Running 56 Miles to Save the Rhinos

On May 30, Save the Rhino -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting this endangered species -- is sending two teams to compete in the ultimate human race: the 56-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Not only will these five-person teams attempt to conquer the challenging distance between Pietermartizburg and Durban along with thousands of other runners, they will do so while taking turns wearing a 26-pound rhino costume!

That's Fit recently had a chance to catch up with one of the runners, 42-year-old London-based Kenneth Donaldson from Team "Save the Rhino."

That's Fit: How did you get involved with this cause and this race?
Kenneth Donaldson: I have to blame this on my wife, Cathy Dean, who became Director of Save the Rhino International in 2001. She promptly signed up to run the London Marathon -- the charity is famous for running in rhino costume -- and then was so impressed that all her co-workers were running the Marathon des Sables (150 miles across the Sahara) in 2002 that she signed both of us up for the 2003 MdS. At that point, I hadn't done any running since school, so it was a bit of a shock, to say the least! Since then, running and rhinos have taken over my life -- in a good way.

TF: Why is this cause important to you?
KD: I'm lucky enough to have visited rhino conservation programs in the field with Cathy. But even without that, I feel it's really important that people support conservation causes. According to Al Gore, 97 percent of charitable giving goes to humanitarian causes (disaster relief, medical research, children, hospices, etc.). Of the remaining three percent, half goes towards pet charities. That leaves just one and a half percent for the conservation of our planet and all the other creatures we share it with. Rhinos act as a flagship species -- save them, and you save the ecosystem in which they live and all the biodiversity in that area. With whole species of wildlife dying out at a rate of 1 percent per year, the need is extreme and urgent.

TF: How have you been preparing for this 56-mile race?
KD: I've been pretty fit for a few years, and I started building up to this last November. I wear a weighted rucksack (up to 26 pounds) to get me used to bearing the weight of the rhino costume, and I've been running 16 to 20 miles each session, on consecutive days to build up endurance. Over Easter weekend I clocked nearly 80 miles, which was good training. I've also been training on very light breakfasts, to get my muscles used to running on empty.

TF: Have you ever run with a costume on? If so, what was it like?
KD: Yes, I did the Marathon des Sables in 2003, as part of a team of seven, taking it in turns to wear one of the rhino costumes, and the same in 2006 for the Atacama Crossing in Chile. Running in rhino is difficult: there's poor ventilation and it gets very hot and sweaty inside, so keeping hydrated is difficult; the head bobs around a lot in front of you, meaning that you tend to end up running with your arms held stiffly in front of you to try to brace it; and there's poor visibility -- you can only see the road about 15 to 20 feet in front of you, so uneven surfaces are a nightmare. On the other hand, the crowd support is amazing, so you get an enormous lift.

TF: What inspired you to do this?
KD: Apart from the Marathon des Sables, the Comrades Marathon is the big race that ultra runners want to complete -- and get the medal. I've become pretty competitive over the years, and the idea of charging past a few people on the way to the finish line is very appealing. And we have the opportunity to go and visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Wildlife Park afterward -- the place where all rhino conservation began 100 years ago -- to see how the funds we have raised will be spent. It's a special place where one man managed single-handedly to save a whole species from certain extinction. Truly inspirational.

TF: What will be the most challenging part of this race?
KD: I have to say that, after all the training, the most challenging bit might be getting to South Africa. Seven of the 10 runners are booked to fly out on British Airways, and we've just found out that the next wave of strikes will affect our flight. And that's without the volcano. After all this, we just need to get to the start line -- then we'll be fine. At least, that's what I tell myself!

TF: What do you hope the outcome will be for you personally and for the cause?
KD: For me, the team and the rhino costume, I want all of us to get to the finish line within 11 hours so that we get our bronze medals. Failing that, then within the 12-hour cut-off. And overall, we hope to raise £20,000 (over $30,000) for Save the Rhino -- that would make a really significant impact on their work.

TF: What would you say to others who are considering running a major event like this and aren't sure they can do it?
KD: Four things.
One: Start with a marathon -- if you can do under four hours, you're in with a chance for the Comrades.
Two: Put in the training -- there's no point in skimping.
Three: Do it for charity -- that way, you've got the extra incentive and the motivation will keep you going in the bad bits.
And Four: Run for a charity that has experience of the Comrades, like Save the Rhino -- you'll need all the help and advice you can get.

For more information on the Comrades Marathon and Save the Rhino, watch this video: