Vilho Paulus and the boertjie in the desert

At Gondwana Collection Namibia we love to share the journeys and the stories from throughout our amazing country, that life takes us on. I would like to share a very special experience I have had:

On 19 March 2022 we at Gondwana Collection Namibia held our first ever Moonvalley Marathon in Swakopmund. It was also to be my first marathon ever.

I trained hard for more than four months and that morning at the starting line, I was as nervous for the challenge ahead as I’ve been for a very long time. 

The gun went off and by the time the sun rose over the landscape I was deep into the desert.

The first half of the race went by without much incident or interaction with other runners. A thick fog bank hung over the Moonvalley landscape that morning and I remember thinking to myself that surely this must be one of the most spectacular trail marathons in the world.

Just over the halfway mark, a runner passed me from behind and he lingered just ahead of me for a while. I did pick up that he was running in national colours. He then slowly fell back and started running with me. Initially, we didn’t speak much until we reached a water point. I realized that he was waiting for me so that we could get going together again.

We got going and we started chatting. I asked him his name- Vilho Paulus he said. I asked him why he was running in our national colours, and he told me that he was a former national marathon champion who represented Namibia internationally. Wow. 

‘Why are you running here at the back with us slow runners,’ I asked. He said he got lost early in the race and now he decided to just take it easy. I felt as if I was holding him back and I said ‘Vilho you can go, you do not have to wait for me,’ but he said no- he will run with me.

He told me that he ran a 2:34 marathon the previous weekend and that his personal best was 2:16. That is absolutely world class. Upon hearing this I decided that I immediately need a selfie with Vilho.

The next two and a half hours were spent with us chatting about running and life. Just the two of us there in the desert.

To be honest, when he came past me, he probably thought to himself that he’d better take this guy under his wing because this boertjie might die in the desert today. I was deeply touched by Vilho’s compassion and camaraderie.

We finished the race together. I now have life-long bragging rights- I finished my first marathon with a former National Champion. Also, we both broke records that day- I ran my first marathon and Vilho ran his slowest marathon by far. 

Ultimately, it is not about Vilho and me, it is about what it represents. It is about the champion who could have been arrogant towards a lesser participant but chose not to be. In fact, he did the opposite, he reached out and helped. It is about people who look different and who come from different backgrounds, who simply reach out to each other. Not because of who you are or what you look like but rather because you are my fellow human being. My Namibian brother or sister. On 19 March 2022. Vilho represented the best of Namibia and the best of what we at Gondwana aspire to be. If all of us would embrace even just a little of that spirit, Namibia will become the nation among nations. The first step towards this, as per our Gondwana leadership ethos, is to ensure it is a little less about me and a little more about you. A little less selfish and a little more selfless. We respect our differences, not merely tolerate them. A nation where we care first for each other and then for ourselves and surely the most vulnerable should be the first in line.

When we face our deserts in life, as we inevitably do, whether you are a CEO, a teacher, a student, a housekeeper, or a policeman from Eenhana, we all need help to get through the journey. Someone needs to offer that help, even when no-one is asking. Our world needs more Vilhos. 

We at Gondwana Collection Namibia sponsored a weekend for Vilho and his wife at Etosha King Nehale- the closest Gondwana lodge to him. Over the weekend of 18 February. We also invited him in from Ondangwa with the friendly help from Fly Namibia to attend our Gondwana Green Ridge run just outside Windhoek. He stayed at The Weinberg Windhoek.

On the morning of the Gondwana Green Ridge run we were chatting, and I said it would be great if he would win the 20km race. Vilho put right hand on my left shoulder, looked me straight in the eyes and said: “Gys, don’t worry”. 

Less than two hours later he crossed the finish line in first place against a very strong field of runners including a few international participants.

I am lucky to call Vilho my friend.