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Friday, 15 August 2008 |
 When I run in nature my mind wanders. Sometimes I have clear thoughts with determined focus. Other times I cannot recall my thoughts of the past hour. Those meditative states are when I feel as though I could run all day without pain. It’s as though I am weightless and floating. These are the moments I feel like an animal; wild and free and at one with my earth. When people think I’m crazy doing what I’m doing, I think it’s the only way. It’s crazy to live in the cities the way we do. Always rushing, never still. Here, running around my country, I am free and making a significant difference in the lives of others. I am living life to the fullest.
 This past week has been a hard one. Particularly the last three days. Very sore toes and aching muscles have become a part of my daily life. After rounding Cape Agulas, the most southern point of Africa, we were escorted through the missile testing site just outside Arniston into the De Hoop nature reserve. We were granted special permission from Cape Nature to do the fully-booked Whale Trail. This is a five day trail but we needed to push through in one day as all the huts were fully booked. Starting early, we completed the incredibly undulating trail in ten hours. Sighting in excess of 100 whales was exhilarating. To witness these incredible cetaceans, relaxing in shallow water after swimming thousands of kilometers to the warm southern Cape oceans to calf, was a humbling experience.
 The next day saw us doing a lot of ‘bundu-bashing’ through thick coastal thorn veld as gravel roads faded into paths which faded into bush which, after 45kms, became a road where, thankfully, we found our support crew!
With rain forecast for Friday, we opted to push on through rest-day (usually Thursday) and rest on the rainy day instead. That meant a seven day running week. Thursday was also a long day of just over 45kms with a paddle across the Gouritz River mouth thrown in.
Great motivators need great motivation. This came to me with the special news that the Operation Smile mission was confirmed in Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape for the 24th August! If all goes according to plan, over 70 children will receive surgery and the gift of a new face, a fresh smile and indeed, a new life!
My pain is only temporary. The pain in a child’s heart that is ostracized, feels ugly and doesn’t get an education is permanent. It is with this knowledge that I run into my next week and the half-way mark, blisters and all.
Please make a pledge and help our journey count
If you would like to comment or make contact you can reach me on
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Warm regards,
Braam (Wild Child)
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Friday, 08 August 2008 |
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The nervous tension preceding any expedition is part of the journey. I remember thinking, “have I trained enough?” or, “will my knee hold out?” These thoughts tend to creep in when I am most vulnerable, like when I wake at 3 in the morning or after a hard training session. But they are just that – thoughts. So, the trick is to change the negative thought to a positive one. More importantly, to believe ‘in’ myself. That means I must trust my intuition. Easy to say but not so easy to do! After my first week of running I experienced severe pain in my right hip. This was an injury I had not experienced before. I had inflammation and needed a cortisone injection into the hip. This only provided moderate relief. After enduring the pain and swelling for over a month now the hip appears to be healing, or am I healing it? I believe that a great deal of what happens to my body mechanically comes from non-alignment in other areas; even mentally and emotionally. It is difficult not to worry about reaching my goal when my body hurts. Difficult, but not impossible! And that gives me hope. I heal one day at a time. I reach 3000kms by running 42kms one day at a time.
  Being optimistic is not always easy. I talk a lot about the natural beauty around me as I journey our coast line but there is a lot of pain. I see seals with bullet holes in them, vehicle tracks along the Oyster Catcher’s breeding line, a sea gull with its legs trapped together with fishing line, countless dead steenbokkies and I see the ocean being raped by poachers.
I have walked into a gang of perlemoen poachers and been powerless to do anything. Being helpless to the plight of the planet is something I cannot accept but I ask myself, “What can I do?” Perhaps, even in writing this, I am creating an awareness that makes a difference in your life that ultimately spills over into many lives until a critical mass is reached and there is zero tolerance for anyone who harms our planet? We are, after all, custodians of our planet and custodians should be responsible.
So tomorrow, I will focus on the day and look for the beauty in it, and I will find it. Please share this journey with me in helping create a sustainable Earth.
If you would like to comment or ask questions please feel free to email me at
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Warm regards,
Braam (Wild Child)
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Monday, 04 August 2008 |
When we align ourselves with like-minded individual’s energy is created which somehow links us to a common goal. Whether positive or negative, the same principal applies. If we moan about our situation and others agree and empathize, negativity will ferment and grow. I will not allow that infection near me. When someone is positive, even in the face of tragedy or fear, others are inspired. This is what evolves us.
In my journey I have been fortunate to have so many special people support me in ways that, without them, I would not have come this far. I have mentioned my 2nd, John, in an earlier blog and how, without his support, I would have been in a pickle. I want to single out other special people by dedicating a chapter in each of my future blogs. There will be no specific order but rather just as feelings arise. I believe it is important to acknowledge those who have made a difference in our lives. We are quick to blame and a little slow to compliment.
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Well, here I am, sitting in the comfort of my home on Signal Hill in Cape Town on rest day. A lot goes through my mind. I have run over 900kms. We have reached Cape Point and begin our journey south to Agulhas before heading north towards Mozambique. With the West coast behind me I reminisce on events and ponder the journey ahead. Apart from losing 3 toe nails and a cortisone injection into my hip, I am strong and very grateful to my Maker.
 The week behind was interesting. I called a friend and got the number of Colonel Barry Visser from 4 Special Forces Battalion in Langebaan. After meeting with him we were granted special permission to cross Langebaan lagoon from Marcus Island, the northern point, to the Special Forces base at Donker Gat on the southern point. We were escorted across by a Barracuda (an extremely fast and robust strike craft). From the base we ran through the beautiful and unique Strand Veld of the West Coast National Park. I counted no less than 20 Angulate tortoises along the road.
At Koeberg power station we were greeted by a few top athletes. Amongst them were Vladimir Kotov and Favoor Mentoor. We ran sub 5 minute k’s for the last 7 kilometers into Melkbos Strand!
 The following day we were met by a large group of children, Elana Meyer and well known radio DJ’s who walked along the Sea Point promenade in a celebration of hope and joy for South Africa. Seeing the optimism in the children, listening to their laughter and their dreams is what inspires me to keep going and to bring the gift of many smiles to many children.
… And on we go.
Wild Child
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 |
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A dream is born in an individual but reaching the dream usually incorporates the collective energy of a synergistic team. Our coastal challenge is no exception. Without the input and skill of each individual in our team, David and I would be like a ship without a rudder – a great machine full of energy but moving nowhere slowly.
I pay tribute to my team –allies in our mission and new friends.
Geoffrey (Lunga) - our computer ‘geek’ with his dry, often over-the-top sense of humour; Stephen - quiet, contemplative, always lending a hand and ensuring a smooth ride; Geoff - logical, friendly and an eternal diplomat with a quiet naughty streak, ensuring the way ahead is carefully planned.
 And then there is John!
On our departure from Cape Town we all met in Table View at 8am en route to Namibia. One of our team member’s had had an accident and we needed a back-up. Geoff said he had a friend who he thought might be keen for an adventure. His friend was called John. John informed his wife that he would be going away for a while. When asked ‘how long?’ he answered, ‘about 3 months.’ His very understanding wife helped him pack and he joined us on the beach at Big Bay an hour later! John was to be on the team as my 2nd. We didn’t know each other from a bar of soap, although he informed me that I had removed two puff-adders from his property in Clifton a year or so ago.
Well, almost a month has gone by, I have run well over 600kms and John and I have shared real stories together. He is an impressive man in his openness and honesty. He is on his own journey in search of his dreams. I am indebted to him and thank him sincerely for being such an invaluable support system to me and for having the courage to be so real.
Thank you John, for being my friend.
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On Monday we run into Cape Town leaving the ‘Wes Kus’ behind us. I can hardly believe I am home for a night before heading around Cape Point to Agulhas and then on up the East Coast! The ‘smile’ is taking shape. I feel so proud to be a South African as I experience this beautiful country so intimately.
Warm regards,
Wild Child
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