5th February 2011
I was completely devastated and comforted myself by driving home through the night in time to run the 100km Amatola Trail Run Says Kim van Kets
It was 52C on the first day and still in the high 40′s by day three. I was unable to stop vomiting and was retired by the race doctor. I was completely devastated and comforted myself by driving home through the night in time to run the 100km Amatola Trail Run.” Says Kim van Kets, trail runner and multi sportswomen about her first Kalahari-Augrabies Extreme Marathon, the one she indeed conquered the next year together with the Addo 100 Miler, the Rhodes Ultra Marathon, the 270km Transkei Ultra Run and the Baviaanskloof Marathon, some of which she finished as first woman home.
Kim is now in the final preparation phase for Tri-The Beloved Country, an epic journey of 5 500km covering the perimeter of South Africa solo. Kim will run 3 300km (a standard marathon every day), cycle 2 230km on a mountain bike (an Argus Cycle Tour every day) and paddle 500km in a kayak (which equals 4 Dusi Marathons).
“I am hooked by the solitude and beauty of the sport.” Nicknamed The Bullet for good reason, Kim has “a tank-like ability to keep going” which will stand her in good stead when she tackles her own expedition, starting in March.
Her plan is to run along the Wild and Natal Coastlines to Ponta do Ouro, mountain bike along the inland borders to the Orange River, paddle to Oranjemund and run along the West and Cape Coastline to finish in East London. She will attempt to limit her route to off road paths and tracks as much as possible.
Covering between 50km and 100km per day, she will be obliged to contend with extreme physical hardship to accomplish this dream: exhaustion, injuries, blisters, exposure to the elements to mention but a few. On isolated and inaccessible stretches of the road replenishing food supplies and water will be a major difficulty – as will avoiding sunstroke/hyperthermia, dehydration, hyperglycemia, malaria and hostile fauna.
Tri-The Beloved Country will possibly be the most grueling physical challenge that any South African woman has undertaken: four months and 5 500kms through some of the world’s most testing terrain. The journey will combine the quest for the ultimate personal challenge with a passion for making a difference.
Pete and Kim
The focus of the expedition is twofold; to raise funds for the Carel du Toit Centre (Eastern Cape) and to embark on a positive journey through the “Beloved Country” to highlight the endless potential of South Africa and to encourage South Africans to stay home or come home, to add their efforts to achieving this potential. The expedition will be covered extensively by various forms of media.
Despite opportunities to have married someone sensible she is happily married to Peter van Kets (who crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice in a rowing boat, the only African to have rowed solo across any ocean) and mother to 5 year old Hannah (who wants to be an extreme rock climbing ballet dancer when she grows up). They will accompany her as back-up crew in an off road camper van for the duration of the expedition.
Kim has invited the women of St Francis Bay to run with her when she gets close to St Francis Bay, as they will certainly turn in to say hallo to their relations, the Donnelly families. “Get fit by mid July and come and run with me for a day or two near St Francis on my way home? I would love that!” St Francis Village News will keep you posted to finalise this date!
Kim’s quote of the month:
“I wish all women understood that their bodies are machines, not ornaments. It is much more important to be strong, fit and healthy than to look good in hot pants – I have nothing but admiration for my wobbly thighs! They are totally bulletproof and can run up and down mountains non-stop for 30+ hours if they have to! I would take them anywhere!“
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