On Friday 24th April, at 18:30, Desert Ultra the Documentary was released live on YouTube with a live, lockdown premiere watched by runners from around the world.
This trail running documentary follows a multi-national group of athletes (including Ex-on-the-Beach reality star David MacIntosh) as they race across 250km of burning hot Namib desert trail in 5 days as part of the yearly Desert Ultra race and was filmed in November 2019.
With temperatures that regularly hit 50°c/120°F, no rest days, and a final stage which is over 90km/50 miles in length, this race takes every ounce of strength the runners have as they grind their way to the finish line, all whilst carrying every bit of equipment, food and medical kit they need to survive.
For the first time in the race’s history, Beyond the Ultimate let a film crew behind the scenes to follow the journey of the runners and the race team as they battle their way through boiling rocky valleys, desolate sandy river beds and highly protected conservation areas that support desert-adapted animals such as Zebras, Elephants and even Rhinos.
For some it’s a battle to break the course record, for others a fight to hang on and finish. A fight which not all of them will win. The finish line is notoriously hard to reach but once there, the runners can claim to be one of the few.
Over the course of the film you’ll see a first time ultra-runner shock everyone by claiming an amazing course record, and our first Namibian runner to win the event in the indomitable Wim Steenkamp.
Find out more at their website HERE.
