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Race Coverage
RACE Coverage
‘Age is Just a Number’: Meet the Ultramarathoner Taking on the 5 Races in 1 Year
What drives someone to run or walk 1,250 kilometres across some of the world’s harshest terrains within a single year? For a select band of determined ultramarathoners, this adventure means so much more than just ticking a bucket list box, it is the ultimate test of endurance and spirit; it is RacingThePlanet’s 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus.
To complete this accolade, participants must successfully complete five 250-kilometre ultramarathons in 12 months, including the Atacama Crossing in Chile, the Gobi March in Mongolia, the Namib Race in Namibia, The Last Desert in Antarctica, and the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon. Each race is a mostly self-supported, multi-stage odyssey across harsh deserts where temperatures can spike up to over 40 degrees or plummet to sub-zero. Completing just one of these races is a monumental feat. Taking on all five in a single year requires a unique blend of resilience, determination, and, perhaps, a touch of audacity.
For Danish ultramarathoner, Ivan Schmidt, the decision to tackle the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus came to him “quite spontaneously,” he explains. “Since I had already participated in all the races that make up the challenge, it just felt like the natural next step for me. It wasn’t a big decision – it was just obvious that this would be my next goal.”
We can’t argue with Ivan’s logic. Yet his story makes his endeavour all the more remarkable. Having only started running ultramarathons in his sixties, he was someone “who had never been active before then,” making his rise in the sport nothing short of extraordinary.
Over the past decade, Ivan has taken part in numerous ultramarathons on nearly every continent, even clinching first place in his age group at the Namib Race in 2022. Alongside him is his partner, Janka Dolezal, who is a familiar and welcoming face among race volunteers. Now, as he approaches 70, Ivan personifies the mantra ‘age is just a number.’ He shares that “ultramarathon racing has made me approach travel and life differently. I feel stronger, more confident, and ready to take on anything. I truly believe I can conquer the world, and I’m excited to achieve even more as I get older. Age really is just a number – I feel as if I’m just getting started!”
It’s easy to marvel at Ivan’s mindset. For most, the idea of finishing even one 250-kilometer race seems daunting. Yet his philosophy is simple: “there’s no finish line in life – after one race is finished, you’re already thinking about the next. Keep moving, stay focused, and remember: after the race is before the race!”
For Ivan, the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus “would be a huge achievement in my life. Turning 70 this year makes it even more meaningful. Many people in my age group might think they’re too old for such challenges, but I’ve learned that age is just a number. The feeling of striving to be better and more successful at this age is incredible.”