Yay - back from the desert!

firstborn · 18 Apr 2006 at 10:51

Just a quicky - I'm now back from the Sahara after completeing the Marathon Des Sables.

This years was particularly tough with record drop outs and extreme weather conditions but it has been the best experinece I have ever had.

There were low points - digging a hole under a rock and crawling into it for a brief excape from the sun.

High points - running a personal worst on the marathon day of 5hrs52, but felt like I was flying (literally) for the duration, this after already covering 100+miles.

Emotional points - crying as I crossed the finish on day 3 with Robbie William's Angels in my head for some reason and crying again as I applauded the final person across the line after the long day.

I'll try and get my thoughts together for a full report with some pics but it'll prob take a few days before I come back down to earth.

If anyone is thinking of doing this event - DO IT!!

Steve

booyaka · 18 Apr 2006 at 11:04

very well done - my hearty congratulations to you - i have seen it on the tv before and it looks brutal!!!

Carlos_S · 18 Apr 2006 at 11:05

Sounds very cool, according to Wikipedia it is the toughest foot race on earth :eek:

I would love to do something like this, but I always think about the worse case scenarios, then end up putting myself off!

Also firstborn, is it all through the desert or do you pass through towns etc. ?

firstborn · 18 Apr 2006 at 11:16

Carlos_S said:
Sounds very cool, according to Wikipedia it is the toughest foot race on earth

I would love to do something like this, but I always think about the worse case scenarios, then end up putting myself off!

Also firstborn, is it all through the desert or do you pass through towns etc. ?

Don't think about the worst!

Well the race passes by places where people live but you couldn't call them towns. The odd mud hut - but the majority is desert.

Pics from the race and press reports etc are now up on the organisers webby:

http://www.darbaroud.com/uk/index_uk.php

Tru · 18 Apr 2006 at 11:42

Wow! Kudos for finishing Steve, that really is quite an achievement.

What was it like at night? Was there some kind of camp where groups of you slept?

How long did you spend preparing? And, if you don't mind, what was the personal cost to you?

Congratulations.

firstborn · 18 Apr 2006 at 11:50

Tru said:
Wow! Kudos for finishing Steve, that really is quite an achievement.

What was it like at night? Was there some kind of camp where groups of you slept?

How long did you spend preparing? And, if you don't mind, what was the personal cost to you?

Congratulations.

Cheers.

A camp was prepared at the end of each stage for all competitors. On the first day you find a tent and share the same tent with the same people for the rest of the week - 8 to a tent. The group you end up with could make or break the race. I was very lucky to find a tent with a few I already knew and it turned out to be a great tent and morale was always kept high - especially as we also had the top brit in our tent who also just happend to be a top bloke. We were one of the few tents that survived intact without any drop outs.

Preparation began when I entered in Dec 2004 and takes up a considerable amount of time. Not only is there the training but the continuous evaluation of kit.

I'd say all in all (entry, kit, preparation events etc) I spent at least £4500. But do not regret spending one penny of it.

#Chri5# · 18 Apr 2006 at 13:11

Fantastic effort firstborn - congratulations. It's something to dine out on for many, many years :cool:

How much Factor 50 did you get through?

McRod · 18 Apr 2006 at 16:57

Did you bump in to Paul Le Guen?

Jonny ///M · 18 Apr 2006 at 17:29

Just heard something like this on the paul o grady show(i was sitting waiting on ma dad giving me my fry up). Seems to be the same event.

Good job man.

firstborn · 18 Apr 2006 at 17:41

McRod said:
Did you bump in to Paul Le Guen?

Nah, being french he was in a different quarter of the camp and I beleive I now owe a sottish chap in work a tenner for not beating him - although I outsprinted him on the last day it seems.

bingham67 · 18 Apr 2006 at 19:22

congratulations what an achievement

SexyGreyFox · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:13

Unbelievable

nikebee · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:18

wow

congratulations mate... what an awesome achievement... i'd love to be able to do something like that, but i'm nowhere near the physical fitness to do it.

how much did it cost in total to get you into the race? (getting there, training, race fee {if there was one} etc...)

very well done though

spirit · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:19

amazing, i may train hard for a year and do it next year, wow i have much respect for you.

andi · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:19

Bloody well done, takes some real guts to even apply, to finish is an incredible achievement. Be very proud.

Freefaller · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:20

Amazing. I could never achieve that - I'm just not built for running - I'd get tyred driving that distance.

Much much respect and admiration dude. You deserve to be proud.

panthro · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:23

firstborn, you have my respect. That is incredible. I cant even run a half marathon! Its truely amazing that you were crazy enough to enter!! :cool:

Any links to a website with some pics?

benneh · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:28

I'm just posting to show my admiration dude. You've done something that i really could never see myself doing. And raised money for a worthy cause during the process. Bravo

.

TripleT · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:48

Just incredible mate :cool:

You must be so proud

benjo plz. · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:50

Excellent Steve, good work.

Tru said:
What was it like at night? Was there some kind of camp where groups of you slept?

I'd imagine extremely cold would come into it.