About the Marathon Des Sables

The MdS is a 6 day / 243km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normally taking place at the end of March / beginning of April.

During this time the competitors (myself included!) have to carry all food, cooking equipment, food, survival equipment, etc over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures upto 120°F.

Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables

After seeing this on the Eurosport channel a couple of years ago, it only seemed strangely natural to give it a go...

The 'Marathon Des Sables' or the 'Marathon of the Sands' is a 151 mile (243km) race across the Sahara desert in Morocco that is recognised for being the 'hardest footrace on earth'.

The reasoning behind this reputation is that its competitors face daytime temperatures of 120'F, 23'F hotter than your average sauna, whilst running an average daily distance of a full marathon. The terrain that runners face comprises of 50 per cent hard rock and rubble, 50 per cent sand - 20 per cent of that in the form of dunes.

During the night temperatures fall to an average of 39'C (4'C), which is not helpful in recovering from the days exertion, and given my lack circulation I expect to be recognised by my blue appearance.

Throughout the run competitors have the responsibility for carrying all their own kit over the whole 151 miles including their own food, dining on cuisine enjoyed by astronauts with a side helping of salt tablets - no B&B fry up here!

Contestants will not be able to receive any external help and if they do it is normally because their race is over.

If at any point runners get dehydrated, or ill, or sustain a serious injury they don't get another chance to rejoin the race.

Competitors feet are expected to swell by two sizes and each competitor will be at a large risk of heat related illnesses ranging from sunburn, heat syncope (fainting), heat oedema (swelling of the limbs), heat cramps, miliaria (inflammatory skin eruption - which is nice), unconsciousness and heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat stress.

Preparation for the race is made especially hard due to the seasonal difference between the UK and Morocco, given that the event takes place in April and there fore most training takes place during our winter.

One of my main reasons for running is to raise money for Kirsty's Appeal. Kirsty, as you may know through her press coverage was born with her heart the wrong way round which means her major organs are misplaced, Kirsty has had nine Cardiac procedures and her day to day living is severely restricted. Kirsty is one in 60 million and was given six weeks to live Feb 1999.

In spite of this she aims to raise £5 million for Francis House Manchester's Children Hospice, which was opened by Diana, princess of Wales in 1991, an organisation that aims to help terminally ill children and give support to their parents. I hope to contribute to this cause with your help.

My sponsors who are helping to make the whole event possible for me are:

Pathfinder Telecom Ltd and Adidas.

Links

• http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/ - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
• http://www.facingafrica.org/ - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA (official charity of the MdS in 2003)
• http://www.darbaroud.com/ - The organizers of the MdS