Michigan Peace Corps volunteer Tracey Cohen, 32, began teaching in Namibia (southwest Africa) April Fool's Day 2003. The 1989 University of Michigan graduate has completed 24 marathons, including most recently (and memorably) Namibia's Lucky Star.
On Oct. 11, 2003, my principal and I took four of our students (or learners as we call them here) to Swakopmund, on the Atlantic coast, to compete in the Lucky Star Marathon.

The race sponsors, Lucky Star and Etosha fisheries, make it possible for schools with limited funds (or none at all) by covering N$100 (roughly $15 in U.S. currency) of the N$150 ($22.50) relay fee for teams that pre-register. They also furnish accommodations Friday (and Saturday if needed), a Friday spaghetti dinner and post-race snack.

For runners who needed more than a snack, there were many "self-employed vendors' who sold braai (barbecue) meat for N$5 a piece. Namibians do love meat.

Another issue most schools, including ours, faced was shoes: many of our learners do not have any. They solved this problem by running barefoot.

October is summer in Namibia, but coastal weather that day was warm, overcast and misty, providing nice marathon conditions. Our learners (ages 18, 15, 14 and 14) ran as a relay, while I went solo. We ran from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund on gently-rolling hills, enjoying breath-taking views of the ocean on one side, enormous dunes on the other.

First aid and water (creatively stored in plastic bags, in which we pierced small holes with our teeth, thus reducing spillage) were found every 3K, along with enthused support, on the course.

We did not win prize money, which is awarded the top five teams, but the boys enjoyed themselves immensely. It was the first trip they had ever made to the sea.

If you have a sense of adventure and passion to travel to beautiful, less-populated places in the world, the Lucky Star Marathon is for you.

While you're in country, check out the Ombo Ostrich and Crocodile Farm in Okahandja, near where I'm teaching. Tours include viewing, feeding and (if you desire) sitting on the ostriches, plus (if you time it right) watching crocodiles being fed.

Next year's Lucky Star Marathon will be held on Oct. 9. For more information, contact director Lovina Plato at lplato@etoshafish.co.za or myself at runtrace@hotmail.com (I will be here through June 2005).If you are interested in other Namibian running events, contact Quinton Steele-Botes at nam00315@mweb.com.na.