TRAIL RUNNING
There were plenty of river crossings along the way
Hands on knees as another climb is negotiated the challenge from a different angle . “ Looking at it as 1100 kilometres was daunting , and mentally overwhelming ,” he says . “ Even a daily target of 100 kilometres seemed like a lot , so for us , it was about breaking down the adventure into bite-size chunks . It was about running 10 kilometres at a time . That ’ s the way to stay focused and not feel like it ’ s overwhelming . Also , we ’ ve been on enough crazy adventures together to know that key to these adventures is ultimately trust and respect – something that Ryno and I truly have in each other . I wouldn ’ t want to have achieved this with anyone else .”
Nevertheless , Ryan concedes that the challenge was physically gruelling and mentally taxing , not only due to the distance and changes in elevation , but also due to the wild terrain , unpredictable weather and other local challenges , including watching out for the packs of wild dogs that roam the mountains . “ I ’ ve been lucky enough to run on all seven continents , exploring mountains and jungles , and what ’ s appealing about these trail journeys is how they constantly evolve . The weather changes . The environment changes . It provides you with a new challenge to tackle every day , and that ’ s what I was looking forward to experiencing in Lesotho ,” he says .
When asked what motivates him to take on more ultra-trail routes after 15 years of racing at the top level and tackling increasingly difficult FKT challenges , Ryan says that ultra-running has become a way of life for him , and that he ’ ll continue to do it for as long as he feels passionate about it . “ It makes you feel alive . It combines both physical and mental aspects , forcing me to adapt and evolve to the changes . More importantly , it challenges me as an athlete and a person . I enjoy pushing the limits with epic adventures and experiences , which make me feel like I ’ m living life to the fullest , and all those curveballs make for some incredible memories that I ’ ll hold onto forever . These will be the stories I will share with my grandkids one day ,” he concludes .
To read more about ultra-trail runners Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griesel ’ s most ambitious expedition yet , go to www . redbull . com / za-en / projects / navigate-lesotho . We will publish a follow-up article in an upcoming edition once Ryan and Ryno complete the challenge .
Nothing beats a cold one at the finish
Meet the # NavigateLesotho Team
Ryan Sandes ( left ) and Ryno Griesel
Ryno Griesel is a qualified chartered accountant , registered independent auditor and tax practitioner , and he has started and developed various businesses and served as executive and non-executive directors on various boards . In addition , Ryno is an elite endurance athlete who has competed at a high level in adventure racing , cycling , mountain biking , road running , orienteering , paddling , rock climbing and mountaineering .
His many accolades include various top five finishes on the AR World Series , as well as a second-place finish , with Nicholas Mulder , in the 2010 Rogaine World Champs in New Zealand , and fifth place in the 2012 World Champs in the Czech Republic . However , expedition trail running is where he has really made his name , where Ryno ’ s analytical skills and attention to detail , thanks to his accounting background , are crucial in the planning stages , and he is the chief route planner and navigator whenever he and Ryan run together .
Ryan Sandes is South Africa ’ s most decorated trail runner . He is the first person to have won all of the 250km 4 Deserts races , taking line honours in both the Gobi Desert and Sahara Desert races in 2008 , followed by the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2009 and the Last Desert event in Antarctica at the end of 2010 . He then focused on one-day ultras , winning many races around the world , including the Western States 100-miler ( USA ), TransGran- Canaria in the Canary Islands , Hong Kong 100km , Racing the Planet Madagascar and the North Face 100 in Australia . He was also the first athlete to win an ultra-trail race on all seven continents .
In recent years he has once again turned his focus to expedition running , and with running partner Ryno Griesel set FKTs for the Drakensberg Traverse and Great Himalaya Trail . During the pandemic-enforced hard lockdown in 2020 , Ryan ran 100 miles around his house in Hout Bay , but since 2021 has returned to racing and long-distance FKT projects .
Images : Craig Kolesky / Red Bull Content Pool
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