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RACE INFO

RACE INFO

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Namib Race / UltraLite (Namibia) 2026 - About the Field: The Stats, Inspiring Stories and Top Contenders

  • 132 Competitors
  • 37 Countries Represented
    • Including: Colombia, Macau, Serbia, Morocco and Namibia.
    • Most represented: United States, Korea (South) and Taiwan.
  • 28% female / 72% male
  • Age range - from under 20 to 73 years young
    • Youngest: Cole Smith from the United States.
    • Oldest: Vickie McDonald from the United States.
  • 65% have completed a race before / 35% are first timers
    • 7 x 4 Deserts Club members: Bea Garcia, Kevin Lin, Jihee Nam, Andy & Lara Reynolds, Paul Skipworth and Michael Williams.
      • Plus three 4 Deserts Club members on the staff: Tony Brammer, Doreen Hoffman and Jesse Yoo.
    • Six people will join the 4 Deserts Club after the Namib Race: Olivia Chiu, Jim Crowe, Adriana Dulic, Sarah Sejin, Jonathan Raymond and Michaya Shibata (Eggplant).
    • There are also a number of people who are coming to race after more than 10 years:
      • Ross Jackson (Atacama Crossing 2014), Jonathan Raymond (Ecuador 2015), Andreas Kiaer (Jordan 2012), Taylor Bennett (Gobi March 2009).
  • Most Races:
    • Michael Williams, a vet from Miami, has been at 12 races already.
    • Bea Garcia and Hiroaki Ozuru join their 12th race.
    • 10 people are coming back to the Namib Race (Namibia) – some raced on a different course, some are looking for redemption, and some are just back to enjoy the course again.
  • Qualification for The Last Desert (Antarctica)
    • In order to qualify for The Last Desert you need to complete two RacingThePlanet Ultramarathons – either 4 Deserts races or RacingThePlanet Ultramarathons.
    • At the Namib Race:
      • 26 new people will qualify.
      • 14 people are already set for the voyage to final frontier of Antarctica.
      • 15 people have already experienced the beauty of Antarctica.
    • For those who are not qualified, there is the option to join the Antarctica Ultramarathon, UltraLite (Antarctica) or as a Friend / Family member.
  • Ten Teams
    • The team category provides additional camaraderie and competition, plus an extra chance for a podium place.
    • 7 x Official Teams who must stay together every step of the course:
      • Patto Lagoon – brothers from Ecuador.
      • China Lotus (Macau) – a group friends from Macau.
      • Team Taiwan – including previous 4 Deserts Champion, Kevin Lin.
      • Team Never Die – including a member of the Taiwanese boy band 5566.
      • CHIP and DALE – friends from Russia.
      • TEAM A☆H☆O -beyonD – the colourful happy team from Japan.
      • Team 120+ - a couple from Brazil.
    • 3 x Group Teams who can race separately:
      • JustRunEat – from Korea.
      • Team Reynolds – a father, mother and son team from South Africa / Hong Kong / UK.
      • Team NPV - Namib Pursuit Voyagers – friends from Hong Kong who met at previous RacingThePlanet races.
  • 4 Deserts Grand Slam Contenders
    • The 4 Deserts Grand Slam or 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus is when competitors take on all 4 Deserts Ultramarathons within 12 months – or add the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon for five races in 12 months. More than five courageous people are taking on this feat in 2026/27. Less than 100 people have achieved this so far.
      • Samah Benmaad from France
      • Odd Edoy from Norway
      • Stephen Patton from Mexico
      • Fer Llopis from Spain
      • Margarita Morena from Columbia
      • There are four more people who are also chasing the 4 Deserts Grand Slam, but keeping a low profile
  • Special Mentions
    • There really is a diverse and fascinating field of competitors at the Namib Race (Namibia) 2026. Some special mentions include:
      • Bea Garcia from Spain – has Type 1 Diabetes. She is joining her 12th race proving that diabetes is no barrier, just an extra challenge.
      • Two Namibians – Angela Alchin and Elke Slinger. Both have volunteered before at the Namib Race and Angela is on her journey to complete the 4 Deserts. They are only the second Namibian women to take on the Namib Race. Read their blogs to find out more about their journeys.
      • Kevin Lin was the 4 Deserts Champion in 2006. He was on the podium for five races and has since chosen to encourage and prepare others to take on the challenge.
      • Masataka Kiyono – is racing as a competitor, while also filming Wataru Tabuchi for the production of a documentary to celebrate a big anniversary at Mr. Tabuchi’s school to inspire the children to take on adventure.
      • Jesse Yoo has completed more than 20 RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons and will there at the Namib Race on an external media team.
      • Michiya Shibata from Japan has raced the previous three 4 Deserts Ultramarathons dressed as an eggplant (aubergine). We think he will be wearing this recognisable outfit again.
      • Pamela Coleman is joining her 3rd UltraLite race – making it 3 out of 3 editions held that she will have joined. Pam could be the first to complete the UltraLite Grand Slam.
  • Charities
    • Fourteen people are supporting charities through the race including prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s, women’s empowerment, cancer survivors, poor communities, vision in developing countries, and more.
  • Families
    • Many people are racing with other family members, either racing together, racing separately, or on the volunteer team. The addition of the UltraLite category is a great way to race with your family and friends who may be at different stages of their ultramarathon journeys.
    • Some of the notable family groups include:
      • Matt Emsley - is doing the full race and his wife, Xiaohui Lu (Sherry) takes on the UltraLite category.
      • Smiths – Cole and his mother, Katy, are both racing.
      • Reynolds – father, mother and son. Another son / brother is volunteering.
      • Raymonds – Jonathan is back after more than 10 years to join the 4 Deserts Club and is joined by his son who is doing his first race.
      • Acostas – two brothers from Ecuador are racing as an official team.
      • Schütze – Mirco and Sara from Germany take on their first RacingThePlanet race as a couple. We will see if they race together.
      • There are also a number of family members on the volunteer team.
  • Top Contenders
    • It is never easy to identify the top contenders. Below are our top picks
    • Female
      • Michi Punz-Raml (Austria).
      • Samah Bertrand (France).
      • Lara Reynolds (South Africa).
    • Male
      • Takuro Kumagai (Japan).
      • Paul Redbourn (United Kingdom).
      • Koichi Kawakami (Japan).
      • Leonid Kasatkin (Russia).
    • We know a few surprise contenders will emerge, and across 250 km the results are never certain.
  • Staff
    • We have a team of 40 staff and volunteers including the management, medical, course and media teams. In addition, there is a fabulous local team, many of whom have worked for us since the first race in Namibia.
    • 20 countries are represented.
      • More than 10 languages are spoken.
    • 47% female / 53% male.
    • Aged from under 20 to 70.
    • More than half have been at a race before, either to volunteer or race.
      • 12 have completed a race as a competitor.
      • Three are 4 Deserts Club members.

More information on the Namib Race / UltraLite (Namibia) 2026 field