Keith Boyd is on a mission to run from one tip of the African continent to a different in a unprecedented feat of human endurance and dedication. From Cape City, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt, Boyd is hoping to interrupt the world file time for this feat—318 days. This file, set in 1998, is held by Nicholas Bourne, who lined over 12,069 km (7,500 miles) by means of Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
Boyd’s preliminary aim was to achieve Cairo in 280 days, however at his present run fee of greater than 40 km (25 miles) a day, he’s operating a marathon distance each single day, and it’s trying like he would possibly handle to do it in 260 days. If he retains tempo, he’ll actually break the 25-year-old world file.
Boyd, affectionately often known as the Rainbow Runner, is placing within the lengthy mileage for extra than simply the prospect to interrupt a file. The 57-year-old retired telecoms entrepreneur, who holds twin British and South African citizenship, was born in Scotland however moved to South Africa when he was 4. In 2017, he based a charity known as Rainbow Leaders, an unbiased, nonpolitical NGO encouraging younger South Africans to register to vote, and it’s on this charity’s title that he’s operating the size of Africa.
The Rainbow Runner started his quest in Cape City in July 2023, and the plan continues to be to achieve Cairo in April 2024. 11,500 km (7,150 miles) is an extended strategy to go to encourage individuals, however Boyd strongly believes that empowering youth to vote is a robust catalyst for change and development. In the end, Boyd hopes to boost $2.7 million or extra for Rainbow Leaders throughout his cross-continent run.
An Epic Endeavor
How does one put together for such an epic endeavor? Boyd admits the bodily toll his journey has been taking over his physique currently has been “brutal.”
In January 2023, Boyd, who has beforehand run Ironmans, marathons, and ultra-marathons, received into severe coaching mode, rising his month-to-month distances from 20 km (12.5 miles) to over 800 km (500 miles). He has a genetically inherited coronary heart situation, which will increase the danger of coronary heart illness, however Boyd says he’s extra involved about his joints than his coronary heart.
Fortunately, Boyd says his legs are nonetheless “pulling their weight.” Even the appropriate knee, which had posed challenges throughout coaching, is holding up. His left ankle has been problematic, however he’s tailored by altering sneakers all through the day, altering the foot strike to successfully handle the difficulty.
The Rainbow Runner goals to eat round 5,000 energy a day, the place doable specializing in smoothies, protein shakes, fruit and nuts, and vegetable and rooster soups, in order to not overload his digestive system.
As he runs, Boyd says he manages to get right into a “transferring meditative state,” helped by his playlist, which incorporates such artists as Tracy Chapman, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Jeremy Loops. For some ethical assist, his spouse and three kids be a part of him for varied legs of the journey.
“[This] try would require me to run greater than a marathon a day, with out relaxation days, for roughly 9 months,” Boyd says, and it’s all within the title of charity. The Rainbow Runner’s journey resides proof that change begins by placing one foot in entrance of the opposite, each actually and metaphorically.
We interviewed Boyd about what it’s like being on his unimaginable journey.
Q&A with the Rainbow Runner
Open air.com: How do you put together each mentally and bodily for such an in depth and difficult run by means of such various terrains?
Boyd: I’m African and have spent greater than 50 years residing, working, and doing enterprise all through the continent, giving me a better-than-average understanding of the various and various peoples and international locations, their completely different languages, traditions, and idiosyncrasies. In impact, I’ve spent greater than 50 years making ready for this journey. After which when it comes to the warmth; rising up in a heat local weather, I really like the warmth, and transferring in it’s far more nice for me than transferring within the chilly. Although, with the warmth can come warmth exhaustion and warmth stroke—so, hydration is a very powerful factor you need to get proper.
After which bodily . . . I had a coronary heart process in April, as I’ve a familial cardiac situation, and that dented my coaching for a month. We’d initially deliberate to start out in Cairo in September however determined to start out in Cape City, due to its higher medical infrastructure. This meant transferring the beginning date ahead by two months to beat the warmth within the Sahara, so I used to be completely underprepared. As a consequence, I suffered quite a bit within the first three months of the expedition.
Open air.com: What are a few of the most memorable moments or challenges you’ve encountered up to now on this epic run?
Boyd: You understand the remark ‘satisfaction comes earlier than a fall’? Properly, I believe I’d run 3,500 km (2,175 miles) with out a fall, after which in the future [I] took a tumble and reduce my hand on some damaged glass, after which solely two weeks later, I fell once more—twice in in the future. I’d stumbled tons, however had all the time managed to save lots of myself, after which simply as I used to be pondering I’d make it to Cairo with out falling over, I took my first tumble.
The hospitality in Zambia was excellent. The entire staff was handled so magnificently, put up in probably the most implausible lodging, and so forth., in order that was positively a spotlight.
Open air.com: How do you preserve a stability between pushing your bodily limits and making certain your total well-being through the journey?
Boyd: I’ve received an amazing staff round me, and whereas we’ve had some upsets and disappointments within the staff, with some individuals not being as much as the job, on the entire, I believe it’s about household, it’s about buddies, it’s in regards to the core staff holding issues collectively.
Open air.com: Because the “Rainbow Runner,” how do you join with native communities alongside the route, and have any cultural interactions or experiences stood out to you?
Boyd: It’s implausible when I’ve an interpreter with me and might have interaction with the native individuals and have some great conversations. [. . .] I’ve had quite a few significant exchanges alongside the best way.
I’d like to return again in a yr’s time and see a few of the individuals we’ve met and had conversations with and see how they’ve progressed.
Open air.com: What sort of gear and tools are important for a run of this magnitude, and the way do you handle logistics all through the journey?
Boyd: I’d most likely begin with sneakers . . . I’ve a little bit of a wonky left ankle and a niggly proper knee, and that mixture implies that the appropriate knee prefers to have a soft-soled shoe with plenty of cushioning . . . after which my left foot wants one thing that stabilizes my left ankle and prevents it from rolling in. So I alternate sneakers and have even been recognized to run with a stability shoe on my left foot and a soft-cushioned shoe on my proper.
Sneakers are a very powerful piece of kit, however after that then sunscreen and an excellent hat, ideally a type of peaked hats with an ‘Arabian-style’ material attachment on the again which blows out behind you, creating shade on the again of your neck whereas permitting the wind to flow into and scale back warmth.
Sneakers, sunscreen, and an excellent hat. Apart from that, simply received to go along with what works for you.
My recommendation could be to purpose for one thing large and simply go for it. In case you fall or fail, failure is a good factor, since you study a lot.
Keith Boyd
Open air.com: Are you able to share some suggestions for aspiring long-distance runners or adventurers who is perhaps impressed by your outstanding journey?
Boyd: My recommendation could be to purpose for one thing large and simply go for it. In case you fall or fail, failure is a good factor, since you study a lot. That’s what I’ve discovered so usually in my life, and that’s additionally why embarking on this journey didn’t scare me.
I assumed, ‘Properly, I’ve received a 90% likelihood of failing. However let’s go and take a look at.’ I believe individuals, not simply endurance athletes, however from all walks of life, suppose, ‘If I’ve solely received a ten% likelihood or a 50% likelihood of succeeding, then I received’t do it.’ However I believe one has to appreciate that you just’ll by no means be fully prepared for a problem. So, do an inexpensive quantity of preparation after which say to your self ‘Simply go for it.’ Maintain your wits about you, observe inside your capabilities, and simply go for it, and acknowledge that failure is a part of making you a profitable individual in your life as an athlete, or in every other aspect of your life.
Open air.com: How do you adapt your operating to completely different climates and terrains as you progress from Cape City to Cairo?
Boyd: In hotter climates, I’ll be up simply after 4 o’clock, 5, if I can, after which I’ll take three or 4 hours off in the midst of the day. From 12 o’clock to 4 o’clock, I’d or may not transfer, or I’d simply stroll slowly. In intermediate sort of warmth . . . I’d stroll or jog extra slowly, and I actually take extra isotonic and electrolyte drinks, as my physique craves that. When it comes to operating on-road or off-road, there must be mindfulness in altering your footwear to swimsuit the floor and situations.
Open air.com: All through the Rainbow Run, have you ever confronted any sudden or stunning encounters with wildlife (or undesirable individuals), and the way do you deal with such conditions?
Boyd: The scariest has been lions. We’d recced the route—a small, seldom used, off-road looking monitor, the night earlier than, simply to ensure it didn’t include any inconceivable river crossings, and so forth.—[but] the following morning, we discovered lion prints on high of our tire tracks. I stored very near the car on my run that day, and stored the tailgate down in order that I might soar in shortly if vital.
I do like to run with the native kids. A few of them have most likely by no means seen a white individual within the flesh earlier than, and a few of them are scared and run away once they first see me, however then after I smile and wave, they’ll smile again. There’s nothing higher than these good encounters.
On the draw back, there are sometimes drunk males who name out and harass me and received’t take no for a solution or go away after I ask them to.
Open air.com: The journey spans varied international locations with completely different political and social landscapes. How do you navigate any challenges associated to frame crossings or cultural variations?
Boyd: It’s understanding that people are primarily all the identical—human beings. Typically you simply want to point out respect, be pleasant, and put your arm round them and have a chat, as an alternative of being intimidated. I haven’t had any issues we haven’t been capable of overcome up to now.
Open air.com: How do you keep related along with your assist staff and followers through the run, and the way has social media performed a task in documenting your journey?
Boyd: Social media has been a blessing and a curse. It’s pressured me to jot down 1000’s and 1000’s of phrases for my Instagram posts during the last 5 months. I didn’t was once on social media till a month or two earlier than this journey. It’s vital for us to remain related to our followers to boost consciousness of the trigger and assist us increase funds for our voter motivation and education schemes.
Open air.com: Diet is essential for such a bodily demanding journey. What dietary methods do you utilize to keep up your power ranges?
Boyd: It’s been robust at instances. At instances, recent fruit and greens have been in very brief provide within the final week or so week, and so has protein. I’ve needed to enhance my uptake of protein dietary supplements. The thought is to take 100-150 grams of protein a day, and I’m most likely falling wanting that a bit bit in the meanwhile. My weight is fairly stabilized now at in regards to the 70 kg (154 lbs) mark, which is about 10 kg (22 lbs) lighter than after I began. On the entire, I’m completely happy that my eating regimen is working.
Open air.com: Have you ever had the prospect to work together with native runners or athletes within the areas you cross by means of, and what has that have been like?
Boyd: I had individuals be a part of me on sure stretches in South Africa. And different individuals have joined me within the large cities alongside the best way. It’s pretty operating with different runners. My son ran with me for eight days in Tanzania in southern Kenya, and that was an unlimited assist. Yesterday, I ran with a bundle of youngsters right here in Ethiopia. They couldn’t perceive me, and I couldn’t perceive them, however we had a extremely good run collectively, they usually had been actually good pacemakers.
I believe typically individuals think about that I run for 5 hours flat out every day. However that isn’t the way you do this stuff. You don’t run flat out for 5 hours a day. Chances are you’ll run for 2 or three hours a day after which stroll or gradual jog. After which there are days that you need to stroll the entire day since you’re having issues along with your joints or one thing. However I attempt to guarantee that when the runners do be a part of me, I’m in operating mode, and we take pleasure in ourselves.
Open air.com: How do you handle the psychological points of such an extended and difficult run, and are there psychological methods you depend on to remain centered and motivated?
Boyd: 5 months into this journey, I’ve received simply lower than three months to go. I attempt to break the journey up into bite-sized chunks. I take into consideration what’s the following metropolis, what am I going to see there, what am I going to need to eat there, what sort of lodging will I’ve, and what little luxuries can I stay up for after I get there. And naturally, if it’s household or buddies coming to fulfill me, then that provides me one thing to stay up for.
Open air.com: You’re likely inspiring others to pursue their very own adventures, what recommendation would you may have for people who’re contemplating embarking on the same long-distance journey?
Boyd: Do it!
