Dr. Andy Baldwin, star of ABC's hit show "The Bachelor," heads to South Africa on Monday in preparation to run the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, May 30, 2010. Baldwin will join Josh Cox, who is the American record holder in the 50k, and running guru Bart Yasso of Runner's World.
All three men are racing as a part of Team World Vision. Their goal is to get people to sponsor a child in Africa or another impoverished country. The money goes towards supplying kids with food, clean water, health care and schooling.
According to an email Baldwin sent on Sunday, "I leave tomorrow for South Africa. We're all very excited. I talked with Bart today and he's on his way. Josh is already over there. I have gotten 100 children sponsored, and as a total we've gotten 750 sponsored. We have a goal of 1500 so we need more."
Baldwin personally sponsors a five-year-old African boy named Matt-Andy who is coming to watch him compete next Sunday.
The Comrades Marathon is a 56-mile (89 kilometer) race between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa. It is the world's oldest and largest ultra-marathon.
Every two years the race route alternates directions, offering a course with 2,300 feet of climbing on an "up year" and a 2,300 foot drop in elevation on a "down year." 2010 is a down year."I'm nervous but trust my training," Baldwin said. "I know I can mentally will my way through it." Of course Baldwin has spent months preparing for the race and he's also completed eight Ironman Triathlons in the past, so this isn't his first test of extreme endurance.
Baldwin is hoping to finish Comrades in 9 hours, which means he'll have to average a little over nine and a half minute miles over the course of the race.
Cox, on the other hand, is going for the win. He'll most likely have to finish in just over five and a half hours, or average slightly under six minute miles.
There is still time to sponsor a child with Team World Vision and show your support as Baldwin, Cox and Yasso tackle the Comrades Marathon on May 30.
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