Comrades finisher Kuun completes Midmar Mile, again
She also recently completed the Cathedral Peak Challenge, a 20km round trip that starts and ends at the Cathedral Peak Hotel and goes right to the top and back of Cathedral Peak, with a total ascent of 1 531m.
It was more a case of facing her fears than going for gold for ultra-athlete Amanda Kuun as she went for her eighth Midmar Mile open-water swim completion in KwaZulu-Natal in early February.
Kuun, who gets a kick from completing the most difficult of sports, succeeded when she completed the 1.6km swim in 53 minutes and five seconds at the Midmar Dam.
The challenge, named the aQuellé Midmar Mile for sponsorship reasons, is known as the world’s largest open-water swim.
Kuun (52) is a three-time Comrades Marathon finisher out of five attempts. Furthermore, her sporting résumé now includes eight Midmar Miles, two short of getting her permanent number.
She’s completed two Argus Cycle Challenges (now the Cape Town Cycle Tour) with her daughter and the Fish River Canyon Hike – just to list a few.
Speaking of her experience at the Midmar Mile open-water swim, she said: “I had to do it, even if I had to drive there, swim and drive back the same day.
“I actually panic when I hit the water; it is quite scary when you run out of breath and it feels like you are overwhelmed by the size and depth of the dam. Only your head pops out and the waves – believe me, there are waves – smash water in your face.
“So I first did a pre-swim at the Ebotse Mile in Benoni. I thought it would be less overwhelming to have the start and finish in a similar environment. I had it wrong. I panicked from the start right through to the finish. I was so tired and wondered if I should dare take on the Midmar Mile.
“I did not want to chicken out and started working on a plan: training myself to prevent getting into a panic situation and if necessary, how I should work through it when it hit me in the dam. I researched and found I was not alone in the world of panic.
“Former Ironman triathlon lady champ Biscay Schekler has the same problem. And her advice was the same plan I tried to follow. To me this was a new challenge, to face my fears.
“Everyone’s nerves were running high, but mine were in the red. I warmed up and breathed deeply to calm myself.
“When I saw most people grabbed the safety inflatables you tie around your waist and drag behind you in the water when you swim, I thought I’ll try it out also. It is a new introduction the organisers brought in to make the sport safer. In the seven years I took part in the Midmar Mile, two people have drowned, unfortunately.
“When the gun went off everyone ran and dived and started making waves. I took it slow at the back of the pack and waited for the panic. It never came. It is amazing how much that balloon behind you and, of course, lots of prayers before the time, helped me to not panic.
“I enjoyed the swim so much I was on a high in deep water. I even thought I was going to break the record, but the finish line stayed in the distance.
“When I eventually got to the finish, I couldn’t wait to do it again next year. Even my dad (74) said he will join me next year, and he doesn’t even swim in the deep end of a swimming pool.
“I hope I inspire people of all ages to get active and do what they enjoy. It is so much fun.
“Age, gender and race are non-existent in sport. We help and encourage each other and share the moments afterwards endlessly. You have achieved yet another goal and come out the winner. It lifts you up for days, enough to plan another.”
The event drew approximately 13 000 people.
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