Narraville-born Elke Slinger, 46, is preparing to take on one of the world’s most demanding endurance events, the Namib Race, a 250-kilometre ultramarathon set in the heart of Namibia’s iconic desert landscape from 16 to 22 August.
Born and raised in Narraville, Walvis Bay, Slinger says she grew up with the towering dunes as her backyard. “Back then I never understood what a privilege it was having the world’s oldest desert as my playground,” she reflected.
The Namib Race is a challenging seven-day, six-stage ultramarathon known globally for its extreme conditions and breathtaking scenery. Participants traverse some of the most diverse and dramatic terrain on earth, including Atlantic coastal beaches, vast salt pans, salt lakes often visited by flamingos, and the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib Desert.
Runners also pass through dry riverbeds with unexpected pockets of vegetation, expansive desert plains, rugged hills, and remnants of abandoned oil and diamond mining sites, making the course both physically demanding and visually striking. Slinger’s journey to the start line began in 2017 when she made a personal decision to improve her health and fitness.
That path led her to a friend, Paulina, who introduced her to RacingThePlanet, the organisation behind the global desert racing series. “I wanted to know everything about the organisation,” she said. When volunteer applications opened in 2019, she did not hesitate to apply.
Her plans were briefly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2022 she finally joined the event as a volunteer. “Laughing, crying and cheering with strangers from all over the world was incredible. Many of those people I am still close with today,” she said. She returned again as a volunteer in 2024, describing the experience as life-changing.
“Once you are connected with RacingThePlanet, you just can’t stay away.” That same year, Slinger faced a personal setback when she lost her job. During her period of reflection and recovery, she made a bold decision. “I needed to sign up for something big,” she said.
A CrossFit enthusiast and avid hiker, she has spent the past eight years embracing fitness as a lifestyle. In May 2025, she took the leap and entered the Namib Race. “I asked myself, ‘What would happen if you really try?’ And then I decided, let’s do this.” When she received confirmation from Race Director Samantha Fanshawe, she knew there was no turning back. Now just days away from the start line, Slinger admits that while her volunteer experience has given her insight into the race, the challenge ahead remains intimidating.
“You still feel anxious because you don’t know how your body will react to the tough terrain of about 40 kilometres per day,” she said. The race will take place on Sunday, 16 August 2026, where she will join competitors from around the world in the 250-kilometre self-supported challenge. Her preparation has included early mornings, long hikes with weighted packs, after-work training sessions, recovery work, and consistent discipline.
“This journey has been about so much more than training. It’s been about showing up every day, even when it would have been easier not to.” Slinger is dedicating her participation to her mother, Sophy Adonis-Slinger, whom she describes as her biggest supporters.
“Nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it,” she said. “With hard work, commitment, dedication, consistency and perseverance, anything is possible.”
The Namib Race is part of the internationally renowned RacingThePlanet 4 Deserts Series and is considered one of the toughest footraces in the world. Alongside it, UltraLite (Namibia) offers a more flexible format for athletes seeking a similar endurance experience in the same extraordinary environment.
Both events showcase the Namib Desert’s unmatched beauty, from moon-like valleys and sweeping dunes to vast plains, salt pans, and dramatic Atlantic coastlines, offering participants a rare blend of adventure, endurance, and natural wonder.
By Rudi Bowe
