Sahara run stretches limits

MELANIE VERRAN

Running 250 kilometres through the sweltering Sahara desert while loaded up with gear is no easy feat.

But it's not quite enough of a challenge for Richard Bray.

The 28-year-old Kiwi now living in London also plans to raise 5000 for a charity that supports underprivileged kids in Kenya.

His mum Yvonne, a Meadowbank resident, is driving the fundraising efforts back home.

Mr Bray is right into training for the extreme event that's listed in the world's top 10 endurance competitions.

His training is split into three parts – strength work, long distance running, and acclimatisation.

His strength work includes running around a rugby field carrying a full office water cooler in each arm and throwing tractor tyres around with his mates.

To acclimatise, he's taken up bikram yoga, which is basically yoga in a sauna.

"I've actually got to start running in sweat gear. I'll be wearing a ski jacket in summer – it's going to be quite strange to see."

The director of sales says the more he found himself office bound at work "the more I wanted to be outside and start pushing myself".

He took part in a 100km team trailwalker event last year and the Paris marathon this year, but the Sahara desert race in October is by far his toughest event yet.

"It's a different event, that's for sure. A lot of people give me pretty strange looks when I tell them what I'm doing.

"It literally is one of those things where you'll look back and think: `I'm really pleased I did that because there's not much harder than that'."

He's one of about 166 competitors from around the world who will take part in the six-day race in Egypt.

Entrants have to carry all their food for the week and water rations for each section of the course.

As gruelling as it sounds, he says he's looking forward to it.

"I'm looking forward to the adventure, not just the race.

"You run to an oasis in the middle of the desert. You actually finish at the pyramids of Giza."

He's also focused on his fundraising efforts for the charity EnKI – a small group set up by Mr Bray's friend to improve access to education for underprivileged children in rural areas of Kenya.

A committee member of EnKI, Mr Bray hopes to visit the country next year and see firsthand the improvements he's helped to make.

The charity has helped many schools build classrooms and supplied them with furniture and other equipment.

One girl – from having to drink salty lake water – had bones so brittle she was unable to walk the distance to school.

She was given a wheelchair, enabling her to attend classes.

Fundraising is in full swing in both hemispheres, and with the help of his mum, Mr Bray has already received 500 in sponsorship from New Zealand company Mobico.

The Sahara desert race is part of the Four Deserts ultramarathon, also known as RacingThePlanet.

For more information or to support his fundraising cause go to http://zebrayontherun.wordpress.com/.

- © Fairfax NZ News