We're on the bus from Ouarzazate to the start line and been handed our maps of the race. Day one looks tougher than expected. 33km with a 13km sand dune section. Including the biggest sand dune in Africa - Erg Chebbi.
It's all gone quiet on the bus. And the cheerful faces have changed to concern!
It's hot. Not a cloud in the sky. And I'm in very good company. Most of the talk has been about how much food to take. I've decided to go light. I was planning to have 3 meals per day and now I'm ditching one per day to reduce weight. Will aim for 10kg pack.
Day 1 was much tougher than expected. The 13 km of sand dunes seemed endless and were very demoralising. Finishedin5hrs47mins. Placed 310 out of 849. Not too bad.
Felt very very tired by the end. But good cheer in the tent kept us all going.
Day 2. Woke at 5am to high wind. 39km today. Blisters from yesterday not too bad. Under control at least.
Haven't had a shower since Friday but beyond caring. Still waiting for results but think we did ok today.
Just lanced my blisters... off to have a meal and a liedown.
Day 3 Today was the toughest yet. 38km and a lot of dunes. But the mountain we climbed was spectacular.
Finished 280th today in around 6 hrs 30 mins.
It's a great relief to get the third day done without to many problems. The knee is holding up. But just hand more blisters lanced - this time by the doctor. He winced when he saw them. And I winced when he cut them!
Not feeling too bad overall apart from my stomach. Tomorrow is the big though. 82km. There's going to be a lot of pain....
Thanks for the messages of encouragements. You have no idea what a lift it is.
My worst fears were realised on the big 82km day. I had bad blisters on the souls of my feet but that was the least of my problems. I threw up at check point 2 AND 3 which weakened me severely with over 50 KM to go. A kind doctor gave me an anti vomit tablet and I managed about half my energy bar and a few pieces of beef jerky. But I had to survive on that for the whole race.
I stumbled across the line in 18hrs 15 mins. I think cousin Ed saw me come in on the live webcam. That's a great feeling for me.
I threw up again at the end but feeling better today.
Blisters-appalling. 1 marathon (42.2km) to go and I'll have done it. If I have to hobble the rest I'll do it. The problem facing everyone tomorrow is the brutal heat. I'll be a very happy camper if I finish tomorrow.
Started the day feeling great. Evicted from our tents at 6am by the berbers as has been the norm for the last week.
Ran well for the first 13km to CP1. Nausea set in again by CP3 at 30km but by that time with only 12km to go there was no way I was stopping. Finished by running the last 7 or 8 km to the finish. 7 hours on the dot. No idea of my position and stopped caring.
Spectacular scenery. 51 degree heat. But a lovely cup of Moroccan tea at the finish line.
17.5km separate all of us from completing the Marathon des Sables now and there is a joyous mood in the camp.
Blisters are worse and by normal standards- horrific. But you should see some of the feet in the doctors' tent.
We're on the bus from Ouarzazate to the start line and been handed our maps of the race. Day one looks tougher than expected. 33km with a 13km sand dune section. Including the biggest sand dune in Africa - Erg Chebbi.
ReplyDeleteIt's all gone quiet on the bus. And the cheerful faces have changed to concern!
It's hot. Not a cloud in the sky. And I'm in very good company. Most of the talk has been about how much food to take. I've decided to go light. I was planning to have 3 meals per day and now I'm ditching one per day to reduce weight. Will aim for 10kg pack.
This map has started butterflies in my stomach.
Forwarded from the man in the desert
ReplyDeleteDay 1 was much tougher than expected. The 13 km of sand dunes seemed endless and were very demoralising. Finishedin5hrs47mins. Placed 310 out of 849. Not too bad.
Felt very very tired by the end. But good cheer in the tent kept us all going.
Day 2. Woke at 5am to high wind. 39km today.
Blisters from yesterday not too bad. Under control at least.
Haven't had a shower since Friday but beyond caring. Still waiting for results but think we did ok today.
Just lanced my blisters... off to have a meal and a liedown.
From our man in the desert
ReplyDeleteDay 3
Today was the toughest yet. 38km and a lot of dunes. But the mountain we climbed was spectacular.
Finished 280th today in around 6 hrs 30 mins.
It's a great relief to get the third day done without to many problems. The knee is holding up. But just hand more blisters lanced - this time by the doctor. He winced when he saw them. And I winced when he cut them!
Not feeling too bad overall apart from my stomach. Tomorrow is the big though. 82km. There's going to be a lot of pain....
Dreaming about pizza and a beer
From our man in the desert
ReplyDeleteThanks for the messages of encouragements. You have no idea what a lift it is.
My worst fears were realised on the big 82km day. I had bad blisters on the souls of my feet but that was the least of my problems. I threw up at check point 2 AND 3 which weakened me severely with over 50 KM to go.
A kind doctor gave me an anti vomit tablet and I managed about half my energy bar and a few pieces of beef jerky. But I had to survive on that for the whole race.
I stumbled across the line in 18hrs 15 mins. I think cousin Ed saw me come in on the live webcam. That's a great feeling for me.
I threw up again at the end but feeling better today.
Blisters-appalling. 1 marathon (42.2km) to go and I'll have done it. If I have to hobble the rest I'll do it. The problem facing everyone tomorrow is the brutal heat. I'll be a very happy camper if I finish tomorrow.
From our man in the desert
ReplyDeleteDay 5 Marathon Day 42.2km
Started the day feeling great. Evicted from our tents at 6am by the berbers as has been the norm for the last week.
Ran well for the first 13km to CP1. Nausea set in again by CP3 at 30km but by that time with only 12km to go there was no way I was stopping. Finished by running the last 7 or 8 km to the finish. 7 hours on the dot. No idea of my position and stopped caring.
Spectacular scenery. 51 degree heat. But a lovely cup of Moroccan tea at the finish line.
17.5km separate all of us from completing the Marathon des Sables now and there is a joyous mood in the camp.
Blisters are worse and by normal standards- horrific. But you should see some of the feet in the doctors' tent.
Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteJust read your blog and totally amazed at what you have achieved. Well done a real feat of endurance.
What happened to our great idea of steeping our feet in meths to add a layer of skin and stop blisters?
I loved the pictures you sent. A real memory.
Cheers
Andy Rose and MAtthew