Namib Desert Run for Youth 2016

Race-Cap

This was Woodstock for runners! Amazing how 42 nationalities can all get along, support and cheer each other on to finish. And finish we did with a quick 10k run across a stretch of desert magically surrounded by giant dunes, ocean coastline, broken rock and salt flats.

I completed the 250 kilometer / 155 mile run though the Namib Desert Skeleton Coast National Park and placed in the top 36%, 79 out of the 220 competitors that started. And I came in 60th place on the double marathon day! Temperatures ranged from cold and windy 12C at night to a reported 47C in the day.

Here we saw thousand-year-old living fossils- the rare Welwitschia plant, traded with indigenous nomadic people of the desert -members of the Himba tribe, and heard biologist accounts of desert lions that can go a year without drinking water.

The 4Deserts organization really created something incredible for us competitors. In this world we have stadiums that cost millions of dollars to build, but this natural stadium is the best of all. Thank for making it happen!

Huge thanks to all of you who supported me along the way and especially those who have made financial donations to Camp Sunshine and the SF Scholarship Fund. You can still make a donation by clicking on the logo.

Life is a lot like an ultra marathon stage race. Some sections are more challenging than others, however, the journey is awe-inspiring. I hope you all will also stay motivated, fit and will follow me again!

I am already signed up for Patagonia 2017!

Be well!

MBS

Mark B. Stiles

That was an amazing run! A little over 12.5 hours running some 45 miles through purple sand dunes, giant white dunes, across salt flats, along beach cliffs, up and down giant gullies and finally along the foggy dark beach as hienas eyes reflected like glow sticks, observing the last leg to camp. I feel great finishing the stage 5 number 60 out of about 220; especially after suffering from the heat the previous two days. There are still people finishing now over 24 hours after the race started! Thanks for all the messages and encourgement! This was truely an experience for soul.

MBS

Today was really hot, again.

I am really happy to have finished this barren desert stage.

It took a lot of effort!

Thanks to the entire Racing the Planet team helping along the way.

Tomorrow is the double stage and will take us back to the coast.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and support!

And Laura, thanks for the music!

MBS

Today was a really tough day for me. After running the first two sections with reasonable times I ended up having to hike with my 30 lbs pack up the long rocky hills for three and four. Out of all the stages I ran in Gobi and here in Namibia this one stuck me good. Let

Amazing run on the beach- 26.3 miles / 42 kilometres. I really appreciate downhill skiing now! Yesterday, all I saw on the course was a snake a girl jumped over as she was passing me; today thousands of seals lined the beach applauding as we ran past. Some even raced with us in the water, surfing a good wave now and then. Great to be done with that stage! And even better to read the notes of encouragement from friends. Thanks for that! I will be thinking about you all.

MBS

Today ran over 22 miles / 37 kilometres in just over 5 hours along the windswept coast in the Skeleton National Park.

It is quite chilly and the surf is very rough. As was true with Gobi, very well organized and lots of great people from all over the world! I dedicate this entire multi stage race this week to my friend, our families

Mark Stiles

SAHARA RACE (NAMIBIA) 2016

250 Kilometer / 155 Mile Self- Supported Run

1 - 7 MAY