Kia ora, Racing the Planet family! ​

My name is Karen, and I'm a 62-year-old adventurer who's still chasing dreams and embracing challenges. ​ I've always been a bit of a misfit, trading dolls for dirt roads and forts as a kid, and later swapping teenage norms for a 630km bike ride from Johannesburg to Durban. ​ That ride was my first taste of pushing limits, and I've been hooked ever since. ​

Fast forward a few decades, and life brought me to New Zealand, where I rediscovered my love for physical challenges. ​ I joined a triathlon club and completed a few sprint distances. I will admit I was a bit giddy, so I signed up for a half-marathon tri, which (no surprises there) handed me an epic DNF.  No worries, I would just focus on each discipline in isolation, complete a 160km cycling challenge, followed by an open-water swim around Mauao, and even earn a teaching degree at 55 while working full-time. ​

Running, however, has been my Achilles heel—literally. Five fractures and a lot of physio later, I'm back on my feet, stronger and more determined than ever. ​

My journey to Racing the Planet Namibia started during lockdown in 2021, when I stumbled upon Jeff Pelletier's running films on YouTube. ​ Watching his adventures sparked something deep inside me. ​ But it wasn't only his adventures; it was probably more the resilience and courage of the incredible athletes he interviewed. The common thread in all the interviews was - nothing is really impossible. Or rather, even that which seems utterly impossible is actually achievable. Could I really do this? ​ I wasn't sure, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had to try. ​ That's when I met Zach, a fellow late bloomer who started running at 57. ​ He believed in me when I doubted myself the most, and his encouragement became the fuel I needed to keep going. ​Zach opened my mind to the concept of possibility rather than all my imagined limitations.

Zach introduced me to his friend Kristina, an incredible coach who's been guiding me for the past 9 months, or according to Training Peaks, with 57 weeks to go until RTP Namib 2026. ​ It hasn't been easy, but every step has been worth it. Zach's passing in July 2025 was a heartbreaking loss, but his words—"Karen, you've got this. ​ Your journey has already started"—still echoes in my mind. ​ I'm here to honour his memory and prove that age, setbacks, and loss don't define our limits. ​

Racing the Planet is more than just a race; it's a community, a journey, and a celebration of resilience. ​ I'm excited (another word for nervous!) to take on Namibia, but I know I'm not alone. To anyone out there wondering if they can do something like this, my advice is simple: take the first step. You might surprise yourself. ​ 

Here's to the adventure ahead! ​

Aroha nui

Karen

P.S. My other mantra is "if at first you don't succeed, try again'.