Fitness trainer and passionate conservationist Sharon Jessop has broken the world record for running the most consecutive daily half-marathons ever, and raised her voice for rhinos and people.
Accompanied on Sunday by a sweaty retinue of support runners, Jessop, 50, completed her 76th 21.1km in the Protea Garden Court car park on the Port Elizabeth beachfront in the Eastern Cape, where she was met by a guard of honour, Olli the giant rhino brand ambassador and a glass of champagne.
Also in the small crowd outside Wayne Pheiffer Cycles, one of the sponsoring businesses for her epic challenge, were representatives from Eastern Province Athletics, who have been carefully recording Jessop’s efforts for her Guinness World Records submission.
Incredibly, she is set to push on with the aim of running 101 consecutive daily half-marathons by the end of December.
A former public prosecutor who now presents the Go Well with Sharon travel and conservation show on Bay TV, she said she had undertaken her Run Wild for Rhinos challenge to raise awareness and funds for the One Life Live It (Olli) rhino conservation campaign and Community Chest.
“They’re both such worthy organisations, and if we are going to save the rhino from being poached to extinction, we have to involve communities and show how benefits flow to them from game reserves.
“We absolutely can succeed in our mission to save the rhino if we all pull together and if we get more muscle from the government and big corporations.”
She said her runs overall had gone well.
“Day two was maybe the hardest.
“It suddenly hit home what I had committed myself to.”
On day six on a route through Walmer, her left shoulder was clipped by an oncoming vehicle and that had set her back for a while, Jessop said.
“I had some whiplash for a few runs after that, but since then, it has been plain sailing.
“Every person who has run with me even a small distance has been amazing.
“I'm absolutely committed to achieving my goal of 101 consecutive daily half-marathons by December 31.”
Jessop’s support runners have included top Eastern Cape runner Melikhaya Frans and The Island Nature Reserve ranger Thembinkosi Eric Singqoto, who did his half-marathon dressed in full field kit and carrying his rifle.
Eastern Province Athletics technical official Jan van Eeden said they had monitored each run meticulously.
“I measured each route and then checked Strava GPS and video footage after each run.
“I will submit this information and my certification for Sharon to include in her submission to the Guinness World Records organisation.”
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