About the Marathon Des Sables
I have completed Marathon des Sables on 3 occasions in 1999, 2001 & 2002, together with the Trans 333 in Mauritania and the Jordan Desert Cup. It is one of the most professionally organised races in the world and is the benchmark by which all other ultra events are measured. The race is both a physical and mental battle that lasts for 6 days and is different each time.
Successful completion one year is no guarrantee of a repeat in future years as many Vets will agree.I know of 7 vets who failed to complete in subsequent years.
It is an alien environment and trying to explain is like explaining colour to a blind man
Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables
It's my ambition to have run a race in every country in the Sahara and every desert in the world. It provides me with an opportunity to visit the more remote areas of the planet, which I otherwise probably would not.
It has changed my life for the better both in commercial and personal terms, as it has to a greater for lesser degree for everyone who has taken part. I find it inconceivable that everyone will return from this with a changed and improved view on life.
People see you in a differnet light when you return.
Why go back? 3 Reasons,
1 To meet friends from Europe who we only meet up on Desert races and to meet new friendsover the coming months
2 Conditions. 2001 was very hot around 50 degrees every day, 2002 we had a two day Sand storm with 50 metre visablility, which raged throughout the 50 mile night section across the dunes- very different
3 I really enjoy deserts, they're clean.
Links
- www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
- www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA (official charity of the MdS in 2003)
- www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS
- www.litchfield.co.uk - My sponsors web site
- www.odlo.com - My desert tailor
- www.saucony.com - Shoes