SANI STAGGER 2009

The week leading up to the race was full of drama, being involved in an accident was not in the plans at all, so R20 000 damage to my car ( $140 000 for my American friends) but luckily no serious injuries.

Leaving for Sani Pass the following morning was truly welcomed, peace and tranquillity at the lodge was exactly what I needed and got. A lonely run on Friday on the Sani Pass road was more then enjoyable, a time to reflect and set goals.

Saturday morning arrived fast, I went down to the hotel to get the transport taking us to the start of the half marathon on the top of the Sani Pass. The trip was bumpy what can you do, it is a dirt track up the side of a mountain.




Anyway about 2 kays from the top the vehicle has a breakdown, the spring gave way so we have no choice but to hump it out to the top of the pass, well now let me tell you it was tough, the terrain was bad but as one of the other runners said “Who switched off the air?” Yeah it felt like that. Lucky for us a Land Cruiser appeared and took us the rest of the way to the top, I was quite relieved.


At 9am the race started under the Asics banner and off we went, I was really having the time of my life.


Just after 3 km down the pass and for unknown reasons I hit the deck. I have no idea why or how, one minute I was running the next flat on my face.

Now my right hand had a deep gash in it and was bleeding, my right knee has a roasty on it which did hurt. Bliksem oh well nothing I can do about it and off I went again. My hand started to really pain and it just bled. I saw a medic and asked him for help, he put a bandage over the hand and I was on my way again.

Just one kay later I was starting to feel the effects of the right knee and was dragging my foot when of course caught on a rock and wham down I go again. This time ripping open my left hand, left knee and the already damaged right knee.

You know what I could of sat there and waited for a vehicle going to the finish or I could get up, suck it up and get this race over.

I got up and went to a nearby stream where I washed the grit out of the wounds, I become a little light-headed when I saw the handing flesh from the knees but I tried to ignore that.

Each step was pain some of the scabs had started to from and would tear and crack with each step, I turned up my MP3 player and my new favourite song played

“I will never be afraid again.
I will keep on fighting 'till the end.
I can water walk on water, I can fly.
I will keep on fighting 'till I die”

I broke into a slow jog and then into a run. Yeah I was hurting but I will finish this damn race if it is the last thing I do.

The last few kays took so long and at a stage I even thought I would not make it before the cut off, regardless I would still finish. I did not want to look down at my legs but I could feel the blood running down into my shoes

“I will never be afraid again.
I will keep on fighting 'till the end.
I can water walk on water, I can fly.
I will keep on fighting 'till I die”

Finally I entered the golf course and was one kay from the finish, there was still time on the clock but I was tired and I was very very very sore. Again I had a discussion with myself.


I put all I had left into the last few meters to the finish and once over the line, my legs just gave way and down I went again !!!!!!! I remember shouting “get me a medic” I had waves of pain going through my body, trying to drink some water from my hydro pack was unsuccessful as I could not control the shaking, I had gone into shock.

The medics arrived and I was whisked away to the medic tent where no less then three medics worked on me, bloody hell I thought to myself is it that bad. These guys really did a fantastic job of cleaning the wounds and cutting away torn skin. The shakes stopped and I downed a whole Coke a Cola, first one that I have had in months, I don’t drink the sugar stuff but it really did the trick.



My reward at the end of the day was the beautiful medal and a surprise, a badge from Sani AC for doing my fifth Sani Stagger.

I am going to be sore for days after this but there is pride, I did not give in and got the prize at the end.