About the Marathon Des Sables
The Marathon Des Sables is a 150-mile race through the Sahara Desert. It is commonly known as the toughest foot race on earth. I am sure now there are other races equal to its toughness but I am also sure that this is an extremely difficult race. Runners have to carry their food and camping gear (except for tent) for 7 days and are given water each day to carry. Total daily weight is around 10Kg reducing through the event as the food gets eaten!
Why I am doing the race
Who knows? 3.5 years ago I started running. I had always been fit and ran expeditions for sometime which also kept me fit and healthy. Family slowed me down around the age of 35 and I got very unfit and quite fat. I then hit 40 and 14 stone and my parents were both quite ill. All this together with my midlife crisis I felt I should do something about it so I togged up and started running. I have never stopped and ran my first marathon in New York one year later in a time of 4 hours 30mins. Desperately upset at my time (I hit the wall early, got cramps, and took 1hour 30 to complete the last 6 miles) I was sick for an hour after crossing the line but soon recovered with only a sore ego.
Over the next 3 marathons I got my time down to a respectable 3 hours 20 in Paris and it was after this one that I knew I wanted to run the MDS. I had already been waitlisted for 2005 but did not get in which was probably good in retrospect.
Training
My training since Paris 2005 has been with the MDS in mind only. I was put in touch with a fitness guru Nick Jarvis who completed the event a few years ago. His philosophy was similar to mine though with the experience of completing the race. I chatted with him and got hold of a running schedule that I have used very successfully to date. I have phoned him for advice every now and then and met up with him once. He has been absolutely great and I owe him if only for the programme. Obviously I have no idea how I will do in the event as there are so many variables but I am confident. I have also spoken to others who have also been a great help.
Who I am running for
I am running for Woking Hospice. Until last year a hospice was a hospice to me. I had never been in one but had raised a little money for Woking's. I had little idea of their role in the community. Then last year and old friend of mine who coached tennis (as I do) was admitted to Windsor Hospice and I visited him in his last few days. The difference the hospice made to him and his family was huge. I cried when I met him there as I had fallen out with him for a nonsensical reason 2 years earlier and not been in touch. I left there so pleased he was in a hospice where the care was so genuine and it was at this time I decided to raise money for Woking's only hospice.
I have currently raised £11000 and my target is £15000. It is in memory of Jeremy Bird - my friend.
Donations
Thank you for visiting my site.
Mark
 |
 |
Links
- www.wokinghospice.co.uk - Woking Hospice
- www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
- www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS
- www.bestofmorocco.co.uk - Tailor-made trips to Morocco (marathon not compulsory)