Ryan Sandes (Photo by Nick Muzik)

Izimvo has the great honour of introducing running phenomenon: Ryan Sandes.

Ryan’s amazing story begins in 2006 when he finished in the top 20 of his first ever marathon: a race which he only entered as an excuse for a party in Knysna. Looking for an adventure, Ryan went on to win every stage of the 2008 Gobi March, a desert race considered as one of the toughest endurance races on the planet. Ryan followed this amazing achievement by winning The Sahara Race and breaking the race record of the 2009 Jungle Marathon.

Ryan’s goal for 2010 is to complete and win every race in the 4 Deserts series. The challenge starts on the 7th March with the Atacama Desert Race in Chile and ends in November with the Last Desert race in Antarctica. “Wandering Fever” is a documentary that will follow Ryan’s attempt at becoming the first person to win all of the 4 Desert Series races.

Named as one of Runners World Magazine’s “Top 5 heroes of running”, along with the likes of Usain Bolt and Haile Gebrselassie, Ryan has cemented his place as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Website: http://www.ryansandes.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ryan.sandes
Location: Cape Town

Ryan was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Ryan Sandes, 27 years old. Nicknames: Hedgie (from school), more recent is Sandman. Profession: Studied to be a Quantity Surveyor and worked for Faircape Property Developers for two and bit years. Now I am a full-time professional athlete.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I have a phobia about snakes but this was cured during the Amazon Jungle race. People I most admire are Nelson Mandela, Lance Armstrong and my grandfather. Favorite Food is steak and movie is Snatch. (I do not get to see many movies these days)

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Hanging out with friends and having a few beers over a braai etc. I struggle do the late night partying these days and it does not fit in with my training. I also enjoying spending time on the beach and try to get a surf in every once in a while. Running in definitely the best way to get away from it all, my only worry is to put my one foot in front of the other.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: I would like to have two homes, one in Cape Town as I think it is the best city in the world and we have it all, mountains, beaches etc. My other home would be more of a holiday home up in the Drakensberg where I could go and train at high altitude and get away from the city life.

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Long-Distance Running

Winning the Sahara Race 2008 (Photo by 4deserts.com)

Q: Tell us about how you go from the Knysna marathon in 2006 to winning every stage of the 2008 Gobi Desert race, a seven-day event considered to be one of the toughest endurance races on the planet?

A: Running the Knysna marathon was more of an excuse to go up to Knysna and have a party than any thing else – I would have run the half but entries had closed. The feeling of fulfillment I had after completing the Knysna Marathon hooked me. Before I knew it I was spending my weekends on the trails instead of all night parties with my friends. I am one for extremes and after a few local trail races I decided to look for another challenge and stumbled upon the 4 Desert website and the rest is history.

Q: “Wandering Fever” is a film that will follow your attempt at becoming the first person to win all 4 of the RacingThePlanets 4Desert Series races. Tell us about how the movie came about and do you think it will have any impact on your performances?

A: I am good friends with one of the owners of The African Attachment, the film company who is making the documentary. When I told him I was running the Gobi March he asked me why? I did not have an answer… After getting back from the Gobi we discussed making the documentary on why I am participating in these extreme endurance races hence the name “Wandering Fever”. It sounded like a great idea and they have been following me around ever since then. I don’t think the documentary will impact on my performance but hopefully by the end of the 4 Desert series I can explain why I compete in these extreme races.

Q: The 4Desert series ends in Antarctica this November. Besides training in large cold rooms, what are the other main differences in training for cold weather events?

A: When running in hot conditions you have to get your body used to the heat. However in cold conditions if you have the correct clothing and equipment you can insulate your body from the cold. The hardest part is getting used to breathing in cold air and making sure you don’t sweat too much under all the layers of clothing as your sweat freezes and can make life very uncomfortable. So my main challenges will be getting used to breathing in very cold air, making sure I have the right clothing and getting used to running with all the layers on.

Q: Which part of your preparation for an event is the most difficult, the physical or the mental?

A: I would say physical as you have to spend months training for an event, but it is just as important to be mentally fit. However I believe you are either born with mental fitness or it comes from years of racing.

Q: What advice would you offer the 10km runner who has aspirations of completing their first marathon?

A: You have already done all the hard work by getting out there and running 10km races. Increase your distance slowly, never give up and with enough hard work and dedication you will be crossing that marathon finish line before you know it.

Q: What will be the best way for us to follow your progress during the 4Desert series?

A: I will be doing a blog on my website www.ryansandes.com or on the 4 Deserts website www.4deserts.com you can sign up for breaking news and they have all the latest results, videos, pictures etc on the site.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Yes, the crime rate in South Africa is very high and my family and I have had to start being a lot more cautious when it comes to crime. When I was a kid we never locked our doors, hijackings were unheard of etc. But we live in a really beautiful country and after spending lots of time in other countries around the world I believe we have one of the best qualities of life in the world.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: No I never plan to leave South Africa on a permanent basis – proudly South African!

Q: How have you found the perception of South Africa while competing internationally?

A: The first thing most people say when I come from South Africa is…. Nelson Mandela.. I get asked about the crime and safety factor in South Arica a lot but people are also very positive about how beautiful and the potential South Africa has.

Q: South Africa’s greatest athlete is?

A: That’s a hard one…..I would have to say Elana Meyer as in her day she broke National and International records from 5000m up to Marathon distance.

Life in Cape Town

Q: What are the benefits of living in Cape Town for an extreme athlete?

A: I am surrounded by mountains; there are some really big sand dunes as well as other types of terrain which make conditions perfect for trail running. It also gets very hot in summer and wet in winter which helps prepare for extreme races. The only thing we don’t have is high altitude.

Q: Favorite restaurant for a lazy Sunday lunch with a group of friends?

A: Caprice in Camps Bay is always very festive on Sunday.

Q: Top 3 train running routes that you would recommend to runners visiting Cape Town?

A: One of my favorite routes is from the Lower Cable Car Station along the pipe track to the “Block House” and back – the route has awesome views of Cape Town CBD and Robben Island and it is a very runner friendly route.

Any trail in the Cape Point Reserve is very cool with loads of wild life and then another favorite trail of mine starts from Suickerb0ssie restaurant up Landudno Ravine and to the Table Mountain dams and then down to Constantia Neck.

General

Q: What are your must-have luxuries that accompany you to every race?

A: An iPod for long waits at the airport, laptop and Salomon relax shoes. These items all get left behind during a multi day race and there are not a lot of I luxuries I take – every second day I treat myself to a stick of Droewors ! My new Oakley Jawbones are super cool and are a must for every race!

Q: You break your races up into shorter distances that you tackle one at a time. Do you apply this tactic to any other aspects of your life?

A: Yes definitely, I apply this tactic to all aspects of my life. When I am really busy I focus on just getting one task done at a time and before I know it everything is done. It helps simplify life and I don’t get stressed out.

Q: Favorite snack after a long training session?

A: A fruit smoothie loaded with whey protein etc.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: “It’s Not About The Bike” and “Every Second Counts” both books are by Lance Armstrong. They are both really inspiring books and show anything is possible with enough determination.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Lance Armstrong – do you think you can win Ironman Kone (Ironman World Champs)?

We’d like to thank Ryan for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the future.

The first of the 4 Deserts races, the Atacama Crossing in Chile, starts on the 7th March. Be sure to follow Ryan’s progress on his website and his Facebook page. You can also follow @RacingThePlanet on Twitter for regular updates throughout the series.