About the Marathon Des Sables
The MdS is a 6 day / 230km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normally taking place at the end of March / beginning of April.
During this time the competitors (myself included!) have to carry all food, cooking equipment, food, survival equipment, etc over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures upto 120°F.
Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables
have been running for more than 20 years now, competing in track, road, cross-country and ultra-distance trail events from 1500m up to 80 miles. Running has given me both pain and pleasure in equal measure, taken me to some fantastic places, and introduced me to numerous inspiring people. Quite simply, I wouldn't be without it! I currently run for Nene Valley Harriers, based in Peterborough, where I live and work as an ecologist.
Friends tell me I'm obsessed, irresponsible, or just plain mad. So, why am I tackling the toughest footrace on Earth?
In your twenties, it's all about the competition and winning trophies; in your thirties, trophies don't come along quite so often, but you can still race the clock; by your forties, it sometimes feels as though you run merely to stave off the middle-aged spread ! Add to that the phenomenon of the mid-life crisis, as my local paper, The Peterborough Evening Telegraph, reported it; and you have the desire for a new challenge - to do something really different; that once in a lifetime experience. As Simon Murray writes in his book 'Legonnaire', "to those that totter on the brink, my advice is go and climb the mountains of life" the MdS represents a whole range of those mountains.
Yes, it's hard work, both the training and, undoubtedly, the race itself. However, I plan to try to enjoy it. In an excellent book about his obsession with fell-running, 'Feet in the Clouds', Richard Askwith recounts some advice he was offered: "Above all, if you're not going to enjoy it, don't bother. It's an awful long way, and an awful long time to be miserable" I trust that someone will remind me of this next April!
My preparation includes the Fairlands Valley Challenge off-road marathon, in July; the Downland Challenge 30 along the South Downs in July; the High Peak 40 in September; the Snowdonia Marathon in October; and much more besides. My sand training requires me to undertake a 2 hour drive up to the beautiful North Norfolk coast, which is well worth it for the scenery (e.g Holkham sands, as featured in 'Shakespeare in Love').
It is my intention to raise funds to support two charities through my participation in the MdS 2006:
The first, Facing Africa, a UK-based charity working to raise awareness of and provide treatment for NOMA, an acute and ravaging gangrenous infection of the face that kills 450,00 children annually. The victims of NOMA are mainly young children, the victims of extreme poverty and chronic malnutrition. The condition starts with ulcers in the mouth and, if not treated with antibiotics or improved nutrition, progresses to extremely painful swelling of the lips or cheeks. The gangrene sets in very rapidly and, after the scab falls away, a gaping hole is left in the face. NOMA has a 90% mortality rate, and the lives of the few who survive are afflicted with facial disfigurement, functional impairment, and social rejection. Further information about the work of Facing Africa and the NOMA, can be found at www.facingafrica.org.
My second charity is one for whom I've raised funds in the past: CLIC Sargent Cancer Fund for Children. CLIC Sargent strive to help children and young adults diagnosed with cancer, and their families, deal with its consequence, every day. They work to support families from the point of diagnosis, through treatment, and on their return to the community. CLIC Sargent do this in several ways, providing social, emotional and practical help in partnership with multi-disciplinary teams in hospitals and the community. For further details, go to www.clicsargent.org.uk.
I have a number of smaller sponsors supporting my run, but am on the look out for more. If you?d like to help raise funds for Facing Africa and CLIC Sargent, contact me on 01733 352375 or 07908 637771 or e-mail me: richard.ferris@jncc.gov.uk.
Newsletters
Links
- www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA
- www.clicsargent.org.uk - help children and young adults diagnosed with cancer.
- 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)