Ryan Sandes
Encyclopedia
Ryan Nicholas Sandes "Hedgie" (born 10 March 1982 Cape Town
), is a South African trail runner
. In 2010 he became the first competitor to have won all four of the 4 Deserts
races, each a 6/7-day, 250 kilometres (155.3 mi) self-supported footrace through the Atacama Desert
in Chile
, the Gobi Desert
in China
, the Sahara Desert in Egypt
, and lastly Antarctica. His achievement prompted Mary Gadams, founder and CEO of RacingThePlanet
and organiser of the event, to state “Ryan Sandes is clearly one of the top endurance athletes in the world - to have won all 4 Deserts is a remarkable accomplishment.” To date only 81 individuals have completed all four the trails. 11 competitors have managed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam
, that is, completing the four trails in a calendar year (from 1 January to 31 December of the same year). Time Magazine voted the 4 Deserts Challenge as second on a list of the ten most demanding endurance races in the world.
Sandes was winner of the Sahara Race in 2008, the Gobi March in 2008, second in 2009 RacingThePlanet Namibia
and winner of the Jungle Ultra Marathon
in the Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, in Pará, Brazil, setting a new course record.
Sandes won the 2011 Leadville Trail 100
, in a time of 16:46:54, more than half an hour ahead of runner-up Dylan Bowman.
Sandes attended the South African College Schools
(S.A.C.S.) where he took part in cricket, rugby and water polo. He was awarded a BSc
degree in Construction and later an Honours in Quantity Surveying at the University of Cape Town
. In addition to trail running, he is an active mountain biker, paddler and surfer.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
), is a South African trail runner
Trail running
Trail running is a variant on running that differs markedly from road running and track running. Trail running generally takes place on hiking trails, most commonly single track trails, although fire roads are not uncommon. A distinguishing characteristic of the trails is that they are often...
. In 2010 he became the first competitor to have won all four of the 4 Deserts
4 Deserts
The 4 Deserts is recognised as the world's leading endurance footrace series as named by TIME magazine in 2009 and 2010, and by others as the "Ultimate test of human endurance"...
races, each a 6/7-day, 250 kilometres (155.3 mi) self-supported footrace through the Atacama Desert
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is a plateau in South America, covering a strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes mountains. It is, according to NASA, National Geographic and many other publications, the driest desert in the world...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the Sahara Desert in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and lastly Antarctica. His achievement prompted Mary Gadams, founder and CEO of RacingThePlanet
RacingThePlanet
RacingThePlanet is a privately held company that is one of the pioneers in the development of off-trail or rough-country endurance foot-racing...
and organiser of the event, to state “Ryan Sandes is clearly one of the top endurance athletes in the world - to have won all 4 Deserts is a remarkable accomplishment.” To date only 81 individuals have completed all four the trails. 11 competitors have managed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam
Grand Slam
Grand Slam may refer to:-Card games:* In the game of contract bridge a bid to win all the tricks of that hand. By extension, the taking of all the important elements in an endeavour.-Equestrianism:...
, that is, completing the four trails in a calendar year (from 1 January to 31 December of the same year). Time Magazine voted the 4 Deserts Challenge as second on a list of the ten most demanding endurance races in the world.
Sandes was winner of the Sahara Race in 2008, the Gobi March in 2008, second in 2009 RacingThePlanet Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and winner of the Jungle Ultra Marathon
Jungle Ultra Marathon
The Jungle Ultra Marathon is a 230 km Multi Stage Footrace/Ultra-Marathon through the Amazon Rainforest in Peru. The race starts at an elevation of 9000 ft in the Cloud Forest and winds its way down through the Cultural Zone with its indigenous villages and through the primary Amazon...
in the Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, in Pará, Brazil, setting a new course record.
Sandes won the 2011 Leadville Trail 100
Leadville Trail 100
Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon is an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, runners in the race climb and descend , with elevations ranging between 9,200-12,620 feet...
, in a time of 16:46:54, more than half an hour ahead of runner-up Dylan Bowman.
Sandes attended the South African College Schools
South African College Schools
The South African College Schools, commonly referred to as SACS, is a primary and secondary education institution located in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1829, it is the oldest school in South Africa and one of four schools expressly named by Cecil John Rhodes to offer an annual...
(S.A.C.S.) where he took part in cricket, rugby and water polo. He was awarded a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
degree in Construction and later an Honours in Quantity Surveying at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. In addition to trail running, he is an active mountain biker, paddler and surfer.