by Kevin Light (First Ascent Newsletter - August 2010)
"Now, before Evie blows the start whistle," says Darryl, "we need Kevin Light to show the First Ascent Rhodes Lizard to us!" He makes me clamber up onto a 4x4 trailer in all of my kit, lift my DRY-LITE rain jacket, pull down my POLARTEC longs and show the Lizard tattoo on my left butt cheek to the whole field*. A loud cheer goes up, the whistle blows and we're off into the icy veld.
I got pretty used to showing my cheeky tattoo to all and sundry that day. Instead of my official SA identity document, they demanded to see it at race registration, and check that it was the real deal and not some henna, painted on excus"e. Every feeding station and some fellow runners wanted photos. One or two started calling me, "Lizard Boy". Other comments shan't be mentioned here.
The lizard actually has huge personal significance for me. It was a symbol for my Karoo-born dad of tenacity, endurance and adaptability. He was a remarkable man in many ways and I first applied to run the Rhodes Run in the year that he died. With fond memories, and his last comrades medal in my pocket, we ran Rhodes together.
There is no way to describe the exhilarating, threatening, wild, beautiful experience that is Rhodes. You have to immerse yourself in it and find out for yourself. It will take you up Mavis Bank and past the edge of yourself. You will look back and see your life with fresh perspective. You will let go of other people's crap that you have been carrying around with a misguided sense of obligation. You will renew your relationship with yourself, refresh your priorities and deepen your values. It will give you a lighter spirit for sure.
Thank you, First Ascent, for allowing me the privilege of this Wild Card encounter with the mountains, the cold, the stark beauty, the other crazy runners, but most of all, with myself. I am proud to carry the brand under my skin.
Kevin Light.
* Read Kevin's submission here
