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Namib Race Blogs 2018
7
PostsNamib Race (2018) blog posts from Matt Burke
04 May 2018 10:11 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Finished the last long stage of 40kms today and now just have a 10km stage tomorrow to complete the Namib race. Mixed day of emotions to be honest. We were all up at 8am to start
03 May 2018 10:22 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
BOOM - Long march has been put to bed. Hard yes, tough yes, gritty definitely
Comments: Total (7) comments
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 04 May 2018 04:43 pm
What an idiot I am - see now everyone is number 4 - for 4 deserts - and you are in fact 9. Put it down to senility - and lack of running ultras in my youth!!! xxxx
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 04 May 2018 04:28 pm
My original comment seems to have wandered off into cyberspace so here's another.
Fantastic Mattie! I can't believe anyone from our family can run/walk for about 12 hours in the desert and heat. Just amazing. But then it all comes down to the mind, and the attitude and the sheer force of will - all of which you've got tons of. I wish I could have done things like this when I were your age - bit late now though unless they do one for the oldies! You've probably finished stage 5 now - this seems to be out of sync - and so nearly finished and soon you'll be drooling over that long cold beer you've been hallucinating about! What an example for Jack and Summer, and in fact for all of us . So proud of you Mattie. Pity you didn't see the lions - would have added a bit of pep to the race if they'd been watching you from the skyline as you hot-footed past them! Nearly there and just brilliant. A huge aunterly hug from me . xxxx PS in the results your name appears as being Bib 9, which confused me a bit when looking for you in the photos. I now know you are 4.
Ross Carter
Posted On: 04 May 2018 07:21 am
Absolute sterling effort mate! You’ve had a bloody good run so far. Keep pushing to the end and watch out for anymore planks of doom!
Kevin Reid
Posted On: 04 May 2018 06:36 am
Amazing effort mate - one last push tomorrow then the sweet taste of amber nectar. Well done
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 04 May 2018 05:06 am
Matty, YOU DID IT! Amazing effort babe, the heat alone sounds exhausting for someone just sitting there, but to run, walk and carry your gear for 84kms - your ability to do this just astounds me. But then knowing you, it's also not surprising. Just a walk in the park (or desert in this case). Everyone is behind you - I can't wait for you to see all the words of encouragement and support on FB and your donation page - you've come so far and now just those dam dunes to crush. I hope your shin is kind to you - just think once you're done, that's it, you can come home and relax. Push through the 5th stage and you are practically home. Keep going Matty, you can do it!!
Lots of love, Sal, Jack & Summer.
Pete Trollope
Posted On: 03 May 2018 11:45 pm
Stay strong brother! Looking forward to hearing all about it in the comfort of a Golf buggy some time soon. Head down, tail up and push through - you legend!!
James Miles
Posted On: 03 May 2018 11:21 pm
Awesome :) Well done mate. Nice to read just before bed :) Sounds wicked :) and painful ha :) You got it. I didn't know you did one in 2016. I see they've got four. I'd like to hear about your training when you're back. Hope the chins good. Stage 5: enjoy mate. Stellar :) x
01 May 2018 11:37 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Today the desert bit back hard. We had a 30km section running along the beach which was beautiful if only we didn
Comments: Total (16) comments
Danny Mac
Posted On: 03 May 2018 11:48 am
Let the good times roll, the big one is done. Massive effort i know to do that distance, well done Matty. Smell the beer ! Its near my man and you deserve it, two stages to go relax and enjoy. KES
James Miles
Posted On: 03 May 2018 08:33 am
Hey Burkes :) This is awesome :) You're doing great :) Got me thinking I want to do some of this :) Loving the updates and thinking of you :) Enjoy!!! ;) x (any video? :))
Tim Robinson
Posted On: 03 May 2018 08:17 am
A great challenge, keep going. i can see why you needed to drop the fantasy football now! start planning your team for next year while you are on the next leg!
Marc Davies
Posted On: 03 May 2018 03:36 am
Well well - you appear to be nailing this again Tom foolery again!
Seriously impressive and good luck with the remainder of the challenge.
The sights and sounds mist be superb - bat on
Simon Read
Posted On: 02 May 2018 09:49 pm
Hey buddy, keep it rolling, great job, inspired!! Good luck for the long march!!
Jessica Boutefeu
Posted On: 02 May 2018 08:52 pm
Hey Mattie!
Uau I’m so unbelievably impressed that you are carrying on even though there are lions around!!! How exciting would it be to see them... well done for achieving this far. I have no doubt you will make it through and such a role model to us all.
Most important have fun cousin!! Love Jess xx
Tim Gentle
Posted On: 02 May 2018 07:20 pm
Love it - a "pack of Lions" are close by... make sure you're not the slowest if they turn up. And yes... "where the mind goes energy flows" so get that head right... but hey, who am I to tell you that. Keep punching... and tell that sand who's boss! TG
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 02 May 2018 04:21 pm
Thinking of you tonight beating the beast. You should be so proud - remember process vs outcome! And good news, you reached your fundraising target, hopefully can keep raising more, love you and thinking of you out there xxx babies are great :)
Ross ND
Posted On: 02 May 2018 03:58 pm
Good work Burkey - doing well. Keep on trucking mate and look after yourself! if those lion come for you just remember the old adage, you don't have to out run the lion, just the bloke next to you. Good luck sunshine! xx
Victor P.
Posted On: 02 May 2018 11:25 am
Good luck! Thinking of you and your extraordinary grit!
Hugs - Victor & Susie
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 02 May 2018 10:44 am
Bright side you get two more hours rest! All the family right behind you and stop all this talk of demons. They’re all in your head (says she who must be obeyed from the comfort of her armchair!) there’s tons of seriously big wild life in that area so don’t look in but out. Sounds like a place to go back to one day with Sally and the kids. Hugs xxx
Chris Kiernan
Posted On: 02 May 2018 09:25 am
Hey mate,
Hope all is as well as it possibly can be (in view of 80kms tomorrow!).
Glad to hear you're holding up well first few stages - it sounds like a surreal and amazing landscape.
Summon the inner tourist and crack on pal.
Look forward to next report.
CK
Chris Kiernan
Posted On: 02 May 2018 09:24 am
Hey mate,
Hope all is as well as it possibly can be (in view of 80kms tomorrow!).
Glad to hear you're holding up well first few stages - it sounds like a surreal and amazing landscape.
Summon the inner tourist and crack on pal.
Look forward to next report.
CK
Tim Cairns
Posted On: 02 May 2018 04:48 am
Smashing it Burkey! Outstanding effort again. You should get the Skeleton coast big game zombie chaser app out for the long march. That’ll get you into the top 10 for shizzle! Anyway. Enjoy mate. Looks awesome!
Rich Legallez
Posted On: 02 May 2018 04:31 am
Shrek takes lions ! Get the long march done fella this is your day to shine.
Richard Kelly
Posted On: 02 May 2018 01:53 am
Outstanding work big man. It sounds like an incredible experience laced with severe chaffing! Good luck with the long march, the local wildlife and the sand.....finish line almost in sight!!!!!!
30 April 2018 11:41 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
That was a fun day! Absolute polar opposite to stage 1. Felt like I had a fair amount in the tank so I pushed on hard and legs kept on going which was nice. Probably the best I
Comments: Total (10) comments
Nick Burke
Posted On: 01 May 2018 06:25 pm
Well done Matt----just think of us here in the UK with gale force winds and freezing to death in May!! Very proud of you also Sally well done --those children have some awesome role models to live up too. Dad x
Nico Stanford
Posted On: 01 May 2018 04:13 pm
Yes Burkey, great to hear day 2 was so easy!! Makes me keen to to the next one with you...
I’m assuming & hoping that Sally will never let you do this again, of course.
Charlie Burke
Posted On: 01 May 2018 02:14 pm
So proud of you big brother! Glad you managed to find your running legs again and vet jealous of the scenery (if not so much the running). Glad you've got a good bunch of other crazy people doing this, and it seems some of that sage stage 2 advice had helped! Keep plodding along and take everything in! Wishing the best of luck from old Blighty Cx
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 01 May 2018 10:39 am
Sounds as if you’ve got it sorted Mattie. Running along the skeleton coast by the ocean should be amazing and you can get your salt high from the sea! What with you running the desert and Sally storming through the ocean waves I do wonder what Jack and Summer will end up doing. Something airborne I reckon. Congrats to Sally for her swim. Keep them legs pumping Mattie and by the time you read this you’ll have finished the next stage. Brilliant. Hugs from me and JC too. Xxx
Andrew Bannister
Posted On: 01 May 2018 07:56 am
Yes Naked ape. This is better. I managed to get a refund on my ticket to Nambia as I thought I was going to have to come and forklift you over the dunes. Beating the lows and feeling the highs - you're now equipped to push for that top 10 in Stage 3. YOU'VE GOT THIS BURKEY. We're cheering you on back in Blighty. And Im drinking your weekly quota of beer. And fags. And wine. Cos I care.
Ban X
PAUL Taylor
Posted On: 01 May 2018 06:15 am
Nice work on day 2 Burkster, 15th overall now. Keep pressing hard, you might as well as there’s nothing else to do! It means getting into camp earlier too which is always grand.
Looking forward to seeing you sub-4 hours next, smash it!
Scott Morson
Posted On: 01 May 2018 05:29 am
Burkey, glad to hear you had a better day 2, you obviously decided to get the shit day out the way at the start! Keep up the great work mate and don’t listen to the demons.
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 01 May 2018 03:30 am
So so so so thrilled to hear you’re doing so well!! Nearly cried reading your stage 2 blog, haha. Sounds like you’re having an amazing time, and settling into your groove. Stage 3 will be stunning so use the vista to keep you going. Summer and jack definitely missing their daddy, but we are fine so just keep running and put this beast to bed. PS. 1st in my 5km ocean swim today - as the cramps kicked in I thought ‘come on sal’ this is nothing compared to matt. Thanks for the inspiration babe. Love you!
Tom Hayman
Posted On: 01 May 2018 03:03 am
Mate what an amazing effort, sounds like you are having a brilliant time, keep running forest!!
Thinking of you mate
Love The Hayman’s
X
Rich Legs
Posted On: 01 May 2018 02:11 am
Since you have been gone , I've moved in , adopted your kids , married Sal , we are having another child , I've eaten you crisp stash and I've drunk your hidden beers. Sal is way happier and the kids call me Dad. ( Don't tell Jen) , Best get your skates on lad!
Great work so far buddy , cracking stage 2 time , keep pushing , everyone in HK is routing for you. You are doing a 'GRAND' job.
RLG
29 April 2018 10:06 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Today
Comments: Total (4) comments
Danny Mac
Posted On: 01 May 2018 01:03 am
Matty, great stage 2. Finding the rhythm and am sure you will be going upwards through the rankings from now on - no pressure :) but i am expecting a top ten finish. Enjoy my friend, we are keeping a close eye on your progress so our thoughts are with you. Kes & Karen
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 30 Apr 2018 08:55 pm
Well one down so just a few more to go Mattie. Running on sand is so tough on the muscles but just keep focusing on all the good things waiting for you at the end of the day. I’m a bit behind as by now you’ll have finished Day 2 but it’s hard for my old brain to keep up even though it seems you’re only an hour ahead of me in Portugal. Keep on rolling and remember you can do it. Love and hugs xxx
Andrew Bannister
Posted On: 30 Apr 2018 12:09 pm
Yes Matty. Dig in you hear me. DIG IN. You show those cramps whose boss. And stop being such a pussy. Sounds like you've had it all in stage 1 - hopefully you can get your head around it all today on stage 2 and get your salty snack intake right. Friggin hate cramp. Better be Walkers Salt and Vinegar you're eating. Other's brands simply can't be trusted to balance the delicate flavours with a beer. but probably ultra-marathons too.
Keep us updated. Keep your head up. Leave the goats alone.
GO THE NAKED APE.
B
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 30 Apr 2018 07:36 am
Huge congrats babe, pushed through the demons well and truly. You did an amazing job for stage 1, especially considering a few teething issues. So hold your head high and before you know you’ll have your legs in the cool Atlantic sea...good luck today Matty, can’t wait for next update xx
28 April 2018 11:53 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Hello all! We made it to the start line today around 4pm. If I had one word to describe this campsite then it would
Comments: Total (4) comments
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 29 Apr 2018 04:56 pm
Hi Babe, hope you’re feeling good after day 1! I saw you finished which is awesome and of course you did. Rest now, recover and ready yourself for tomorrow to repeat. Babies are fine, great swimming today at HKFC and LRC xxx ps. You could try pinching snorers nose like I do to you ;)
Nico Stanford
Posted On: 29 Apr 2018 12:44 pm
Yup, try to blame the snoring on someone else in the tent. Classic Butcher!
Emma Hancock
Posted On: 29 Apr 2018 12:19 pm
Darling HK FBC HUbby Matt, what a trooper you are. Such an adventurous man! Thinking of you during this amazing challenge. Well done for keeping on, you have never wavered from what you always wanted. A true inspiration. Emma xx
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 29 Apr 2018 10:48 am
Maybe you could fix a sail to your head and let the wind pull you along. Enjoy tomorrow’s run Mattie. xxx
11 April 2018 06:10 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi
Well we are almost there. I am so bored and over training. Fairly certin i'm not as fit as before Gobi race in 2016 but a couple more runs should do me right for the race. Still deciding on what food to pack. Last time breakfasts were the real bugger as I couldn't eat the freeze dried oat meal. The lunch and dinners were great though, and suprisingly quite enjoayble!
Legs and body feeling good so far. Just a case now of tapering off and waiting for race day. Getting quite exctied to see Namibia!
Comments: Total (5) comments
Jessica Boutefeu
Posted On: 28 Apr 2018 11:57 am
Good luck Mattie!!!!!! Xxx
A Rocha International
Posted On: 27 Apr 2018 05:22 pm
Matt, thank you for running for A Rocha, and for plastic-free oceans! The A Rocha family and supporters are cheering you on. You're amazing! Please support Matt's cause - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matt-burke4
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 25 Apr 2018 10:59 am
You’re ready Matty, have an amazing time!!! Xx
Vanessa the Aunt Boutefeu
Posted On: 20 Apr 2018 12:40 pm
Almost there Mattie! I'll be following you like last time but thought I'd check out the Blog now just to see if all working. A great friend of mine went trekking in Namíbia last year and says it's just STUNNING! love and hugs
Sam F
Posted On: 11 Apr 2018 06:23 am
Have you considered noodles for breakfast??!!!
Not long now to keep training and then you'll be out in the Namib!
Comments: Total (9) comments
Tom Hayman
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 06:31 am
Vanessa Boutefeu
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 06:31 am
Nico Stanford
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am
Alex Moran
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am
Danny Mac
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am
A Rocha International
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am
Steve and jenya Mcguigan
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am
Sally Gentle
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am
Nick Burke
Posted On: 26 Jul 2018 05:36 am