Greetings from the Plancius (for the final time!)

It is Tuesday morning (11h00 local time) and our last day on the ship. We are fast approaching the islands at the southern tip of South America.

We left Deception Island / Antarctica immediately after the completion of the final stage of the Last Desert Race on Saturday afternoon to start the long journey back to Ushuaia. We were informed about changing weather conditions in the Drake Channel the night before the final stage and that we would have to leave the area by 15h00 on Saturday afternoon in order to avoid the storm moving from west to east across the channel, and get back to Ushuaia on time by Tuesday morning.

We had quite a celebration after the race on Saturday evening while the weather was still fairly ok. However, yesterday it was

Greetings from the Plancius

The Last Desert Race 2014 is something of the past. We returned to Deception Island (venue of stage 1), although in a different location for the 5th and final stage, due to extreme weather conditions in the Antarctic. We had to run a 2.8 km course for just over 4 hours and I was on fire today! We had to run through soft snow and strong winds throughout the stage, but it was most probably my best desert race stage ever and I completed 10 laps for a 6th or 7th position on the day and a 15th position overall for the race. Fantastic day, very emotional, and very grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this race.

Antarctica is unique and beautiful in so many ways, and I will treasure this experience forever.

Thank you for all the support before and during the race. Thank you to my family for giving me the time and opportunity to prepare and participate in this race. Thank you to GNC, Colombia Sportswear and Enerlogy for supporting my participation in the race. And finally, thank you to Greenpeace Africa for giving me the opportunity to support your great work through my participation in this race. I hope to continue supporting the work of Greenpeace Africa with my future desert running adventures.

Having done the Sahara Race, Gobi March and Antarctica races, I now only need to complete the Atacama Crossing in Chile to join the 4 Deserts Club – see you in October 2015 (just don’t tell my wife or boss!).

Running in Antarctica has been an amazing experience, and I look forward to sharing my stories with friends and colleagues in the next few weeks.

Please continue supporting my fundraising campaign for a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project in Diepsloot – www.greenpeace.org/africa - and encourage others to do the same.

Signing off from Antarctica. See you back in sunny South Africa.

Best wishes
David

PS. Dalene, Armand and Anroux – miss you lots, see you soon!!!

Greetings from the Plancius

It is Friday evening (21h00) on the Plancius.

Today (Stage 4) was supposed to go on for at least 12 hours, but we did not even make it off the ship. Very strong winds and high swells made it impossible to get us to and from the ship safely, and the stage was cancelled as a result. This is Antarctica at its unpredictable best – from a stunning no wind day on Thursday to 40+ knots of wind today. It is unfortunate that we couldn’t run today, but that is the way it is in these conditions. The captain kept on trying to find a safe location but the weather was just too challenging. It is still very rough outside which could impact on tomorrow’s fifth and last stage.

The change in weather conditions also had an unfortunate impact of my health and well-being – back to bad sea sickness for most of the day. It is not a pleasant feeling and I hope to be ok tomorrow if the weather allows for some running. Having lost a full day of running today, tomorrow will most probably a very long day, weather permitting.

Thank you again for all the email and blog messages. Much appreciated.

Finally, please support my fundraising efforts for a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project in Diepsloot, and encourage others to do the same – www.greenpeace.org/africa.

Until tomorrow.

Best wishes

David

Greetings from the Plancius

Another stunning day in paradise, but also another tough stage.

Stage 3 was held on Danku Island - a 4km switchback course set against a hill which we had to run for 6 hours. I completed 7 laps and maintained my 17th position overall. It was tough going for most of the stage but at least the snow compacted after a few laps and we could do some running. Still it was hard work and I burned a lot of calories today. It was also our warmest day so far and I could run / walk without my gloves and beanie for most of the day. Struggling to run with the snow goggles over my glasses as both just steam up especially when we go uphill.

We were again close to a big penguin colony and saw an avalanche across the bay during the stage. Incredible site when the ice starts sliding down a mountain and plunges into the ocean.

Following the stage we had an opportunity to go on an ice berg sightseeing trip in the zodiacs. Just amazing to see these mountains of ice from up close. Most have a beautiful blue tint and the water is crystal clear. We again saw many penguins and also a few seals. No whales so far.

Two more stages to go and both will most probably be long in order to complete as many km as possible.

My body is still feeling good and with no blisters or injuries I'm still in good shape.

Thank you for all the email and blog messages. I hope you are seeing some good photos on the race website.

Please continue to support my fundraising campaign for a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project in Diepsloot - www.Greenpeace.org/Africa. All contributions will be much appreciated.

Until tomorrow.

Best wishes

David

PS. Anroux - die pikkewyne se hallo!!!

Greetings from the Plancius

The second stage is over and it was a beast.

We had a to run 2.2km course

Day 1 is done and dusted. Today

Hallo everyone

It

Hallo everyone

We are in the middle of the Drake Passage, almost a third of the way to Antarctica. The sea is rough with huge swells. Walking, eating, sleeping, etc. are a challenge. Fortunately, my sea sickness pills are working and so far I

Saturday, 1 November 2014

Greetings from Ushuaia

The big day has finally arrived. The countdown to Antarctica is over.

In a few hours our ship departs for Antarctica and on Tuesday, 4 November 2014, I will start running the Last Desert Race, a grueling 250km footrace through the snow and cold of Antarctica.

If you are still wondering why am I doing this, let me remind you.

It is not only about the personal challenge associated with finishing this race, but to raise awareness about critical issues which impact all of us.

I am fundraising R250 000 that will go towards a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project in Diepsloot, a township north of Johannesburg. The project will create a sense of community safety and empower people living in an area without electricity.



There is a bigger story behind behind all of this.

I am running this race to represent communities like Witbank, Mpumalanga, that have the world’s dirtiest air; children like Ntokozo who have become vulnerable to this dirty air; parents like Hannelie whose son is in and out of the hospital due to health problems, and I am especially running this race for you.

I’d like to open your eyes to the reality and dangers associated with coal power. According to Greenpeace’s research, air pollution from Eskom’s coal-fired power plants is currently causing an estimated 2,200 premature deaths a year in South Africa. This includes approximately 200 deaths of young children every year.

I am therefore advocating for use of renewable energy, specifically solar which South Africa has an abundance of. Stand with me and let’s do more than talk about the problem, let’s be active in finding solutions.

Please support my cause, make a donation and join the energy revolution now.

Time to go see the penguins!

David

NB. To follow my progress during the race, click here for all the links and information.

Friday, 31 October 2014

Greetings from Ushuaia

The expedition ship, Plancius, our home for the Last Desert Race, departs from Ushuaia on Saturday afternoon (1 November 2014) to start the crossing of the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula.

The sixth edition of the Last Desert Race – 250km over 5 days – will be held from 4-8 November 2014 at various locations in Antarctica.

A total of 69 competitors representing 27 countries will participate in the race.

Communication and updates from the race are weather depending, but the following links will keep you informed about my progress:

Last Desert Race website

Sign up for “breaking news” updates

Read my daily blogs from Antarctica – before and during the race

Race organisers’ summary of each stage

The Greenpeace Africa media team will also post updates about the race on their various online and social media platforms:

Greenpeace Africa website

Greenpeace Africa on Twitter

Greenpeace Africa on Facebook

Remember to support my fundraising campaign – the target is R250 000 / US$25 000 – for a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg.

Please make a donation and encourage others to do the same.

I hope you enjoy the updates from Antarctica!!!

The countdown to Antarctica continues…

Wednesday, 29 October & Thursday, 30 October 2014

Greetings from Ushuaia

I am finally in Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina. It was long trip from San Francisco via Houston and Buenos Aires, including an unscheduled stop-over in Montevideo due to bad weather conditions in Buenos Aires.

The ship to Antarctica departs on Saturday morning and I therefore have a few days to explore Ushuaia and get acclimatized.

Ushuaia is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and we had light snow fall for most of Thursday. It is a beautiful setting, and obviously a total different experience for someone from sunny South Africa.

Ryan Hill, a fellow Antarctica runner and friend from the Sahara and Gobi desert races, and I are staying at the same guesthouse and we went for an 8km run this afternoon. It was a first opportunity to test my running gear and experience running in the cold. It was good to stretch the legs after the long flights of the previous day and see a bit of Ushuaia.

I felt fairly comfortable running in the many layers of clothing required for these conditions. But the weather changes very quickly – from sunny to cloudy to snowy – and when the wind blows there is definitely a sudden change in temperature. Running in Antarctica will be an interesting experience to say the least!

Ryan and I are planning to go run in the mountains on Friday morning and the scenery will no doubt be spectacular.

The countdown to Antarctica continues…

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I’m excited about the race in Antarctica and the challenge of raising R250 000 for a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project, and encourage you to support my efforts and the work of Greenpeace Africa!

Please make a donation and encourage others to do the same.

“Together we can make a difference!”

Follow updates about my preparations for The Last Desert Race, and work with Greenpeace Africa, on Facebook and Twitter, my daily blog, and via Greenpeace Africa’s  various online platforms.

Monday, 27 October 2014

Greetings from San Francisco

This is my final blog post from San Francisco before flying to Ushuaia in Argentina later today.

I really enjoyed my time in San Francisco – productive meetings, good weather, a few nice training runs and last but not least, attending the Game 5 of the baseball World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. These are all great memories as I reflect on my planning, preparations and travels of the last six months as part of the countdown to the Last Desert Race in Antarctica.

Time really flies – from 200 days to go on 15 April 2014, to 100 days to go on 24 July 2014, and now only five days to go before the ship for Antarctica departs on 1 November 2014. It has been an incredible journey to date and the next two weeks will no doubt be an amazing experience.

I really look forward to running in the snow – a first for me – and enjoying the unique beauty of Antarctica.

But going to Antarctica is ultimately not just about running in the snow, but using this experience to raise money and support for a very important cause – a Greenpeace Africa solar street lighting project in Diepsloot, a township north of Johannesburg.

Participating in the Last Desert Race is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity, and also one to leverage in support of a great organisation such as Greenpeace Africa and its work across Africa.

The solar street lighting project will make a significant contribution to community safety in Diepsloot and enhance people’s overall quality of life.

We have set a fundraising target of R250 000 for the project linked to my participation in the Last Desert Race and hope that with the support of friends and many others we will reach it by the end of the campaign on 2 December 2014.

With your support, we can make this happen!

Just visit http://www.givengain.com/activist/55367/projects/8594/ to make a donation.

The countdown to Antarctica continues…

(This blog was first published on Desert 2 Desert

(This blog was first published on Desert 2 Desert

(This blog was first published on Desert 2 Desert