Spring 2008 - Northwestern College

C l a s s n o t e s
Iron
Dave Kuhnau
conquers deserts on
four continents
by Duane Beeson
The Series
The 4 Desert series of endurance
races is put on by RacingthePlanet,
a company founded by veteran
ultramarathoner Mary Gadams in
2003. The races seek to challenge
individuals to go beyond their
athletic frontiers while exploring
the most remote landscapes and
ancient cultures on earth.
The races cover 155 miles
(250 kilometers) in a series
of stages over a sevenday
period. On each of the
first four days, the athletes
run from 20 to 30 miles. The fifth
stage covers 50 miles and takes
up to two days to complete. After
those challenges, the last stage is a
virtual cakewalk: 10 miles.
The athletes carry their
own food, water, clothing and
emergency medical supplies in
backpacks. The only assistance
provided is medical care and
additional water, offered at a series
of checkpoints in each stage, and
tents for spending the night.
When Dave Kuhnau competed
in Chile, China and Egypt, the
races included up to 100 runners.
Approximately 80 percent of
competitors finish, with half of
those returning for another 4
Deserts event. The final race, in
Antarctica, is open only to athletes
who have completed the other
three.
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