Yay - back from the desert!

firstborn

firstborn

firstborn

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
3,591
Location
Nottingham
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
 
Carlos_S said:
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! :p

Also firstborn, is it all through the desert or do you pass through towns etc. ?
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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 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. :)
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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.
 
Hey cheers for all the comments. I'll try and get my report together soon with some pics and stuff. Still gathering my thoughts at the moment.

Is here or GD more appropriate for the report?

Cheers

Steve
 
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