RACINGTHEPLANET

Relive the magical Namib Race 2024 through the video highlights from Andre Gemmer. Andre will also be our videographer at the Gobi March in Mongolia which begins in a little more than a month. https://lnkd.in/ezifXYcH

How Ryan Sandes set new benchmarks in ultra trail running It seems like only yesterday that Ryan Sandes showed up at the Gobi March in China with no ultramarathon experience, but went on to WIN the Gobi March and every race in the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series. He has had a storied ultramarathon career also winning the Western States 100-Miler and other ultramarathon races. He has remained such an understated all around nice guy and hasn't changed a bit since we first met him in 2008. Ryan says "Ultimately, it's not the numbers but the experiences that are remembered." This is a great article in Red Bull about Ryan's achievements. Well done Ryan Sandes. https://shorturl.at/fpqW2

With the first race of the 4 Deserts Grand Slam done and behind us, we are looking forward to an action-packed year ending with the Atacama Crossing. There is never enough space to showcase all the beautiful landscape of the Atacama Desert. https://lnkd.in/gAkwG8Yb

The Namib Race 2024 concluded last evening at the Awards Banquet held at the Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre. The Overall Champions, Official and Group Team Winners, Age Group Awards and Spirit and Sportsmanship Awards are shown below: Overall Champion: Vicente Juan Beneito (Spain), 25:03:46 Women's Champion: Deborah Walker (Australia), 32:53:46 Official Team Winner: 1st, Team Jeanne & Adam (Jeanne Chen (US), Adam Park (UK)) Group Team Winner: 1st, Team Pollo Amarillo (Vicente Juan Beneito (Spain), Christian Colque (Argentina), Jeison Duarte da Costa (Brazil)) Men's Age Group Awards: 1st, 29 and Under: Kian Askari (Germany) 1st, 30-39: Roshan Chhotu (UK) 1st, 40-49: Martin Kalwenya (Namibia) 1st, 50-59: Gonazgue Bataille (France) 1st, 60-69: Consuelo Senn (Switzerland) 1st, 70 and Older: Ivan Schmidt (Denmark) Women's Age Group Awards: 1st, 30-39: Jeanne Chen (US) 1st, 40-49: Pamela Vurayai (Namibia) 1st 50-59: Kim Bueno (US) 1st, 60-69: Patty Clune (Canada) Spirit Award: Sangwoo RYU (Korea) Sportsmanship Award: Heather Flaherty (US), Jennyfer Townsend (New Zealand), Morlie Wang (US), Lisa Brown (US) THANK YOU to the 122 competitors who arrived in Namibia after countless hours of training and preparations. Every single one of you, whether you made it to the finish line or not, are heroes. The Namib Race could not have been possible without the support of a 100 individuals on ground, including the incredible course team (led by Thomas Bohne), the volunteer team (led by Tony Brammer), the medical team (led by Dr Dave Young) and the media team (Thiago Diz and Andre Gemmer), which assembled from around the world -- a HUGE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK DURING THE WEEK. Thank you also to Samantha Fanshawe, the Event Director, who oversaw every detail of the race and shines in everything she does. A final TREMENDOUS thank you to our valuable local team, led by Francois Snyder and Oliver Ahrens, and the hard-working and professional vehicle drivers and camp staff. You are all the very best. Please join us for our next race: the Gobi March in Mongolia which begins on 23 June 2024.

Namib Race 2024 LIVE. Stage 6, the final stage, has begun, 250km almost dune and dusted. Just a short 10 kilometers into to the finish on the shore of the Skeleton Coast in Swakopmund. As we await photos and videos from the finish line, we remember just what the races means to Namibians and hear a few words from the expected champions. https://lnkd.in/eM7DY94J

NAMIB RACE 2024 LIVE RACE COVERAGE We are about to start the beloved Stage, THE LONG MARCH. The Long March is expected to be almost 80kms (a nearly double marathon), but the brutal temperatures are expected to cool as racers head west towards the Skeleton Coast. Everyone has been remarkable in withstanding the harsh heat. Truly a bunch of impressive individuals. Both the men's and women's competition is tight, with The Long March likely to decide the ultimate champions. Here is a recap of Stage 4: Men (Stage 4) 1. Martin Kalwenya (Namibia), 3:25:50 (Overall: 4 ) 2. Hiroyuki Matsuda (Japan), 3:34:25 (Overall: 2) 3. Vicente Juan Beneito (Spain), 3:39:05 (Overall: 1) 4. Anton Zyrianov, 3:48:11 (Overall: 3) 5. Yerengaiyp Kuataiuly (Kazakhstan) 4:04:15 (Overall: 5) Women (Stage 4) 1. Maigua Ojeda (Spain), 4:28:07 (Overall: 3) 2. Deborah Walker (Australia), 4:43:56 (Overall: 1) 3. Kathrin Loffelmann (Germany), 5:09:40 (Overall: 5) 4. Yasmin Stoderegger (Austria), 5:15:06 (Overall:2) 5. Pamela Vurayai (Zimbabwe), 5:38:34 (Overall: 4) It is truly wonderful seeing the competitors from 46 nations as they support one another to get to the finish line. Thank you for all your messages of support. The CyberTent is most loved tent at Camp. https://lnkd.in/eM7DY94J

Namib Race 2024 Need some space? Need a digital detox? The Namib Race is it! See some drone footage from Stage 2 of our seven-day, 250 kilometer (155mi) footrace across the Namib Desert. https://lnkd.in/eM7DY94J

The Namib Race 2024 has begun, and we are providing up to the minute coverage with GPS tracking which is updated every 10 minutes. Good luck to the desert runners from 46 countries. You continue to inspire us. See all the Live coverage at https://lnkd.in/eM7DY94J

Robert G. Ripley, MD (1961-2024) Acclaimed international endurance athlete Rob Ripley died April 19, 2024, in the company of family & friends, after the return of an aggressive form of cancer. Rob grew up in Anchorage, AK graduating from A.J. Dimond high school prior to attending the College of Idaho. This was followed by medical school at the University of Washington where he specialized in emergency medicine. In his career, he served communities in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and California. In medical school he met the love of his life Nancy, who became his wife and travel partner for the past 30 years. Rob & Nancy shared adventures globally, volunteering as medical staff and in Rob’s case as a race participant. Rob also volunteered in medical clinics in Nepal, New Guinea and Uganda. Over the past 10 years Rob excelled in a wide array of events including ultramarathon races in Namibia, Chile, Antarctica and Mongolia, as well as national & international Masters nordic, running and cycling championships. Most recently in February 2024, he raced the World Masters XC Championships in Finland prior to the return of his cancer. Rob is survived by Nancy along with his brothers Justin, Mark, John and Jeff. He was preceded in death by his parents Justin and Connie. So next time you are on a run, bike or hike please turn your gaze to the sky in memory of our beloved Rob, also known to his family as the Crowman. May his flight continue aways, unhindered by earthly burdens. From RacingThePlanet: Dr Rob joined the Namib Race 2021 as a competitor to celebrate being cancer-free for six years. Not only did Dr Rob finish the Namib Race but he WON. Dr Rob went on to compete at the Atacama Crossing 2022 and the Gobi March 2023, finishing in the top five overall and winning his age group on both occasions. Rob will leave a deep void at RacingThePlanet, leaving a legacy of encouraging many competitors to get to the finish line and inspiring cancer survivors throughout the world through his well-written blogs and accomplishments. Rob is also remembered for his deep love for his wife Dr. Nancy Kadel, also a highly respected RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts medical doctor with an equal number of accomplishments. Thank you, Dr Rob.

IMPACT Magazine named the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series one of the Most Extreme Races in the World along with the Western States 100 Miler and UTMB. Impact Magazine says about the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series: "The marathon is as the name suggests—a race of four deserts across the globe, currently comprises the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in Mongolia, the Namib Race in Namibia and the Last Desert in Antarctica. This is a race sure to push you to your absolute limits. The race takes place over seven days, and runners will traverse 250 kilometres across these famous and unforgiving deserts, battling extreme weather from plummeting temperatures to sweltering heat. Runners traverse vast expanses of arid landscapes, confronting towering dunes, rocky plateaus and long stretches of relentless sun exposure. This is a race that is about more than just crossing the finish line. It is about pushing past mental and physical blocks, embracing the natural world in all its raw forms, and discovering inner strength." https://lnkd.in/eHYA-DyC