Running, not ringing, in the New Year

A bunch of us went through to the New Year's eve for an Old Years 10km road run in Pretoria. The run started at 5pm so it was still very hot outside (Nic's car said it was 32C when he arrived at 16h30). A pleasant route winding through the suburb of Rietondale.

There's nothing like a nice festive run to welcome another year.

Wishing you all health, fitness, happiness and fulfillment over the next year.

Tommy, Sarah, Mike, Lisa, Nicholas, Garry T and Alex

Rietondale is a lovely leafy suburb. The route was confined to a small area where it meandered up, down and between residential blocks. The course is a double-lapper where the second 5km lap is only a little different to the first. There were three places where residents had their garden sprinklers on - we all made a bee-line for the water.

Nicholas, Garry and Alex shooting the breeze post run.

Next career... showgirl? With my 'Old Years Run' medal...

World Run runner in SA

In 2005 and 2006 he ran 26,000 kilometers around the World, travelling West-East from Europe and through Asia, Australia and North America. 38 year old Jesper Olsen is currently running North-South from Europe, the Middle-East and through Africa. He has just entered South Africa from Swaziland.

World Run 1 (two years, 26,000km)

World Run 2 (currently underway; started July 2008)

Jesper has logged just over 19,200km in the past 18-months! As he runs through South Africa he'll generally be following the N2 highway from Swaziland, through KZN, Eastern Cape and along the coast to Cape Town.

Jesper welcomes runners on the road with him - you can check the Live Coverage tracking on the World Run website to locate him (he is passing Pongola Dam). Jesper generally covers 30 – 45 km a day, at about 6min/km.

He also appreciates a comfy bed, good meal and friendly company so if you live near his route, do make contact with Phil Essam, Jesper's logistics guy (philip.essam@three.com.au). We already have a number of people who will be hosting Jesper, with lots of space for more hospitality. And if you've got a few days on your hands you can be a support driver for Jesper.

If you are able to accommodate Jesper, the general procedure is as follows:

You first make contact with Phil letting him know where you are located. He'll plan you into Jesper's itinerary and send you confirmations. Jesper will then make contact with you via mobile phone (sms) as he nears your neck of the woods. You pick him up at the end of his ‘run day’ and then take him to your home for the night: a meal, bed and then take him back to spot where you picked him up the previous day to continue his run - perhaps join him for a bit? Phil (his vital support link, based in Canberra) describes, "I think the biggest thing Jesper likes and appreciates is people joining him on the road for a run, kind words and conversation and the bed/meal for the night". It's just a great way for Jesper to experience a country.


Jesper, welcome to South Africa!

Kaalvoet (barefoot) insights

Earlier this week I posted about Kaalvoet Jaco Swart, the guy who is walking around South Africa on bare feet; yip, no shoes.

I was very interested in the condition of his feet - blistering, bruising, thickness of his soles, thorns, walking surfaces etc. I dropped him an email in the morning and was delighted to receive a reply from him last night. Jaco got married in early December so he is currently at home with his wife. Heading out again shortly after New Year.

This is what Jaco has to say about his feet...

Lisa: Pre-trip preparation?
Jaco: Because I am not a competitive athlete of any sort and the fact that the objective of Kaalvoetsolo is not a record attempt, but a personal pilgrimage, I did no formal preparation before the journey, apart from not wearing any shoes for two months.

Lisa: How did your feet adapt to daily walking? I assume you're not getting any blisters between your toes and that your soles have thickened substantially? Any peeling skin because of your thickened soles?
Jaco: My feet are holding up extremely well, after almost 4000km, they feel quite strong. But, I have to add, I wake up every morning with sore feet. The terrain I walk on varies so much, my feet have to continuously adapt to anything from gravel, rocks, tar, sand and thorn-strewn footpaths.


When I set off from Cape Town on 15 January 2009, my feet took extreme punishment for the first two weeks. As you would know, Cape Town has very few and short beaches towards Cape Point and Muizenberg, so the first six days meant that I walked 98km out of 106km on tar, with only 8km between Noordhoek and Scarborough, along the beach. 

As for peeling skin, I made a shocking discovery, three days BEFORE I set off, when both feet just started peeling without apparent reason. No blistering, pain, sensitivity or anything; the thick skin literally just started coming off like heavy dandruff. So I started the walk on virgin soles, which is probably why I had bad blisters by the end of day 1. These broke on the morning of day 2. Apart from resting up for a week or more, my only alternative was to bind my feet with plaster, the broad white Elastoplast one we used for 1500m on tartan when we were at school.

From Hermanus to Kosi Bay, most of my walking was on sandy beaches, forest footpaths and coastal rocks, which made it much easier and my feet recovered quickly. I have not had any blisters at all since then, but I often suffer from bruising of the soles, as well as abrasion, with the soles wearing so thin that they sometimes start bleeding. But this happens almost exclusively on tar. Gravel and other rocky terrain also ontribute to the bruising. My favourite surface is firm moist sand at low tide and my least favourite... well, no guesses, it is tar. If I never have to walk on tar, ever again, it would still be too soon.

As you surmised, I have had no blisters or chafing on any other other parts of my feet, such as between my toes.

Lisa: I saw a photo in your gallery of those devil thorns in your feet. Do your hardened soles protect against the thorns?
Jaco: I cannot say that thorns do not bother me, but those smaller devil thorns and "duwweltjies" are not much of a problem anymore. It is only the bigger stuff like acasia and spike thorns that I still have to watch out for. However, it is excruciating when I get a thorn in those softer parts [between my toes].

Lisa: Have you been treating your feet with anything to harden them?
Jaco: I sometimes treat my feet with meths [methylated spirits] to make the soles hard and Dubbin [commonly used to treat and waterproof leather hiking boots] to give them back their suppleness.

Lisa: The return to barefoot running is a current movement. Shoes seem to contribute more to injuries than not because they alter your natural foot strike pattern, causing more impact and biomechanical imbalances. Because of being barefoot, I'm assuming that you haven't had much problem with joints, tendons, knees and ankles?
Jaco: I have always maintained that barefoot is healthier because it is more natural. As a child, we never had real running shoes and we never had any problems with the injuries that are now "typical" to running. It was only since I started running with shoes, in the army and after, that I developed shin splints, sore ankles and tendonitis. My knee has not given me any trouble so far, but I am prone to inflammation, and have had a few episodes of inflamed hip joints and same in my left ankle, all of which, in retrospect, I attribute to bouts of over exersion, my own fault.

Barefoot running seems like a great new trend to me, provided it takes place on natural surfaces. Just like we were not originally designed to wear shoes, we were also not meant to do our running on tar and concrete. My personal experience has convinced me of this.


Lisa: Are you walking and running, or just walking?
Jaco: On this journey, I have only been walking. Since my days in the army, it has been a firm resolve of mine, to never, ever run with a hiking pack on my back again!

Jaco contines his pilgrimage shortly after New Year. He'll be dropped off in Mafikeng, where he was picked up pre-wedding, to continue his journey. He walk through the Kalahari and Richtersveld at the hottest time of the year. "I am a bit apprehensive about what to expect," he says. I'll be interested to know how his feet handle the heat - certainly the Khoi people manage. Once he sets off, he'll have 2000-2500km to go before his journey's end.

Jaco - you are an inspiration. But I'm not going to be trading in my trail shoes any time soon!

Radio gaga

Have I had fun these past two days!
Yesterday (Tuesday), I spent an hour in-studio at 702 radio with Simon Gear, chatting about the sports of adventure racing and orienteering. Simon is a friend, so it was good fun being in studio with him. He does know what adventure racing is about and a few months ago he came through to orienteering with his family - so he is well-versed.

I also announced on-air that I am looking for novices to take part, with me, in the Diamond Dash 50 in late-Feb. I've already had a few 'applications'. I'll recruit other experienced racers to take additional novices through this race. My objective is that these novices, with their new-found confidence, will enter the Kinetic Adventure series with each other. Hip-hip-hurray!

And this evening, recruited by producer Tehilla, I chatted to David at community radio station Chai FM about adventure racing. Years ago he did Ironman and he's done Dusi, so he understands endurance sport. And, he also remembers watching Eco Challenge episodes many years back. David is currently standing in for the regular presenter on the show and I look forward to joining him again, on his show, in the near future.

Simon, David and Tehilla, thanks for the opportunity to chat about adventure racing on your shows.

I loooovvveeee radio...

Playing at Suikerbosrand

Since returning from Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, I haven't been sleeping very well. It's weird, because I usually drift off in less than two minutes and I sleep like the dead. After races and travelling I'll usually have a night or three where I wake up at odd hours, but I shouldn't have a disrupted sleep pattern three weeks after the race - that's unusual.

Take yesterday... I woke up at 02h30 - no particular reason: hot, perhaps, dogs barking in the neighbourhood... I tossed until 03h00 and then pulled out my laptop to mess around on Google Earth. I tried to go back to sleep at 05h00, unsuccessfully. Turned on my machine again and then slept from 07h00 - 08h00. Lovely. So, by last night, I was feeling way sleepy. And, it would happen that I'd sleep like death - hopefully back to normal - on the night when I'd needed to be up at 05h45!

My alarm went off this morning and I [almost] leapt out of bed, like a child going to the zoo, because I would be playing with Nic, Alex and Clinton at Suikerbosrand. I've been wanting to go for ages - I haven't been there for at least two or three years! - today was the day.

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is managed by Gauteng's Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs. And there's been a whole Protea Hotel thing happening - they seem to have taken over the environmental centre (now a conference facility) and they've built some nice looking chalets. From what I can tell from their website, it looks like they've also taken over Kareekloof, on the other side, which has a caravan and camping park.

We set off on the 'overnight' trail - but to be honest, a trail that is walked-and-run in 3h45 is hardly an overnight trail... Nonetheless, we jogged past the sign that warns 'No day visitors past this point' and hit the hills.

In places the trail is decent but most of the way it is indistinct and overgrown. It doesn't look like it has been used for some time; and definitely not used with any regularity (the western 'day walk' trails are used regularly). Nic has run the route a number of times so he led the way through open grassy areas, where we saw red hartebees, zebra and pretty yellow and purple flowers, and through 'forested' leafy vegetated areas around Koedoeskloof and back up across some of the highest areas in the Reserve. The trail around Koedoeskloof, where an overnight hut is located, is difficult to follow - we did a bit of searching.

Suikerbosrand really is a gem that I most definitely under-utilise. It is fenced, safe and scenic with many kilometers of trail - enough to keep me busy for many hours: trail running and mountain biking. The first rogaine was held here many years ago and in eight hours we covered not quite half of the Reserve.

If you're in Gauteng, Suikerbosrand is definitely a place to keep in mind when considering a venue for playing.

The South-eastern side of the Reserve - Clinton is taking a photo of some antelope (one male, two females). Could have been eland - they're fuzzy and far away in my photo. Not much of the trail visible around here.

There are a number of different routes in the area; they're either day walks or 'overnight' trails that lead to hiking huts.

Clinton in a pretty glade in Koedoeskloof

Th Springbok overnight hut: dusty inside - not used for a long time. The 'facilties', a smaller building adjacent, is non-functional. Looks like the shower piping has been ripped out - probably for the copper. Loo is nothing you'd want to use.

 

 

Above and out of Koedoeskloof, which lies below (lots of trees - thorny trees!)

 

Pretty yellow flowers - like a meadow

 

 

Jo'burg is a high altitude city; and Suikerbosrand is just a bit higher. Here Clinton points to a hill, which has a spot height of 1896m. The highest point in the Reserve - and the info pamphlet says it is also the highest point in the Witwatersrand - is 1917m. We're up on a 'high-lying plateau'. Not much in the way of fauna 'cos the vegetation up high is more unpalatable than lower down.

Almost back at the start.. a lovely morning of trail running

Three pints in six months

Yesterday afternoon I made my third blood donation in 6-months, achieving my aim of again being a 'regular' donor.

A regular donor is someone who donates at least three times a year (you can donate every two months - so that's six times max per year). You're a trusted donor. And the benefit of becoming a regular donor and maintaining it, is that all of your blood components are used - red blood cells, platelets & plasma.

As a reminder, from my posting in October...

It is VERY important to become a regular donor. Once-off donations cannot be used effectively. "The more regularly you donate, the better the chance of your donated unit getting used for all components," says a FAQ response on the SANBS website (http://www.sanbs.org.za/). Regular donors are the safest donors because they understand the donation process and factors that exclude them from donating within defined window periods, like medication, risky sexual behaviour and illness.

SANBS explains that if you are donating blood for the first time, your red blood cells won’t get used. Your plasma gets quarantined until your next donation. If all tests come back negative after your second donation, the quarantined plasma from your first donation will be used. This also applies if you haven’t donated blood for a while. Once you have made three donations and your blood still tests negative for sexually transmissible diseases, all the components of your blood gets used. You have to donate blood regularly!

Of interest... the one nurse at my donor clinic told me that 89% of blood donors only start donating after they have been on the life-saving receiving end of a transfusion. This startling statistic came from a survey that SANBS ran. She explained that her brother was one of these. Blood donation was "not for him" - until he was hijacked, shot in the abdomen and received 45 units of blood! He has now done 11 donations.

And 45 units is not unusual... it often takes 30-60 units to save car crash victims...

What you waiting for? Ring in the New Year by giving a pint, before having a pint.

Calling all novices!

I'm looking for novices to race with me at the Diamond Dash 50km in the Cullinan area on 20 February 2009.

The criteria
You should be new to the sport of adventure racing and you need a mountain bike (and you should be able to ride it).

How to apply?
In no more than 200wds, tell me why you'd like to do this race with me, or another experienced racer.

If I get a good response, I'll pick two people to join me and I'll recruit other experienced adventure racers to also make up 3-person teams, taking two novices onboard with them.

And, the best thing is that you can then enter the Kinetic Adventure Series with your own teams after this one.

Email me at lisa@ar.co.za

Walking around SA, kaalvoet

There's a guy, Jaco Swart, who is walking around South Africa, kaalvoet. Ja, without shoes. He started his adventure in January 2009 and, just before xmas, had covered 4000km.

Jaco was one of the guides on that awful blackwater tubing accident on the Storms River... must have been in early 2000... Of the 14 clients, only one survived, making the total number of survivors five, including Jaco and three other guides. His left knee was shattered and he spent 27 hours clinging to a log, wedged in a crack in the rockface, waiting for rescue. This walk is, for him, a personal thank you for his survival and injury recovery.

His website is http://www.kaalvoetsolo.co.za/ and the blog on his progress is kaalvoetsolo-sa.blogspot.com

Looking at some of the pics in his most recent photo gallery, he has got really good looking feet. And, I'm sure that not wearing socks and shoes means no blisters... I'd be keen to find out from him about this. I saw a photo where he has those devil thorns in his soles, but his soles must be thick and tough as leather after 11 months of walking kaalvoet. And, going with the whole 'barefoot running/walking' principle, I'd guess that he hasn't got any knee problems either. Mmm.. I'll drop him a note to find out.

Thanks to Fred for this one.

Gifts I'd rather not receive

It's xmas, a time of year synonymous with gifting. But there are some gifts that I'd rather not receive - like those brought to me with peeps of delight by 'my' cat. I say 'my' because he is actually my neighbour's cat - but he spends a lot of time with me.

Karel the Cat is a generous soul; he delights in frequent gift giving. As we've bonded, I'm the frequent recipient of gifts. I've had full birds, half birds or just a wing and I've also received many mice (usually deceased) and also a big rat. Most of the time these are nightly gifts, delivered with peeps, purrs, rumbles and the excited jingling of the bell around his neck, in the small hours after midnight.

Fortunately I don't get gifts every week; but there are times when his affections peak. Like this week. Karel has really leapt into the festive spirit of giving. A few days ago he delivered a dove, after midnight, dropping it on my bedroom floor and lying back, like the sphinx, so that I could delight in his offering. The dove and cat were urged out the window. This morning, at 04h30, I received a mouse. And I've just taken delivery of another (not quite dead) mouse.

I'm sure another cat would be charmed; I'm not entirely - for obvious reasons. But, considering the spirit in which they're given, and his unabashed delight in these captured treasures... As a concession I thank him for his kindness and consideration before tossing him (and the gift) out the window.

There are another three cats here (none of them mine; my kitty lives with my mom), but Karel and I took an immediate shine to each other and he has been a loving companion for well over a year. He is quite protective and he tells the other cats off when they come visiting. Sadly his folks are moving at the end of January; I'm very fond of this cat so I'll miss him dearly.

If you're wondering about his breed... Karel is a Maine Coon. He's the first I've ever 'met'. They're known for their larger than normal size, intelligence, love of water, big paws, soft and silky fur... very affectionate too and often talkative, especially when bearing gifts.

Snoozing on my couch... I do overindulge him.

Festive cheer & xmas lights

It's Christmas time again... that's the really weird thing - this year has flown and yet last Christmas seems like an age ago.

After a very gloomy week of post-race blues, following an absolutely awesome experience at the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, I'm again rocking 'n rolling and working on a new design for http://www.ar.co.za/.  Yes, yes, yes - I'm finally getting around to it; this has been a project pending for two to three years! It will be ready for early January.

Between now and New Year I'm in Jo'burg, making the most of the best weather in the country and the quiet vibe. It's a nice time of year because I get time for guilt-free running, biking and paddling (guilt-free 'cos I'm not thinking that I should be working) and guilt-free chillin' 'n readin' on my comfy couch (guilt-free 'cos I can be lazy without thinking that I should be training or working). Lovely!

So, as the silly season hits, I wish you all safe travels and a festive season filled with love, laughter and xmas lights...

Andrew sets new Drakensberg Traverse record

Trail runner Andrew Porter set a new record for the Drakensberg Grand Traverse this past weekend (17-20 December 2009). He took 20 hours off the record set by Stijn Laenen and Andrew Hagen this time last year. Stijn and Andrew broke Gavin and Lawrie Raubenheimer's long standing (10 years) record of 4 days 9 hours 39 minutes.

In setting this new record, Andrew covered the 210km high-altitude distance, solo and unsupported, in 61 hours 24 minutes 11 seconds.

From Andrew's blog posting (20 December 2009) on drakensberg.ning.com

"It is with great relief to mention that I have finally completed a fast, lightweight and solo traverse of the berg, in a new record time of 61 hours 24 min 11 sec.

Having learnt a few valuable lessons on previous attempts, I decided to wait for a good break in the weather and then go for it. The kit was essentially unchanged from previous attempts, except that this time around I decided to use an iPod to help out on some of those long, lonely sessions, usually with a hard hill ahead.

I left Sentinel Car Park at 4am Wednesday morning (16 Dec), in the by now, obligatory mist. That cleared after about 15 min and I carried on up the zig-zags to the chain ladder.

The haul across Mont-aux-Sources, Cleft Peak and Champagne Castle is by now getting a little too well known, and I made it to Champagne Castle at 19:00 Wednesday. By midnight, I had crossed Mafadi, which had been a touch bleak due to a strong, cold wind that blew right through everything I had with. I decided to spent the remaining hours of darkness next to a small, but sheltered band of rock shortly after the summit.

Day 2 (Thursday) started a little later than I would have planned beforehand, but another day of perfect weather saw me safely to Giants Castle and then across Thabana Ntlenyana before sunset. Once again, the cold wind made me choose a bivyy in the narrow valley you decend into before heading out onto the Sani flats.

On day 3 (Friday), I started out just before 4am and headed out into new territory south of the road. Things went generally well, even though I was now well short of the target 40 hours I had had in mind. Once again, I had perfect weather, which this day even managed to give me sun, with a cooling wind on top, with a blessful band of mist on the way down Thomatu Pass so that I could not get discouraged by the sight of a border post that just not get closer.

I finally reached the Bushmans Nek border post after a rather long and exhausting time. The feeling of relief that I do not have to endure another cold night out there with min gear is rather hard to descibe!"

So what is this Drakensberg Grand Traverse?
It is a traverse of the Drakensberg that starts from North to South. It starts from the Sentinel Car Park perimeter fence and the stops at the Bushman's Nek Border Post perimeter fence. Various checkpoints have to be visited along the way. These include:

* the Chain Ladders
* Mont-aux-Sources summit (3282m)
* Cleft Peak summit (3277m)
* Champagne Castle summit (3377m)
* Mafadi summit (3451m)
* Giant's Castle summit (3314m)
* Thabana Ntlenyana summit (3482m)
* Thomathu Pass must be used to descend to Bushman's Nek

The only other rules are that it needs to be entirely self-supported (i.e. no seconds, food caches or resupplies) and entirely on foot. GPS is allowed.

Future attempts?
Nicholas and Ryno from Team Cyanosis are rumoured to be planning an assault on the record in January - weather permitting.

For reference:
Dec 2009: 2 days 13 hours 24 minutes (61h24m11s), Andrew Porter
Dec 2008: 3 days, 9 hours, 52 minutes (81h52m52s), Stijn Laenen and Andrew Hagen
1999-2008: Around 15 unsuccessful attempts
1998: 4 days 9 hours 39 minutes (105h39m), Gavin and Laurie Raubenheimer (I'm not exactly sure when Gavin and Laurie set their record. Approx 9-11 years ago)

Thanks to Stijn for his information on the GT checkpoints and heads-up on Andrew's successful trip.

Atlantic rowing race postponed

The race was meant to start 6 December. It has been postponed to 16 December (Wednesday). South African Peter van Kets will be rowing across the Atlantic solo. His website will be covering news of his progress.

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 2009

An amazing experience with a wonderful team!

Our race reports and a lot of stunning photos, with captions, are on our team blog at http://www.teamwwwarcoza.blogspot.com/

Christo, Alex, Lisa and Francois at Qsar al Sarab Desert Resort (Day 5)

Rowing across the Atlantic, solo!

South African Peter van Kets is about to begin rowing across the Atlantic, solo. He won the Woodvale Challenge two years ago, with Bill Godfrey. He's now aiming to do it solo and going for the record. The race starts Sunday, 6 December 2009.

A few weeks ago I interviewed Peter to get a bit of a profile on him. I've been building a website to represent South Africa's adventurers and their expeditions - it isn't online yet 'cos I'm still messing with it and collecting content. I'm also still deciding exactly what to do with it.

In the interim, here's the profile I wrote on Peter. You can follow his progress through the event website (link above) and his personal websites (links below).

PETER VAN KETS
Birthday: 2 September 1966

Website: http://www.petervankets.co.za/, http://www.own-your-life.co.za/ (for 2009 Atlantic Rowing Race)

As a full-time adventurer and motivational speaker, Peter takes advantage of the ocean environment that his home town of East London offers. He is married to Kim and they have a four-year old daughter, Hannah.

Although he rowed across with Atlantic, Peter's favourite sporting disciplines are paddling and surfski. Yes, left-right-left-right forward progression with a paddle vs sculling with oars with your back facing your destination. Good friend Cliff Coombe, Peter’s shore manager for the 2009 Atlantic Rowing Race, introduced him to paddling (in 1996). Peter has since paddled SA’s major races, like Dusi, Fish and Berg and featured in a number of sea kayaking documentaries. Rowing? That came later. Bill Godfrey taught him to row, specifically for the Atlantic Rowing Race. When not on the water, Peter rock climbs and surfs.

Winning the 2007 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race is Peter’s proudest sporting achievement. “Ja, that was a big one – most definitely,” he says. His silver SA Canoe Marathon medal is another hard-earned achievement of which he is proud.

Food is a crucial to an expedition’s success. Freeze-dried meals give Peter power and he can eat them day after day without retching. “I pretty much just get on with it,” he says. “I don’t sit there wishing I had a hamburger. Sure, it isn’t like normal food at home, but it is fine especially if you have enough variety in the flavours.” The Chicken Tikka meal rocks Peter’s boat: “I like spicy food”.

Peter really enjoyed reading Riaan Manser’s book, 'Around Africa on my bicycle'.

Out in the ocean, encounters with people other than imaginary friends are rare. He’ll have to save his German, picked up as a child growing up in Windhoek, and Hebrew, learned studying for a year in Israel, language skills for when he reaches shore.

He does sing 'Row, row, row your boat' to himself. He also sings other songs for which he knows the tune but not the words. “I use whatever comes to mind and it usually turns out quite funny,” he confesses.

Peter isn’t very material-possession orientated, but if his house was burning down he’d make a grab for irreplaceable items like his the photographs of family, friends and places that document his life – that is after saving his family and cat.


PAST EXPEDITIONS

Although Peter has done a number of sea kayaking expeditions, like from Tanzania to Pemba, for documentaries, he is most well-known for his 2007 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race victory, with Bill Godfrey. They completed the race from the Canary Islands to the West Indies in 50 days 12hrs and 15 minutes.


NEXT EXPEDITION

On 6 December 2009, Peter sets off on his own to row solo across the Atlantic in the 2009 Woodvale Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race. This expedition is expected to take him up to 70 days to complete. Looking ahead to the more distant future of 2011, Peter plans to circumnavigate the Tropic of Capricorn by kayak, trekking, cycling, paragliding and rowing.

Peter is the BRAND AMBASSADOR for CapeStorm, New Balance, Garmin and Suunto. Liberty is his SPONSOR for the 2009 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race