Dennis Hibbert was born in Windhoek, Namibia, and now is currently living in Walvis Bay, Namibia. He is in his early thirties and is a high school teacher.
Dennis has been a runner for ten years and belongs to the Windhoek Harriers Running Club, which has about one hundred and fifty members. He runs five or six times a week, at ten to fifteen kilometers each run, and about twenty-five kilometers on the weekends. Dennis prefers to run alone and varies his courses.
Runners in his part of the world run year round. The weather is mostly hot and dry, while cold and dry in the winter. These weather conditions can effect running since it can get very hot an dry in the summer, and freezing cold in the winter, though it is too dry for snow. Misty and cool is Dennis' favorite weather to run in.
Dennis usually wears shorts and a vest or T-shirt when he runs, and he owns two pair of running shoes. He runs with a water bottle and says, "Gas stations or other places to drink are very rare. And I live in the middle of the oldest desert in the world!".
Dennis reads a world known running magazine, and when asked if running is an accepted activity in Namibia he said, "There is some interest, but few people actually run for recreation or sport". In his opinion running is not really popular in his country, but both men and women make up those who do run. He advises that visiting runners should not go running alone, and not to run where there are not any people around.
Dennis says that there are not really any taboos about running in his country and he says that visiting runners do not appear to stick out. There are not any religious or cultural holidays that visiting runners should take note not to run during.
Runners sometimes run with dogs in Dennis' area, depending on the distance. Dennis advice to a visiting runners is to "Stay on the roads, as snakes and other dangers are present if you go running cross-country in the veldt".
Dennis also runs in organized races which are anything from ten to forty-two kilometers. These races normally cost from 20 to 40 Namdollars (about 5 to 10 U.S. dollars). The larger, more well supported races, provide a race packet and all races will give you a commemorative badge. The larger races provide medals as well. During a race the organizers will provide the runners with water and Coke. Sometimes relays and ladies races are held.
Dennis has also run in South Africa, where he noticed that there were many more runners than he is used to. He has participated in marathons, as well as ultra marathons, including the "Two Oceans 56km", in Cape Town and the "Comrades 90km", in Durban. Dennis' fastest marathon time is 3:08, and for a half marathon is 1:23.
Dennis says that "the Two Oceans marathon in 1995 and the Dolphin Marathon here in Walvis Bay in 1994" are among his favorite all time runs.
Run The Planet would like to thank Dennis Hibbert from Namibia for taking part in the Planeteer Spotlight.
