Life is a constant of dreams and challenges, many times we dream of making reality those dreams, and well, sometimes we do it. A few years ago our friend Gert Brienne dreamed of running at least one marathon in each continent, and little by little he accomplished parts of that dream and a few weeks ago the task was almost done: “Only” one remaining continent but also the most challenging: Antarctica . On March 10 th , 2009 he attempted complete this Seven Continets cycle by taking part of “2009 Antarctica Marathon” , this is the story of the process he went through until this race close to the South Pole, and a glimpse of those intense moments that Gert experienced in those remote and cold lands. Let´s enjoy the tale of this runner as he went running in the seven continents of Planet Earth.
Mario. Mesa
Editor
www.correrbien.com
Bogotá, Colombia. April 1st, 2009.
My name is Gert Brienne and I am a runner from the Netherlands. NORTH AMERICA, 2003
On January 2003 after years of inactivity I started my running career.
New York 2003. (Gert Brienne, 2003)
My goal was to just run one marathon and since I had lived in New York I wanted to run this famous marathon. Running New York was a fantastic experience but I was not really happy with my performance. I made the classic mistake of starting to fast and I lost a lot of time during the 2nd half (3 hours 54minutes).
EUROPE, 2004
So, in April 2004 I was ready to run at home in Rotterdam this time better prepared and finished in 3 hours and 33 minutes.
SETTING A CHALLENGE IN SEVEN STAGES
During my training I was reading a book "Seven Summits" about climbing the highest mountain on every Continent.
I was also traveling a lot to Kenya where I saw an advertisement for the 2nd Nairobi marathon.
This gave me the idea for running a marathon on more Continents maybe even all 7.
AFRICA, 2004
Nairobi 2004. (Gert Brienne, 2004)
Tus, in October 2004 I ran my 3rd Continent during the Nairobi marathon.
SOUTH AMERICA, 2005
The plan was to run Santiago in 2005 but my schedule changed and I was forced to change my plans.
Since I had trained to run the marathon in Chile I ran again in Rotterdam in april during the 25th edition of this marathon.
With the knowledge of 3 previous marathons and better training I improved my time to 3 hours and 5 minutes.
Buenos Aires 2005. (Gert Brienne, 2005)
The next marathon opportunity was Buenos Aires 2005. I now had another goal. I wanted to finish my 4th Continent
and also run under 3 hours. The race was beautiful, start at the Obelisk run through various parts of the scenic city and finish again at the Obelisk in a great time 2 hours 55 minutes. Wow what a great feeling that was. My wife was with me so that made it even more special.
ASIA, 2006
The next adventure was Asia. I had friends in Bangkok so that was my goal for 2006. Start of this race is at 2 different times..
Bangkok 2006. (Gert Brienne, 2006)
The slow runners (4 hours plus) start at 02:00 am and the rest at 03:30 am. But even with such an early start it was hot (26C at the start)
and very humid. I had done some training in the heat in Miami but still it was tough. During the race at the aid stations they had very cold water with ice cubes.
I took out the ice but the water was still cold but I had to drink. During the last part of the race I got side stitches (cold water?) and I slowed down, finished my 5th continent in 3 hours and 8 minutes.
Miami 2007. (Gert Brienne, 2007)
I often travel to Miami and I happened to be there at the right time for the marathon so in January 2007 with again hot and humid conditions I ran a strong race. I finished 29th overall and 2nd in my division in a time of 3 hours and 11 seconds. If it would have been a cool less humid day maybe I could have run a PB.
AUSTRALIA, 2007
In 2007 finished my 6th Continent, Melbourne Australia in a new PB 2 hours and 53 minutes. After I posted a message on an Australian runningsite (Coolrunning) I got a great response from a running group from Brisbane. Digger, the organiser of this group had run every edition of the Melbourne marathon.
Melbourne 2007. (Gert Brienne, 2007)
During this edition he was running his 30th Melbourne marathon and also his 100th marathon. I joined them for the pasta party, drinks and dinner after the race and a great wine tour the day after the race.
The Brisbane runners made my Melbourne experience unforgettable.
Until then I had run over six continents, and only one remained: Antarctica.
ANTARCTICA, 2009
There is a marathon there but only limited space is available. When I signed up in 2007
I was put on a waiting list for 2009 and confirmed for 2010. But I was lucky. The runners heading to Antarctica always meet in Buenos Aires before flying south to Ushuaia. When the 2008 group was in Buenos Aires I joined them for a run since I happened to be there the same time.
I met the organizer of the Antarctica Marathon and told him I was on the waiting list. He invited me for dinner the same evening. After dinner he thought it was special that I came all the way to Buenos Aires and put me on the confirmed list for 2009.
Since 2009 was the 10th edition on the Antarctica marathon and I had now run 8 marathons I planned another marathon for 2009 so I could also finish my 10th marathon and my 7th Continent. I ran the Hoorn marathon in the Netherlands which is the closest marathon to where I live. And Antarctica would be the most far away marathon.
Holanda-Miami-Buenos Aires
On March 1st I flew to Miami and from there continued to Buenos Aires. After a few days in Buenos Aires all the Antarctica runners had arrived and on March 6 we all flew to the most southern city in the world, Ushuaia. From the airport a few hours to explore the city and then on the boat. The group was divided between 2 different russian ships, the Akademik Loffe and the Vavilov each carrying around 100 runners.
The boat trip via the Drake Passage is known for voilent seas but we had a very smooth 3 day crossing. On March 9th we arrived at King George island and the marathon organisers went on shore to prepare the course.
On the morning of March 10 we boarded the zodiacs for the landing on King George and the start of our Antarctica marathon race.
Two groups
On the morning of March 10 we boarded the zodiacs for the landing on King George and the start of our Antarctica marathon race.
One of the rules of this Continent is that you can not have more than 100 people together on the same location. So each boat had a different starting
location. The Loffe runners started from the Russian base (Bellingshausen) and the Vavilov started from Artigas base (Uruguay).
The route passes the various research stations on King George via Rusia,Uruguay,Chile and China. This is not a fast flat paved course.
You run on gravel,mud,glaciar and a lot of hills. During the pre marathon briefing we were told to expect at least 30 minute slower times than our normal
marathon time.
Weather conditions during the start were mild, 4C and a light wind. But during the race the temperature dropped and wind became
stronger. Everybody had a race number based on their best marathon time within the last year. I was seeded number 2 so my race number was also 2.
I had a time of 2 hours 53 min and number 1 had 2hours 52 min. After the start the number 1 runner was leading but I could easily follow and
by the time we got to the steep glaciar I had passed him and was the leading Loffe runner. But my strategy was to run conservative for the first half
and start racing in the second half.
Taking the lead
On the morning of March 10 we boarded the zodiacs for the landing on King George and the start of our Antarctica marathon race.
One of the rules of this Continent is that you can not have more than 100 people together on the same location. So each boat had a different starting
location. The Loffe runners started from the Russian base (Bellingshausen) and the Vavilov started from Artigas base (Uruguay).
A challenging course
. (Gert Brienne, 2009)
The route passes the various research stations on King George via Rusia,Uruguay,Chile and China. This is not a fast flat paved course.
You run on gravel,mud,glaciar and a lot of hills. During the pre marathon briefing we were told to expect at least 30 minute slower times than our normal
marathon time.
Job done! Antarctica 20009. (Gert Brienne, 2009)
Weather conditions during the start were mild, 4C and a light wind. But during the race the temperature dropped and wind became
stronger. Everybody had a race number based on their best marathon time within the last year. I was seeded number 2 so my race number was also 2.
I had a time of 2 hours 53 min and number 1 had 2hours 52 min. After the start the number 1 runner was leading but I could easily follow and
by the time we got to the steep glaciar I had passed him and was the leading Loffe runner. But my strategy was to run conservative for the first half
and start racing in the second half.
Absolute winner?
A good memory. (Gert Brienne, 2009)
Due to the hills between the 2 finish areas we could not communicatedirectly with the other finish area so we could only talk via the boat. Somebody on the bridge of the Loffe ship was relaying messages. “Hello Loffe can you confirm the first finishing time for the Vavilov?”.
After 5 long minutes I received the message that I had the fastest time, the difference was only 1 minute and 45 seconds.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!, not only had I just run my 7th Continent but I actually won the race.
After photo's and congratulations I had the option of going back to the ship. But I wanted to stay at the finish area and experience everything.
It was a lot colder and we had more wind so I wanted to put on all my clothes. To do so was a bit a struggle. I got terrible cramps in my calf but with the help of some supporters I managed to dress for the cold. It was not wise to stay but it was great fun to see fellow runners finish.
Two hours after my finish I walked back to the Zodiac and returned to the boat for a nice shower.
“Seventy-year-old youngsters”
Finally after 7 hours 12 minutes and 58 minutes a tough 72 year old lady together with her 75 year old husband a youngster like in the movie “The curious case of Benjamin Button” were the last to finish the 10th edition of the Antarctica marathon. Carolyn and Kent from the USA had also run the Antarctica marathon last year. He had finished but his wife failed to finish the full marathon in 2008. So they came back this year and now she finished and also completed her 7th Continent of Earth. CONGRATULATIONS CAROLYN AND KENT! A seventy-years-old younsters.
