Great Run: Life Lessons on the Run - Softcover

Malherbe, Braam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1920289437 ISBN 13: 9781920289430

Publisher: Sunbird Publishers Ltd, 2011

Synopsis

Everyone said it could not be done; even internationally renowned sports scientists such as Dr Tim Noakes. Certainly no-one had done it before, though many had tried: to run the Great Wall of China, end to end, non-stop. The journey would start in the Gobi Desert, cross the jagged Taihang Shan range, and end at the Bo Sea. It would involve blood boiling heat and mummifying sandstorms, soul-numbing mountain nights, incidents with bandits and draconian officials, pig's-head soup and witnessing large-scale environmental devastation. But no-one had counted on the tenacity of South African nature-lover Braam Malherbe. In running the main intact section of the Great Wall, 4500 kilometres end to end, Braam and his running partner David Grier set a world first. But Braam would have to call on reserves far deeper -- physically and emotionally -- than even he realised he had. China was never going to let him off lightly; then again, it would not leave a worthy traveller unmoved or unchanged. What began as a running-away, from long-buried childhood trauma, family suffering and loss, as well as hurt felt for the state of the planet, would eventually become a journey towards inner peace and understanding. The book concludes with the writer running into a new vision of healing the planet, step by small step, one person at a time.

About this title

Review

Most Inspiring!The Great Run by Braam Malherbe is an amazing story about and by this man who refuses to hear the word Impossible. Since he was twelve growing up in South Africa he was called to the wild and did his first monumental climb into the mountains and stayed for a week communing with nature and felt the call to save the earth. His next run at 17 was from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town for which he raised enough consciousness and money to save Langebaan Lagoon from environmentally destructive construction of a jetty. At 31 he ran from Tsisikamma National Park to Table Top Mountain National Park to raise money to stop poaching in national parks. But he still felt called to conquer more: something that no person had ever done and which was deemed impossible. He and his friend David Grier accomplished the impossible: they ran the entire length of the Great Wall of China, which had never been done before and will never be done again because China has now forbidden it. The planning had to be precise because of the inclement weather conditions during certain times of the year, and the entire fete had to be accomplished in four months, running a full marathon every day! The book details the personal quest and the enormous way Braam's entire psyche was changed as he made this grueling run, deciding as he daily faced possible death, what was truly important in life. The book is magnificent and you can experience life-changing moments also as you share his. He is an excellent writer and always runs for a cause to help humanity and the earth we live on.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sunbird Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1920289437
• ISBN 13: 9781920289430
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 202