{"id":50468,"date":"2023-10-26T06:05:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T04:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/beast-bested-20231024-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T15:50:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:50:10","slug":"beast-bested-20231024-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/beast-bested-20231024-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Beast bested"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cThis beast of a 2023 Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM) was brutal, scorching, and downright insane, but it has also been a journey of friendship, and the indomitable human spirit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a remark from one of this year\u2019s KAEM finishers, Kim James from South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With athletes from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria and France, James experienced the 22nd edition of KAEM from 28 September until 8 October, with the Augrabies National Park the host once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The KAEM, an extreme ultra-trail marathon, covers 250 km of terrain in the Augrabies National Park and surrounding areas. Known as the \u201cBig Daddy\u201d of international trail running events, it is a seven-day, six-stage, self-sufficient desert foot race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, for the first time, the KAEM Ultra, as a supported five-day race of 160 km, was also an option for athletes and was presented from 1 to 8 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distances per day for the Big Daddy range from 23 km to 76 km, while distances for the Ultra are set from 26 km to 61 km per day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marco Jaeggi from Switzerland is this year\u2019s men\u2019s winner. He completed his first Big Daddy in a total time of 27:17. His most recent previous ultra marathon was The Track of 520 km in Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second is South African Hannes van Niekerk in 29:03, and third another South African, Ronnie van der Walt, in 36:51.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey were impressive to watch as they covered the varied terrain. All gave an incredible performance and pushed themselves to their limits. The camaraderie was a sight to behold,\u201d organisers commented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carla Andr\u00e9 from Portugal is the women\u2019s winner of the Big Daddy in 38:49. According to her, it is her dream to collect memories of desert races all over the world, and that is why she entered the KAEM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In second place is South African Est\u00e9 Bezuidenhout, who completed her third KAEM in 39:48, with Andrea Jaeggi from Switzerland finishing in the third place in 41:46.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey persevered through the rocky, sandy, and technical terrain of the desert. Their drive and determination were next level, but each was out there running their own race,\u201d organisers said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 160 km KAEM Ultra, Anne Bonzoumet and Valerie Duverger, both from France, ended in first and second place, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more than two decades, organisers and returning athletes have described the KAEM as a life-changing experience. Another 2023 KAEM finisher, Jill Young, said, \u201cStrangers became friends, united by a common goal and shared hardships. The mutual support, encouragement, and shared moments of triumph created a bond that transcended language and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also commented, \u201cI carry the lessons learned during those gruelling days with me, a reminder that with determination, resilience, and a supportive community, we can conquer the seemingly impossible and emerge stronger, both mentally and physically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n