Latest news with #BeyondtheUltimate

TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
SA's Gordon-Bennett goes from ice race to winning Jungle Ultra in Amazon
South African adventure trail runner Tarryn Gordon-Bennett has gone from breaking the ice to conquering the Amazon, winning the second Beyond the UItimate series extreme race she has taken part in as the first women in this year's Jungle Ultra in Peru. Last year Gordon-Bennett was the first women and joint-sixth overall in the Ice Ultra in Swedish Lapland in the Arctic Circle, another gruelling test of human endeavour run over the same distance of 230km in the wilderness of Swedish Lapland in temperatures as low as -40°C. In early June, Gordon-Bennett swapped snow for the mud, heat and humidity of the world's greatest jungle in the Amazon as one of nine women to finish from 14 starters and the first home in a five-stage Jungle Ultra. There were 59 starters overall of whom 36 finished, with the Beyond the Ultimate website saying the 60% completion rate is 'a stark reminder of just how relentless this race is'. 'With 230km of punishing terrain, scorching humidity, and soul-testing climbs, this year's edition lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest ultras on the planet.' Gordon-Bennett, running again with her 'brother from another mother' race partner Andre Erasmus (joint-sixth), ended just under seven hours behind overall winner Nick Sunderland of Canada (27 hrs 15 min). She was again part of a group of South Africans that also included third-placed finisher Jared Coetzer (32:50), Nick Denoon-Stevens (15th) and Hannah Broad (16th and fourth women). Jungle and ice toughness were bred from a previous notoriously tough occupation. 'I was a professional ballet dancer so I'm used to pushing myself really hard. I also have a very high pain threshold,' Gordon-Bennett told TimesLIVE. The Jungle Ultra, its website says, is run through Peru's 'Manu National Park, deep in the Amazon rainforest, an unspoilt expanse of boiling jungle and breathtaking cloud forest running from the Andes mountains to the Madre de Dios River'. Like the ice race, athletes take what they need on their backs. 'They just give you water and check you're medically fit at each water point,' Gordon Bennet said. 'You carry everything you need to complete the five days — food for each day including race fuel and drinks, hammock and sleeping bag, medical kit, emergency life straw, water disinfectant tablets, additional camp clothes, running clothes, capacity to carry 2.5l of water. 'Camp facilities provided were poles to pitch hammocks from and pit toilets; if we were lucky we got a flushing toilet in some of the overnight spots. Camp spots were normally next to a river so you could wash off the mud and sweat after the day's fun. 'I underestimated what you need after a stage, especially when coming in early. If you are in the camp at 2pm, you are starving and can only eat at 6pm when you have dinner. 'The beginning of the race was at altitude, very cold. Day three onwards was super humid and hot. 'Setting up the hammock correctly the first time was critical, otherwise you had nine other people tying their hammock over your cables and you couldn't adjust it later. If it started raining, you just got wet. 'There were people around you in the camp throwing up, moving in the hammock. We felt every movement by other people because it was a single pole we all tied ourselves to. 'We contended with a lot of terrains, from steep downhill mountain passes to riverbeds, muddy pathways up and down mountains. You had to focus on every single step to avoid tripping or spraining an ankle. 'There were insects — millions of ants, sandflies, mosquitos — all day, every day. We were all covered in bites. 'On day three of the jungle run more than 50% of the runners didn't finish and couldn't continue.' The South Africans prepared for the Ice Ultra using snow shoes on beach sand. To replicate the humidity, denseness and terrain of the Amazon they trained in lush Magoebaskloof in Limpopo and ran The Hobbit 100, a scenic two-day mountainous trail run from Qonce to Hogsback in the Eastern Cape's Amatola Mountains. 'That had lots of technical climbs, lots of mud and slippery conditions because of heavy rains. The two-day event was cancelled and we decided to convert to the 90km non-stop, carrying backpacks, though only half the weight compared to our Amazon packs. Most of the crew got lost at night, which provided excellent physical and mental training for the Jungle. 'We had weekends away, having fun and running some amazing trails in the Drakensberg [in KwaZulu-Natal] and the Western Cape. We are privileged and spoilt for choice when it comes to trails and trail running in South Africa. Image: Supplied 'Getting the right gear meant testing things all the time to see what worked. We needed to mix things up a lot to understand how the gear would perform in tough conditions. The right food, shoes, backpacks — it takes a lot of time.' It's a fact that not everyone can do a Beyond the Ultimate event. Apart from the physical requirements, it's not cheap. Another indication of the South Africans' commitment shown in racing these events is it cost about R150,000 to compete in the Jungle Ultra for flights, accommodation, equipment and the entry fee alone is £3,500 (R83,000). Clearly they feel it's worth it. 'The Jungle ultra was more than just a race. It is more than six months' preparation, running with the same people four or five times a week; travelling, racing, eating, falling — you build a special connection,' Gordon-Bennett said. 'While the race was only five days long, the build-up and the bonds made with the people you run with last a lifetime.'


Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Expert suggests ditching this clothing item if you plan to run in UK's heatwave
As the third heatwave of the year sets in, runners are once again confronted with a tough choice: brave the sweltering temperatures or take a break and stay indoors. As the third scorching spell of the year takes hold, runners are faced with a difficult decision: endure the blistering heat or take a breather and stay indoors. To illuminate the potential health hazards, necessary precautions, and clever ways to keep fit in extreme heat, we consulted two experts who offered their knowledge and guidance on this matter. What transpires in our body when we run in severe heat? What could be the health risks? "What happens first of all is that your body does what it's designed to do – it sweats to try and keep your body cool," clarifies Kris King, running coach and co-founder of Beyond the Ultimate. She warns that your core temperature can rise quite quickly in extreme and that's when problems may arise. You can begin to get headaches, sickness and dizziness. In extreme cases, you may even experience vomiting and strokes. Sam Quinn, Nuffield Health's personal training lead, concurs and adds: "If you're finding that it's so hot you can't run, you're having to slow down, you're feeling exhausted, faint or dizzy, I think that's probably a big indicator that actually you're not going to maximise your assets by running in that type of environment." Hot weather can seriously impact your running routine, and with the UK experiencing scorching temperatures, experts urge runners to take extra precaution. Quinn advises: "If you are running in the heat, make sure that you're running safely, that you're listening to your body and giving yourself the right sort of tools to have a successful training run and that you are not putting yourself at any unnecessary risk,". It's a good idea to don cooler attire rather than opting for your usual sweatpants or leggings. "You just need something that's breathable and wicking so the sweat comes away from your body," advises King. "Loose-fitting clothing is good. You can also pre-douse your clothes in water before a run." Here are some more tips to follow if you plan to brave the heat for your run.. Pick the right time to run Look to exercise during cooler times, with Quinn suggesting, "Consider running at more suitable times during the day, such as early morning or later in the evening where it's slightly cooler,". It's also crucial to properly fuel up. Quinn emphasises the importance of diet: "Make sure that your nutritional intake is appropriate for the distances and things you're doing," he says. "Make sure that you're having enough protein and carbohydrates pre-workout so that you've got energy during the workout." Change your route and stay near home King recommends altering your usual path: "Try not to run too far from home, think about smaller loops, rather than big out and backs," and choosing a cooler route, "Consider somewhere shady, so it might be the woods or a forest, rather than out on exposed plains." The well-being of your skin should not be overlooked in sunny conditions. "Sun cream and covering your skin is really important, because if you've got burnt skin it's not going to be as effective at sweating and cooling you down," King points out. Keep hydrated Hydration before, during, and after your exercise is vital, according to Quinn: "Even with slight dehydration, performance can be decreased by up to 20%, so you need to make sure you're hydrated before your run," and he warns, "Also, if you're dehydrated, you've got much more risk of adverse health effects or higher risk of injury. "During the run, you're going to be sweating and losing salt from your body, and electrolyte drinks and water can help you replenish any depleted stores. Then post-exercise, if it's a hot day, you could lose quite a lot of water and sweat, so it's important that you again really replenish your stores, so that you're going to be able to recover afterwards." You can try running with a mate or as part of a group. "If you're running and it's a really hot day, it's great to run with a friend for additional safety," says Quinn, "So, if there is an incident or you feel unwell, you've got some support there. Run in groups "Running in groups is also really good. The organisers of park runs and running clubs tend to implement lots of precautions, offer advice and make sure that everybody's had a drink, warmed up and had an appropriate cool-down." You can also try adjusting your speed. "Another thing you can do is manage your pace," recommends King. "Your body's going be working hard to cool you down, your heart rate's going be higher, so you'll need to run slower." Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!


BBC News
01-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Surrey: Man becomes youngest to complete the Global Race Series
A Surrey man who took part in extreme trail running races has set the record for becoming the youngest person to complete the series, as confirmed by the Global Race Series (GRS).GRS is organised by Beyond the Ultimate and "tests the resilience and endurance of runners" in remote areas such as the Amazon rainforest, the Namibian desert and the Tian Shan mountains in Edmonds, from Guildford, has just returned from the final event, the Ice Ultra Challenge in Sweden, where racers trekked 230km (143 miles) in five days while battling temperatures as low as -40C. Although the 24-year-old did not win the "brutal" series, he said he gained "invaluable experience and has become extra motivated" for the next GRS. "At first I was intimidated, being the youngest and having the least experience. But I am quite bold-headed and I charged into," he added."It was a very brutal competition, but the other competitors were so incredible. They helped me a lot and I grew so much over the last year."Mr Edmonds said his father took up GRS 10 years ago and he decided to follow in his asked what motivated him to take up extreme sporting challenges, he said he "just wanted to prove that I can do it"."I learnt something about myself from each competition I took part in," he added."If you commit yourself to something, even though it doesn't look possible to achieve, as long as you're dedicated nothing can stop you."