape Point, Jesper will then take a few months off to rest and recover before beginning the second stage of World Run II. That stage will begin in Punta Arenas, Chile, and will see him running north this time, covering the length of South America, up through Central America, into Mexico, and the U.S. before ending in Mt. Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada. When he's done, Jesper will have covered more than 40,000km, through all kinds of terrain and weather conditions.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to salute Jesper and what he's accomplished so far. While he still has a long way to go before he finishes World Run II, it is very impressive what he has accomplished so far. What an amazing expedition this has been through Africa, and what a great way to see the world – on your own two feet!

Update: It seems my original information was off just a bit. Jesper will now be arriving in Cape Point on Monday, not Saturday. We can afford him a little extra time to take in the sights though considering how far he has just run, right?

22nd Annual Rhodes Trail Run Accepting Applications

The 2010 Rhodes Trail Run may still be several months off, but those interested in running the iconic long distance off road race in South Africa may want to get their entries in soon. Personal invitations for the event went out last week, and slots are already being filled for this amazing race that should be on the radar of any endurance runner.

The race is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 3rd, beginning and ending in the hamlet of Rhodes, South Africa. Covering a distance of 52km (28 miles), the course will wind its way through remote and challenging terrain that would put any trail runner to the test in the best of conditions. But the Rhodes Trail Run is rarely held under the "best of conditions". Weather is a frequent threat during the event, with high winds, icy trails, and snow a possibility throughout.

If the weather wasn't enough of a challenge however, runners will have to consider the altitude as well. The race begins at 1800m (5905 feet) and goes as high as 2680m (8793 feet), with the average altitude sitting at about 2560m (8399 ft). That's some serious altitude gain over the course of the run, and athletes should be prepared to deal with that as they go. To help ensure that runners are ready, the organizers of the event have put together some training tips that may come in handy.

So? Who wants to go to South Africa this summer to compete in a really tough, but amazing race? And I say "summer" because I live in the Northern Hemisphere. From the looks of the conditions on the course during the event, it would be anything but "summer" while we're running. Seems like a very cool race if any of you endurance athletes are looking for a new challenge.

World Run II: A New Definition Of Endurance Runs!

Occasionally I get great articles, reports, and links sent my way from readers who are aware of some great adventures that I haven't come across before. At any given time, there are always some amazing things going on, and it's difficult to keep track of them all, although I do my best. :) One such reader is Darrell Raubenheimer, who drops me a note from time to time about one amazing endurance event or another that is taking place in and around South Africa, which he calls home. Earlier today, I received just such a note telling me about endurance athlete Jesper Olsen and his World Run II.

Back in 2005, Jesper completed the first ever fully documented run around the world. Dubbed the World Run, the event saw him begin and end in London, crossing Europe, and Asia, before ending up in Tokyo, Japan From there, the Danish runner hopped a flight to Sydney, ran across Australia to Perth, then grabbed another flight to Los Angeles, where he proceed to run north to Vancouver, then across Canada and the U.S., before taking a flight back to the U.K., returning to where he started. When he was done, Jesper had run more than 16,000 miles.

But like any good adventurer, the ultrarunner couldn't stay home for long, and thus the plan was hatched for World Run II, which like all good sequels, is bigger, and more impressive than the first. This time, Jesper is running a course that is roughly 25,000 miles in length and going from north-to-south, and back again. In the process, he'll cross four continents, numerous countries, and through nearly every time of environment imaginable.

The run got underway from Nordkapp, Norway, the northernmost point in Europe, and will continue south to Cape Town in South Africa. From there, Jesper will hop a flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, in South America, and turn is way north, heading up through that continent, and into North America, through Mexico, the U.S., and into Canada, eventually ending at Mt. Pearl, a small town in Newfoundland.

Jesper's latest blog report, which can be found on the World Run II website, indicates that he is now closing in on Cape Town, which is a major milestone for his expedition. As of two days ago, he had completed nearly 12,800 miles, so he's roughly halfway done. As of that posting, he was still about 500 miles away from Cape Town, but mentioned that he was looking forward to a break, some time to heal, and recover, before moving on to South America. Considering he's just about finished up a complete run across the African continent, north to south, I'd say he's earned some rest.

Personally, I'm in awe of this undertaking. I've taken the last two days off from running to try to heal a bit of a nagging injury, and now I feel just completely lazy after reading about some of the things that Jesper has been dealing with along the way. I may have missed the first half of this very cool adventure, but you can bet I'll be following along with the second half. Thanks for the tip Darrell, it is highly appreciated as always! :)