Sharon (above) and Russel Paschke while participating in the Namibia Desert Challenge.
RACING the Planet: Australia will be taking place in the Kimberley region of Australia from 25 April to 1 May and Namibian athletes Sharon and Russell Paschke will be representing their country.
The host city is Kununurra, which is a town in far northern Western Australia located at the eastern side of the Kimberley Region.
More than 200 competitors from 30 countries around the world will be taking part in the race this year. Of these, there are 45 women signed up to compete, one of whom is Sharon.
Russell and Sharon will be leaving for Australia on 21 April to compete at this international event. They have both just taken part in the Namibia Desert Challenge which was a 220 km stage race over five days in the Sossusvlei area. Russell finished that event in 7th place, while Sharon decided to withdraw halfway through day 3 due to blisters. She decided that she needed to preserve her feet for the race in Australia.
The event in Australia will be 250 km over 6 days, with the longest day beingthe 5th day at around 100 km. The other days range between 30 and 40 km, depending the type and severity of terrain to be covered.
What makes this event extremely difficult is the fact that each competitor is expected to carry all their own equipment as well as food for the entire event and they will only receive water at the various checkpoints along the way. With the food accounting for a significant amount of the weight that each competitor carries, it is essential to plan very carefully.
This is where USN has been instrumental in that they will be supplying Russell and Sharon with all the supplements needed for the race. The benefit of taking most of the daily caloric requirements in powder form supplements, is that these weigh significantly less than the equivalent solid foods would be. It is also far easier to take in these supplements in this form which aids in performance and recovery along the way. The only solid meals that Russell and Sharon will be taking for the event will be freeze dried meals for evenings and instant oats for the morning meal.
All their other caloric requirements will be provided by way of the various USN supplements.
At the end of each stage every day, there is a camp where the competitors will be given hot water (for food only) and place in a tent for the evening. The race therefore becomes one of not only extreme physical exertion, but also one of absolute mental toughness which requires total dedication and a very strong desire to finish. Sometimes even that though is not enough and it is not uncommon for competitors to fall out during the event with feet riddled with blisters preventing them from taking another step.
Come 1 May this year, we hope Russell and Sharon will be standing arm in arm at the finish line with a well deserved medal around their necks.
