Not Your Typical Safari - Run a Marathon in Africa!

by Petr Kosina
Not Your Typical Safari - Run a Marathon in Africa!
Article by Muhammad Azeem Ashraf




This is not your typical safari.The pitter-patter of bare feet slapped against the paved two lane highway. The cool blanket of fog hung low in the sky. To their left were the fiercely cold waters of the south Atlantic. To their right, mountains of sand, drifting and scurrying across the highway; it was the Namib Desert.The number "041" was printed beneath the Lucky Star logo. The boy ran next to a taller girl whose stride was longer than his. Another man drifted off the two bare footed runners; he wore cross-training shoes, a hat with a small brim, sunglasses, and his nose was covered in pasty-white sunscreen.Together, the three strangers pushed and pulled each other closer to the finish line.Once I had volunteered at a track meet in the town of Tsumeb, Namibia. African's competed against the whites. The whites had shoes and starting blocks. Only some of the African's wore shoes. The advantages of one group were the disadvantage of the other, yet the races were close.A student of mine in the village had talent. The first race I saw Maria run, was on a make-shift track, around a few trees, a pile of stones, and finishing past a line drawn in the dirt. She dodged herds of goat and went around the stray cow; all without shoes.Her talents got her on the Namibian national team. She joined the Namibian team in Botswana to compete. She came home with a Bronze. She was disappointed by her performance, she knew her speed was quicker, however they made her wear shoes that slowed her down. She was much faster without shoes, sprinting across the ground in bare feet, her everyday "shoe."Today, these kids came from the far corners of their country, from the deepest of villages, to the town of Swakopmund to run a marathon. Some were lucky to have shoes, some fit, others were a size too large or too small, yet they were still worn.Annually, Etosha Fish hosts the Lucky Star Marathon between Namibia's coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Open to the public, hundreds of Namibian students flock to the event and compete against other Namibians and foreign nationals from across southern Africa, Europe, and America.It is an incredible opportunity to experience, whether you're running or casually relaxing and cheering on the athletes.I had recently read a quote simply saying "life is a marathon, not a sprint."Namibia, Africa is a place that follows this motto better than anywhere else on earth. The athletes run with passion and celebrate with ease. No hurries, no worries. Namibian students study hard in hopes of a better future, a future where one day they may be able to buy their own shoes. Winning is recognized, yet it's the travels and new journey's these young Namibians experienced that sprouted the most smiles.For many of these athletes, this was their first time visiting Swakopmund and the ocean! Their collective spirit was contagious. Our bus ride home, back to the village, was filled with joyous stories, stories that continue to be relived each and everyday.
About the Author
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