Scan the competitor biographies of the Sahara Race and you’ll see a dizzying array of professions, from bankers to psychologists, CEOs to students. But some of the competitors have downright intriguing day jobs. Take, for example, Rafael Fuchsgruber whose 30-year career as a concert promoter has seen him working with everyone from top German pop acts to British stars Billy Idol, Chris de Burgh and Spandau Ballet.
“For many years I was the last one to shut the door of the hotel bar,” admits Rafael of his rock’n’roll existence – riding a horse was as far as Rafael’s exercise regime went. But six years ago, everything changed when Rafael’s Arabian horse was struck down with an injury. “I started running, after 25 years of doing nothing.” It wasn’t long until the German was competing in ultra running events. “Today I can organize my job and sport,” says Rafael. “I just have to avoid the hotel bar!”
While Rafael deals with pop star egos, Shane O’Rourke spends his time in his home-office in Galway on the west coast of Ireland, musing on the very substance of our planet. As a geo-physicist, Shane says the thing he enjoys the most about his job is “telling clients what’s in the ground beneath them – they look at you and wonder: how do you know that?” When it comes to the Sahara Race, however, the Irishman says he’s more interested in the racing, than the ground he’ll be running on. “During the stages I will be trying to get around as quickly as possible, but in the evenings… the background is very cool,” he says. “I did research the area where the race will be held and I see that we run around a man-made lake on the first day, I’m expecting this to be fast. I’m expecting lots of dunes and dried-up river beds after that. This is my third event and my only advice is to keep moving!”
When the sun falls in the Sahara Desert, competitors will be sleeping under a staggering canopy of stars, but no one else will look into those skies with the same remarkable understanding that Carrie Zederkof enjoys. The American runner is a space instructor with the United States Air Force. Carrie is unable to discuss her job in detail (it is the Air Force, after all) but she is looking forward to a family affair – running with her father, Nathan, and brother, Matt – in her first 4 Deserts event.
Beyond the thrill of competition, a love and respect for the earth permeates the minds of many 4 Deserts competitors, particularly Andre Papadimitriou who is an environmental officer with the Ministry of the Environment in Ontario, Canada. He is quick to point out, however, that there is no comparison between his office job and training for a 250-kilometer endurance event. Andre says it’s the challenge that he’s chasing in the Sahara Race 2010: “I did the running of the bulls in Spain and survived. I am a former Member of Parliament candidate in the 2008 federal elections in Canada, and lost, but survived. I am doing this race to feel even more alive than I ever have before, and to experience my threshold and go beyond, and just survive!”
Now that’s what it takes to be a 4 Deserts competitor.
