A desire to push yourself to the extreme both physically and mentally is required to take on the challenging 840km Adventure Racing World Championship.
Armed with a map, compass and essentials, three East London teams Designer Gold, Pinegold and Heineken, consisting of four members each, are among 106 teams from 30 nations taking on the epic race in the Kouga region.
Lisa
Wittstock, whose husband Darryl Wittstock is the Designer Gold team captain, said the competitors have had to show incredible endurance, with the added challenge of having to battle heavy rains during the race.
“The race involves hiking, abseiling, paddling and other adventurous activities.
“It is not an easy race, if one members falls sick or gets injured, the whole team gets disqualified.
“We have had no communication with anyone in nine days, which is emotionally draining.”
Wittstock said it will be an emotional occasion for her family when her husband and his team cross the finish line.
“Though we know what they have gone through, we will be filled with pride when we see them, I cannot imagine what their bodies are going through.”
The nine-day race started last Thursday and ends on Saturday.
Neve Hayman’s parents are part of Darryl Wittstocks’ Designer Gold team.
Hayman said: “My parents are both in the same team, they took part in another race in 2019 which was organised by the same organisers of the Adventure Racing Championship, but it took place in Mauritius.
“They have done a number of expedition races, solely on their bikes and on foot.”
She said the biggest factor for them was getting distance under their belts, making sure they could handle being on their bicycles and feet for long periods.
“In early September, they took a trip to Hogsback where they did the Amatola hiking trail which is about 90km, and did it within two days,”
“We are expecting Designer Gold to arrive on Saturday morning.
“This race is as mentally challenging as it is physically.
“They had to position themselves and prepare themselves for what they will face.”
Hayman said she was starting to follow in her parents adventurous footsteps and that the family took part in local races together.
Endurance athlete Kim van Kets said she would have loved to join her daredevil husband Peter van Kets, who is part of the Heineken team.
She said: “I would have loved to join, because we always do these races together.
“They have been training the whole year, so I think they have prepared, though there are people who are new to the sport.”
The gruelling Expedition Africa Adventure Race is a multi-day endurance event that challenges teams of four to navigate through rugged African terrain using a variety of outdoor disciplines such as hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and more.
On Tuesday, the Swedish Armed Forces Adventure team crossed the finish line first at the Cape St Francis Resort, in 118 hours, 33 minutes and 26 seconds.
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