“This beast of a 2023 Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM) was brutal, scorching, and downright insane, but it has also been a journey of friendship, and the indomitable human spirit.”
This is a remark from one of this year’s KAEM finishers, Kim James from South Africa.
With athletes from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria and France, James experienced the 22nd edition of KAEM from 28 September until 8 October, with the Augrabies National Park the host once more.
The KAEM, an extreme ultra-trail marathon, covers 250 km of terrain in the Augrabies National Park and surrounding areas. Known as the “Big Daddy” of international trail running events, it is a seven-day, six-stage, self-sufficient desert foot race.
This year, for the first time, the KAEM Ultra, as a supported five-day race of 160 km, was also an option for athletes and was presented from 1 to 8 October.
Distances per day for the Big Daddy range from 23 km to 76 km, while distances for the Ultra are set from 26 km to 61 km per day.
- Marco Jaeggi from Switzerland is this year’s men’s winner. He completed his first Big Daddy in a total time of 27:17. His most recent previous ultra marathon was The Track of 520 km in Australia.
Second is South African Hannes van Niekerk in 29:03, and third another South African, Ronnie van der Walt, in 36:51.
“They were impressive to watch as they covered the varied terrain. All gave an incredible performance and pushed themselves to their limits. The camaraderie was a sight to behold,” organisers commented.
- Carla André from Portugal is the women’s winner of the Big Daddy in 38:49. According to her, it is her dream to collect memories of desert races all over the world, and that is why she entered the KAEM.
In second place is South African Esté Bezuidenhout, who completed her third KAEM in 39:48, with Andrea Jaeggi from Switzerland finishing in the third place in 41:46.
“They persevered through the rocky, sandy, and technical terrain of the desert. Their drive and determination were next level, but each was out there running their own race,” organisers said.
- In the 160 km KAEM Ultra, Anne Bonzoumet and Valerie Duverger, both from France, ended in first and second place, respectively.
For more than two decades, organisers and returning athletes have described the KAEM as a life-changing experience. Another 2023 KAEM finisher, Jill Young, said, “Strangers became friends, united by a common goal and shared hardships. The mutual support, encouragement, and shared moments of triumph created a bond that transcended language and culture.”
She also commented, “I carry the lessons learned during those gruelling days with me, a reminder that with determination, resilience, and a supportive community, we can conquer the seemingly impossible and emerge stronger, both mentally and physically.”
- Visit kaem.co.za, or Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon on Facebook to view the full set of results and more photos.
