Conquering the vast cold

Imagine running a marathon in a snow white landscape, ice crunching under your shoes, your face numb from the cold, knowing there is a possibility of running into a polar bear.

This is what 73-year-old Dolphin Coast Striders runner, Harry Botha is looking forward to when he leaves Ballito to join 44 other runners for what National Geographic called “the most extreme race”: the North Pole Marathon.

The passionate runner had a taste of what running in the snow is like when he completed the world’s highest marathon last year, which started at the Mount Everest base camp.

Botha has completed a marathon on each of the seven continents, including the South Pole and now the North Pole.

“There are less than 60 people in the world who have done this and it is quite exciting to be part of it,” said the pensioner, who only started running to keep fit and thin when he retired at age 65.

Once he has completed the race, he will be the oldest person to have run a marathon at the poles.

The determined runner started intensive training 25 weeks ago, recording every run and going for health checks on a regular basis to keep fit and to prevent injuries.

“I am just an average runner, but I never give up,” he said.

He looks forward to being on the road at 5am, six days a week.

Botha emphasizes the importance of a good running partner.

“I so appreciate my running partners, as they make the experience much more enjoyable.”

Amanda Green Maidman deserves a special mention, as she has been a real inspiration to Botha for the past six months.

“She has never missed a training session despite inclement weather conditions, grueling speed work sessions or long weekend runs. She has patiently slowed down the pace when she saw me tiring and her constant banter has ensured that I never experienced the loneliness of the long distance runner.”

Sadly, Maidman will not be joining him, making him the only South African participant.

This marathon itself is a mammoth task logistically because of the difficult and dangerous terrain.

“Creating a 42km course is too high risk, instead there will be a 4,2km loop that will be done ten times.”

After every lap, the runners have to go into the heated tent, where their face, ears and fingers are checked for frostbite, followed by a cup of warmth and then they go out for the next lap in about -35 degrees Celsius.

He will be embarking on this icy journey on April 4 to Spitsbergen (the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago) before departing by specialist Russian cargo plane for the Arctic on April 8.

“It will be wonderful to look at my watch up there and once I am at 90 degrees, I know I will be standing on top of the world.”