Doc Lehmann Runs Comrades!

• By: Don Lehmann
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/doclehmann

Personal message

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

I'm again running the South African Comrades Marathon, the largest and oldest ultramarathon in the world. This will be the 84th running of the race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. I ran the "uphill" run 5 years ago and will join roughly 10,000 other runners in the "downhill" run this year. Only about a hundred of the runners are from the USA.  The course is 56 miles and hilly, with warm afternoon temperatures.  Training has been going well, despite the snow and late spring in Alaska. Training highlights this winter include competing in the JFK 50 miler in Maryland with single digit windchill, running on the Bering Sea ice in Naknek, running on sled dog trails in Bethel, and narrowly missing an avalanche on a run in Sitka. (Good thing I run slowly.)  I have sighted humpback whales and sea lions on runs.  The brown bear have not yet come out of hibernation to interfere with my training routes, usually run with Otter and Bou, my labrador copilots.  The absolute training highlight occurred March 22, when I completed the Shamrock Marathon in 3:53:42,  hand in hand with my daughter and son, making for a happy family and a proud old man.

This year I am again running as a  Greatheart to benefit Starfish, an organization dedicated to helping AIDS orphans in South Africa, one child at a time, with community projects to provide safe living environments, food, and educational support for children who otherwise would be out on the street.  I encourage you to read stories from the Starfish link to the left.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate. Your contribution to this page will benefit the charity listed on the left.

Please donate generously.  I hope to raise 56,000 rand,(1 $US=~9.5rand) or a thousand rand for each year of my life or mile of the race.I have started an account in Sitka to cover the first 10 miles.  Any help you can provide is appreciated and will make a difference for some very special children.

Due to my computer incompetence, I was unable to download a picture with me and Megan and Torin at the finish of the Shamrock Marathon.  The picture at the left is one of my favorites and shows me with Frank Shorter prior to the local Alpine Adventure Run.  Frank was very kind and has the distinction of being the only Olympic Gold medalist to have ever finished behind me in a race!

Many thanks for your support.

Baie danke!

Don