Keith Boyd recently ran the entire length of Africa from Cape Town to Cairo, breaking the Guinness World Record and inspiring youth across the continent.
Keith, a 57-year-old South African with a genetic heart condition and asthma, completed his run in Metema, a border town between Ethiopia and Sudan, last month. On May 22, 2024, he made history by finishing his run in 301 days, 20 hours, and 58 minutes, surpassing the previous record by nearly 17 days.
The previous record, set by British runner Nicholas Bourne in 1998, was 318 days. Keith began his ambitious journey in July 2023, and after roughly 10 months, 9 countries, and 11,000 kilometers, he finished victoriously in Ethiopia. His journey was filled with challenges and adversities. The instability in northern Ethiopia forced him to run out of sequence. After covering more than 1,000 kilometers in Ethiopia, he encountered a life-threatening incident, prompting him to drive to Sudan to continue. Sudan, amidst conflict, required him to navigate an easterly route to reach Egypt safely. He concluded his run at the Cairo Towers with fewer hardships but had to return two months later to complete a skipped segment in northern Ethiopia, finishing in Metema.
Keith faced extreme physical pain, sickness, legal barriers, and many more hardships, making the run seem impossible. However, with unwavering determination, he achieved his goal. He aims to use his recognition to inspire African youth to become agents of change and participate in elections, showing that if a 57-year-old with a genetic heart condition and asthma can achieve such a feat, they can realize their dreams through perseverance.
Having worked with Keith during the leg of his journey in Ethiopia, I witnessed his courage and endurance firsthand. One big lesson I learnt from this journey would be: “Never say never!”
Text and photos: Michael Metaferia
www.instagram.com/michael.metaferia
