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Now back from a highly successful weekend in North Wales away in The Colonel as a final road test of all the equipment, vehicle and our ability to camp in the most horrendous conditions yet, but with the most fantastic views too!
The reason for heading up there was based around the Snowdonia marathon which I ran on Saturday, starting in Llanberis and skirting around the base of Snowdon - the highest mountain in Wales. A truely awesome course for its scenery, the hugely testing climbs and the final cramp-filled dash down a slippery hill side to the finish after 26 miles of drizzle and wind in the face stuff! Makes you feel good to be alive. Finished in 4hrs 7mns 21secs - very pleased and have now qualified for the Comrades Race in 2008!
Owen is slowly recovering from his knee injury, so instead of aggrevating it by pounding the tarmac and trying the marathon against all recommendations and advice he decided to climb Snowdon via the Pyg Pass with a couple of good friends who joined us for the trip.
Note to self: Either leave electrical equipment at home or waterproof it enough so it can't be damaged! Could be costly when on the road.
Additional things ongoing:
- Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Ray Tindle and General Sir Peter de la Billiere all now confirmed as Afritrex patrons
- Website will be undergoing some major changes very soon
- Corporate support campaign starts in earnest from Nov 1st
- Kitchen is now fitted in The Colonel with water pump and filtration system working, together with engine-heated hot water system designed and installed by Ben's father, Duncan
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Welcome to Afritrex - A privately funded charity endurance challenge of marathons, mountains and more; documenting the encounters, obstacles and achievements of 12 months of hard fundraising and charity work across Africa.
Whilst circumnavigating the African Continent I will complete the following challenges:
- To complete five marathons of at least 26 miles
- To climb five of the highest mountains in Africa
- To visit as many of the sites across Africa where the Victoria Cross has been won as possible (VC180 Challenge)
"The challenge to make every penny count"
Have a closer look at the site and find out more about how we'll be spending 2008.
Keep up to date !! - The action is happening as we speak...
Click here for the latest diary entry
Click here for the latest photos
Click here for the latest route
Project Overview
My name is Ben Southall and for the last decade I’ve travelled extensively throughout Southern Africa taking on projects and expeditions to test my abilities and discover exciting new areas of the African continent, whilst in the UK I take part in fitness and endurance events to raise money for charity and thought it was about time I combined the two fields to create my own fundraising expedition from with others could benefit.
So was born Afritrex: the logistical equivalent of one man trying to build spaghetti junction using Taiwanese instructions and a broken shovel.
The idea was simple: take one continent; attempt to circumnavigate it and whilst doing so try and stay fit enough to complete a number of endurance challenges to raise money for my chosen charities and whilst doing so post it all on the internet!
This is set to be the most challenging, exciting and exhausting year of my life, can I really do it?
"The answer is I don't know,
so why not find out!"
This is me Ben Southall and this is my mission throughout 2008. Stay in contact with my progress updates on how things are going through this site.
I’ll be keeping you informed of my progress through biweekly updates to the site, route information and with regular photo and video blogs.
Check our route and progress here
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