Keith Boyd is on a mission to run from one pointer of the African continent to another in a remarkable feat of human endurance and determination. From Cape Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt, Boyd is wanting to break the world record time for this feat– 318 days. This record, embeded in 1998, is held by Nicholas Bourne, who covered over 12,069 km (7,500 miles) through Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
Boyd’s preliminary objective was to reach Cairo in 280 days, but at his existing run rate of more than 40 km (25 miles) a day, he’s running a marathon range every single day, and it’s appearing like he might handle to do it in 260 days. If he keeps up, he’ll certainly break the 25-year-old world record.
Boyd, passionately referred to as the Rainbow Runner, is putting in the long mileage for more than simply the opportunity to break a record. The 57-year-old retired telecoms business owner, who holds dual British and South African citizenship, was born in Scotland however relocated to South Africa when he was four. In 2017, he established a charity called Rainbow Leaders, an independent, nonpolitical NGO motivating young South Africans to sign up to vote, and it remains in this charity’s name that he’s running the length of Africa.
The Rainbow Runner started his mission in Cape Town in July 2023, and the strategy is still to reach Cairo in April 2024. 11,500 km (7,150 miles) is a long method to go to influence individuals, however Boyd strongly believes that empowering youth to vote is an effective catalyst for change and growth. Ultimately, Boyd intends to raise $2.7 million or more for Rainbow Leaders during his cross-continent run.
A Legendary Endeavor
How does one get ready for such an impressive endeavor? Boyd confesses the physical toll his journey has been taking on his body lately has actually been “harsh.”
In January 2023, Boyd, who has previously run Ironmans, marathons, and ultra-marathons, entered severe training mode, increasing his regular monthly ranges from 20 km (12.5 miles) to over 800 km (500 miles). He has a genetically acquired heart condition, which increases the threat of cardiovascular disease, but Boyd says he’s more concerned about his joints than his heart.
The good news is, Boyd says his legs are still “pulling their weight.” Even the best knee, which had posed difficulties throughout training, is holding up. His left ankle has actually been bothersome, however he’s adapted by changing shoes throughout the day, altering the foot strike to successfully handle the problem.
The Rainbow Runner intends to take in around 5,000 calories a day, where possible concentrating on healthy smoothies, protein shakes, fruit and nuts, and veggie and chicken soups, so as not to overload his gastrointestinal system.
As he runs, Boyd states he manages to get into a “moving meditative state,” helped by his playlist, that includes such artists as Tracy Chapman, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Jeremy Loops. For some moral support, his better half and three kids join him for different legs of the journey.
” [This] attempt will need me to run more than a marathon a day, without rest days, for roughly nine months,” Boyd says, and it’s all in the name of charity. The Rainbow Runner’s journey is living proof that modification begins by putting one foot in front of the other, both actually and metaphorically.
We spoke with Boyd about what it resembles being on his amazing journey.
Q&A with the Rainbow Runner
Image by Keith Boyd Outdoors.com: How do you prepare both psychologically and physically for such an extensive and difficult run through such varied terrains? Boyd: I am African and have invested more than 50 years living, working, and operating throughout the continent, giving me a better-than-average understanding of the many and diverse peoples and countries, their various languages, traditions, and peculiarities. In impact, I’ve spent more than 50 years preparing for this journey. And after that in terms of the heat; growing up in a warm climate, I like the heat, and moving in it is much more pleasant for me than moving in the cold. Though, with the heat can come heat fatigue and heat stroke– so, hydration is the most crucial thing you have to solve.
And after that physically … I had a heart treatment in April, as I have a familial cardiac condition, and that dented my training for a month. We ‘d initially planned to begin in Cairo in September but decided to begin in Cape Town, because of its better medical facilities. This implied moving the start date forward by two months to beat the heat in the Sahara, so I was completely underprepared. As a repercussion, I suffered quite a lot in the first 3 months of the expedition.
Outdoors.com: What are some of the most memorable moments or obstacles you’ve encountered up until now on this impressive run?
Boyd: You understand the remark ‘pride comes before a fall’? Well, I believe I ‘d run 3,500 km (2,175 miles) without a fall, and after that one day [I] took a tumble and cut my hand on some damaged glass, and then just 2 weeks later, I fell once again– twice in one day. I ‘d stumbled lots, but had always handled to conserve myself, and then just as I was believing I may make it to Cairo without falling over, I took my first tumble.
The hospitality in Zambia was exceptional. The whole group was dealt with so magnificently, installed in the most wonderful accommodations, etc, so that was absolutely an emphasize.
Outdoors.com: How do you preserve a balance between pressing your physical limits and guaranteeing your general well-being throughout the journey?
Boyd: I’ve got an excellent team around me, and while we’ve had some upsets and dissatisfactions in the team, with some individuals not depending on the task, on the whole, I believe it has to do with household, it’s about pals, it has to do with the core team holding things together.
Outdoors.com: As the “Rainbow Runner,” how do you get in touch with regional neighborhoods along the route, and have any cultural interactions or experiences stuck out to you?
Boyd: It’s wonderful when I have an interpreter with me and can engage with the regional individuals and have some fantastic conversations. […] I have actually had various meaningful exchanges along the method.
I ‘d like to come back in a year’s time and see a few of individuals we have actually met and had conversations with and see how they’ve progressed.
Outdoors.com: What type of equipment and devices are essential for a run of this magnitude, and how do you handle logistics throughout the journey?
Image by Keith Boyd Boyd: I ‘d probably begin with shoes … I have a little a wonky left ankle and a niggly best knee, which combination implies that the best knee prefers to have a soft-soled shoe with great deals of cushioning … and after that my left foot requires something that supports my left ankle and prevents it from rolling in. So I alternate shoes and have actually even been known to keep up a stability shoe on my left foot and a soft-cushioned shoe on my right.
Shoes are the most crucial piece of equipment, however after that then sunscreen and an excellent hat, preferably among those peaked hats with an ‘Arabian-style’ fabric accessory at the back which blows out behind you, producing shade on the back of your neck while allowing the wind to distribute and minimize heat.
Shoes, sunscreen, and a good hat. Aside from that, simply got to go with what works for you.
My suggestions would be to go for something big and just go all out. If you fall or fail, failure is a terrific thing, since you discover so much.
Keith Boyd
Outdoors.com: Can you share some ideas for aspiring long-distance runners or adventurers who might be inspired by your remarkable journey?
Boyd: My advice would be to aim for something huge and simply go all out. If you fall or stop working, failure is a fantastic thing, since you learn a lot. That’s what I’ve learnt so often in my life, and that’s likewise why embarking on this journey didn’t frighten me.
I believed, ‘Well, I have actually got a 90% chance of failing. But let’s go and try.’ I think individuals, not just endurance professional athletes, however from all walks of life, believe, ‘If I’ve just got a 10% possibility or a 50% opportunity of being successful, then I won’t do it.’ But I think one needs to realize that you’ll never ever be totally all set for a challenge. So, do an affordable amount of preparation and then state to yourself ‘Simply go all out.’ Keep your wits about you, practice within your abilities, and just go for it, and recognize that failure is part of making you a successful person in your life as an athlete, or in any other element of your life.
Outdoors.com: How do you adjust your going to different climates and terrains as you advance from Cape Town to Cairo?
Image by Keith Boyd Image by Keith Boyd Boyd: In hotter environments, I’ll be up just after 4 o’clock, five, if I can, and after that I’ll take three or 4 hours off in the middle of the day. From 12
o’clock to 4 o’clock, I may or may not move, or I may simply walk slowly. In intermediate sort of heat … I may walk or jog more slowly, and I certainly take more isotonic and electrolyte beverages, as my body yearns for that. In regards to running on-road or off-road, there needs to be mindfulness in altering your footwear to suit the surface and conditions. Outdoors.com: Throughout the Rainbow Run, have you dealt with any unanticipated or unexpected encounters with wildlife (or undesirable individuals ), and how do you handle such situations? Boyd: The scariest has been lions. We had actually recced the path– a little, rarely used, off-road searching track, the evening before, simply to make certain it didn’t contain any difficult river crossings
, and so on– [but] the next early morning, we discovered lion prints on top of our tire tracks. I kept really near the car on my run that day, and kept the tailgate down so that I might leap in rapidly if required. I do enjoy to run with the local children. Some of them have actually most likely never seen a white person in the flesh before, and a few of them are afraid and escape when they first see me, however then when I smile and wave, they’ll smile back. There’s absolutely nothing much better than those dazzling encounters. On the downside, there are periodically drunk men who call out and bother me and will not take no for a response or go away when I ask them to. Outdoors.com: The journey spans different countries with various political and social landscapes. How do you navigate any difficulties associated with border crossings or cultural distinctions? Boyd: It’s understanding that people are
essentially all the exact same– human beings. In some cases you simply require to show respect, be friendly, and put your arm around them and have a chat, instead of being daunted. I have not had any problems we have not been able to conquer so far. Image by Keith Boyd Outdoors.com: How do you remain connected with your assistance team and fans throughout the run, and how has social networks contributed in recording your experience? Boyd: Social network has actually been a blessing and a curse. It’s forced me to write thousands and countless words for my Instagram posts over the last five months. I didn’t used to be on social media till a month or more before this journey. It is essential for us to stay connected to our fans to raise awareness of the cause and assist us raise funds for our voter inspiration and education programs.
Outdoors.com: Nutrition is crucial for such a physically requiring journey. What dietary strategies do you use to preserve your energy levels?
Boyd: It’s been difficult sometimes. At times, fresh vegetables and fruit have remained in really short supply in the recently or two week, and so has protein. I’ve needed to increase my uptake of protein supplements. The concept is to take 100-150 grams of protein a day, and I’m probably disappointing that a little bit at the minute. My weight is quite stabilized now at about the 70 kg (154 lbs) mark, which is about 10 kg (22 pounds) lighter than when I began. On the whole, I’m happy that my diet plan is working.
Outdoors.com: Have you had the opportunity to connect with regional runners or professional athletes in the regions you go through, and what has that experience resembled?
Boyd: I had people join me on certain stretches in South Africa. And other individuals have actually joined me in the huge towns along the way. It’s lovely keeping up other runners. My child ran with me for 8 days in Tanzania in southern Kenya, which was an enormous aid. Yesterday, I ran with a bundle of kids here in Ethiopia. They couldn’t comprehend me, and I could not understand them, but we had an actually good run together, and they were truly great pacemakers.
I think sometimes people envision that I run for 5 hours flat out every day. However that isn’t how you do these things. You don’t run flat out for five hours a day. You may run for two or three hours a day and then walk or slow jog. And then there are days that you have to stroll the whole day since you’re having issues with your joints or something. However I try to ensure that when the runners do join me, I remain in running mode, and we enjoy ourselves.
Image by Keith Boyd Outdoors.com: How do you handle the mental aspects of such a long and difficult run, and exist psychological strategies you depend on to stay concentrated and motivated?
Boyd: Five months into this journey, I have actually got simply less than three months to go. I try to break the journey up into bite-sized portions. I consider what’s the next city, what am I going to see there, what am I going to have to consume there, what type of lodging will I have, and what little luxuries can I anticipate when I get there. And of course, if it’s family or friends pertaining to meet me, then that offers me something to look forward to.
Outdoors.com: You’re doubtless inspiring others to pursue their own experiences, what guidance would you have for people who are considering starting a similar long-distance journey?
Boyd: Do it!
Keith Boyd is going through Africa trying to break a world record. Here’s one male’s epic journey across Africa.