So there’s this guy, Rob Forbes, who left the UK in October last year on an expedition to South Africa with the ultimate intention of watching England in the World Cup. Rob’s adventure is a self-styled ‘triathlon’ that started with a 25km open-water swim across the Strait of Gibraltar and he has just about completed a 20,000km self-sufficient cycle through Africa’s western countries to end in Pietermaritzburg for the start of the 89km Comrades Marathon.
Last Wednesday, Rob – in Volksrust at that stage – just happened to spot Mnweni Marathon in the race calendar section of the May issue of Runner’s World SA. He made contact with Laura, cycled to the Mnweni valley, ran a super six-hour time (9th place!) and yesterday, the morning after the run, was back in the saddle continuing on his route to ‘Maritzburg.
Rob’s website, Tri4Africa, hosts his blog, images and other bits. His ‘tri’ is in support of Re-Cycle, an organisation whose mission “is to collect secondhand bicycles and ship them to Africa. Their partners distribute bikes and teach riders the skills to repair and maintain them. The bikes also help health/AIDS workers reach remote villages and even provide an ambulance service in remote Namibia“. Rob aims to raise £1 per kilometre of his journey in support of Re-Cycle.
Rob is no stranger to South Africa. His dad is South African and Rob has spent time here visiting family.
It’s always a treat to meet adventurous spirits; Rob is definitely an interesting one. Safe travels on your last day or two of cycling and happy running at Comrades, Rob.
Amazing stuff … It must be one incredible journey.