It's one o'clock in the morning, and Johan Botha is pounding the pavement in Dubai.

The former South African international cricketer was coaching at the International League T20 tournament, and had to get a run in for an ultra-marathon he had coming up.

"We had a game in Abu Dhabi and you know, you sit on the bus for an hour-and-a-half and play the game, come back for an hour-and-a-half," Botha said.

"We got back to the hotel after midnight, and then I went for a run.

"I did a three-hour run from 1am to 4am."

Botha was training for Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, an endurance race in Perth which requires runners to complete 6.7 kilometres an hour, every hour, until there's only one competitor remaining.

The former off-spinner completed 52 laps, running for more than two days.

"The first one I ever did was probably three years ago now, I did 20 laps," he said.

"You sort of think that was hard, and it got hard.

After five Tests, 78 one-day internationals and 40 T20 internationals for South Africa, Botha is well acquainted with the rigours of professional sport. 

And he is no stranger to endurance training, spending time while on tour riding his bike with triathletes.

Running fills the gaps

But in the past seven years, as his career wound down, running became more of a focus.

"I sort of realised towards the end that I would still love to compete," Botha said.

"It is definitely filling that gap, you know, now I love the training, I enjoyed the training of running pretty much, six or seven days a week."

Botha still works in cricket as a coach for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and as a head coach for teams in various T20 tournaments across the globe.

But he sees running as almost another profession.

"Even though I don't get paid, I treat it as you know, you've got to do it as well as you can.

"You've got to get out every day, you've got to recover as well as you can, you've got to eat as well as you can too," 41-year-old Botha said.

"Obviously still coaching is my job, but the running fills the gaps between that."

Life and running

Married with two children and working, Botha said balancing running and life is an ever moving challenge, but not one that's insurmountable.

"I would say you definitely need an understanding wife," he said.

"It does take long hours, but I do try and not take up family time.

"When I've got a long run coming up, I try and get out early or try and fit it into the day when the kids are at school and Monica's at work.

"It can be done. It 100 per cent can be done. It doesn't just have to be at the perfect time."

Botha's family also help him on race day, crewing for him so he can focus on running.

His 13-year old son has even joined him on an Ultra, and will do a backyard event in South Australia in May.

Botha also leans on some of the best runners in the country for advice, with Perth's Phil Gore — himself a champion ultra runner — offering his insights when asked.

Phil's wife Gemma even crewed for Botha at the Perth race earlier this month.

Next challenge

Botha has his sights set on some ambitious targets in the future, with some of the most difficult runs in the United States on the horizon.

He wants to complete the Moab 240, Tahoe 200 and Cocodona 250, while a future project is also on his mind.

Botha is considering taking on the challenge of running from Darwin to Adelaide at some point, if he can partner with a charity.

"So run from top to bottom of Australia, as a bit of a charity run," he said.

"But, you know, those things take a lot of planning, and it's got to be a charity run. I want to do it for something. It needs to be worthwhile."

For now though, Botha is preparing for two more Backyard Ultras, to see just how far he can go.