Meet Fritz Sitte, a man who ran for 242 days across Africa to raise funds for charity

In March this year, Hudson spoke to Fritz Sitte, a 27 year old German national who was about to set off on a run across Africa.

The journey was partly to fulfil his own dreams of adventure, but also to raise funds for Viva con Agua – a local NGO promoting access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation in rural southern Africa.

Sitte and his brother Max have made it to the finish line - they didn’t make it in the record-breaking 200 days they had hoped for, and the route didn’t go quite as predicted, but make it they did.

But let's go back a few months... here's how it all started:

Sitte explains: "Returning from a 10,000 km cycling trip across Africa, I found it very hard to simply go back to a “normal” job. At the same time, I was overwhelmed by the negative expectations people had regarding my experiences. So, I decided to put an idea into action that a South African friend had given me during my bike trip: I want to do everything I can to become the fastest human ever to run from Cairo to Cape Town. Using this world record attempt as a platform, I want to show others how great people in general and Africans in particular area."

After preparing with coaches and following a basic training routine, he ran and ran and ran...

Fast forward to the end and now, Sitte shares the following insights after his run:

"Whenever there is time left, I sit in front of my laptop planning and organising this project. I constantly sell the opportunity to become part of the story to organisations and people. It feels like yet another endurance sport that I practice. Finding potential partners, identifying the right people to contact, sending emails, making calls, following up. In that sense, my job is no different than many other office jobs."

"It is not my favorite part of this life but one I can handle well enough. What is truly counterintuitive for me is to publicly share what I do. I’ve always thought that my actions are ordinary. I’ve done things that felt intuitive. Now I must take a view from the outside and communicate, identifying stories and narratives others are interested in or – ideally – benefit from. I must grow accustomed to people who don’t know me personally viewing and judging my actions and thoughts."

Lessons from the runner...

"I faced challenges during my preparation, and I will face so many more throughout this adventure. However, the positive outcomes, the upsides and opportunities, the doors that will eventually open in the course of this endeavor are motivating me every day. Each day will bring uncertainty, excitement, and unexpected experiences. This beauty is what I focus on and keep visualising. It is what I want to share and get across to everyone following my journey."

"I’m attempting something I have never done before. It can work and it can equally go wrong. If I make it across the African continent on foot, that’s great. If I manage to share this story with thousands of people and initiate some positive change within them, that’s wonderful."

"The sun will still rise the next day, clocks will keep on ticking, a bag of rice will tip over, and I will find a path forward. Actively reminding me of this truth helps me detach from all the worries which can otherwise easily consume us."

Overall, after getting sick along the journey and recovering, it's incredible to see what the body and mind is made of, says Sitte.

The best thing about the trip for Sitte was seeing how 'great' people are, especially when many offered him warm drinks or a place to pitch his tent along stops in his journey.

"If not, life will go on," says Sitte on his website documenting his journey.