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Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables

On June 15th 2004 my brother in law Lee Wild died unexpectedly and instantly from a heart condition he did not know he had. Lee was 40 and he loved and lived life to the full. He loved the outdoors and traveling. I am attempting to run this race in the memory of Lee.

For the 2007 Marathon Des Sables I will be raising funds for the St. Helena Hospice in Colchester.

About the Marathon Des Sables

In April 2007 I will be attempting to run a Multi Stage Ultra event which is regarded as "The Toughest Foot Race on Earth". The event is the Marathon Des Sables, an annual event which takes part in the Sahara Desert (Morocco). Approximately 750 participants, 200 of which are British, will attempt to run 156 miles across the desert in temperatures exceeding 120°F.

A six day event run in stages which must be completed in set time periods. One of the stages is a non stop distance of approximately 47 miles.

• Stage 1 - 29 kms / 18 miles
• Stage 2 - 37.5  kms / 23.5 miles
• Stage 3 - 41 kms / 25.6 miles
• Stage 4 - 76 kms / 47.5 miles
• Stage 5 - 42.2 kms / 26 miles
• Stage 6 - 20 kms / 12.5 miles

Each participant must carry all his/her own food and equipment for the week with the exception of tents and water (9 litres per person per day) which is rationed at various check points throughout the race. Back packs are estimated on average to weigh approximately 30Lbs. A typical race kit is:

• 1 running shirt
• 20-litre Rucksack
• 1 windproof top
• 42 Ibuprophen (200mg)
• 1 shorts
• 42 Paracetamol
• 3 socks
• 1 antiseptic spray / iodene
• Sun Hat
• 15 Compeed & Micropore Sun/sand goggles
• 1 Sleeping Bag
• 1 Trainers + sand gaiters
• 1 Roll mat
• 1 Compass Needle & thread
• 1 Whistle
• 1 Spoon
• 1 Head Torch
• 1 Toothpaste & brush
• 1 Knife
• 1 Lighter
• 1 Venom Pump 
• 10 Safety pins
• 1 Signal Mirror
• 24 Wet Wipes
• first aid kit

The Race in Numbers - who goes?

• Around 30 nationalities
• Over 6 000 competitors since 1986
• 30 % repeat competitors
• 70 % international,
• 30 % French
• 12 % women
• 45 % veterans
• 33 % in teams of three or more
• 10 % walkers
• 90 % alternate walking and running
• 14 km/hr : average maximum speed
• 3 km/hr : average minimum speed
• Age of youngest competitor so far: 16
• Age of oldest competitor so far : 78
• 90 volunteers in technical team
• 100 members logistic team
• 30 members medical team
• 90 Berber tents
• 35 Saharan tents
• 80 all-terrain vehicles
• 3 mountain bikes
• 4 camels
• 2 helicopters
• 1 Cesna aircraft
• 5 Boeing
• 4 satellite phones
• 1 image-transmitting satellite
• 15 000 litres of diesel
• 5 000 litres of petrol
• 8 000 litres of kerosene
• 80 000 litres of water

Facing the challenge

For many people a Marathon (26 miles) represents the ultimate in human endurance, however perceptions are changing. Not long ago, the ability to complete such a distance was thought to be a capacity confined to super humans alone, but now it is accepted that ordinary people can complete such races. Indeed thousands of people complete these events around the world each year.

It is now thought that such events as the one I am attempting to run is for these super humans. I am by no means an elite athlete, but an average person who has been given the opportunity to participate in this `insane' event.

At the age of 39, I am, through vigorous and committed training, willing to pit my fitness and mental stamina against this prolonged physical demand in a bid to prove that extraordinary endurance capacities can be demonstrated by the `normal' person.

Links

• johnhibberd.blogspot.com - My training log
• lisaandjohn@talktalk.net - E-mail me
• www.justgiving.com/johnhibberd - Sponsor me via Just Giving
• www.sthelenahospice.org.uk - Running for St Helena 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)