Marathon des Sables 2009

Hi Folks,

This page has been a while coming, its primarily to link all the MdS blogs together so here goes.

Overall results
Position Time Average speed
632 out of 770 46H29:38 4.35

• Build up
• Pre race problems
• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Stage 4

And now... well its a while since I finished the Marathon des Sables and I miss the great time and new friends I made out there. The atmosphere was incredible, and no problem seemed to big. Everyone of all nations seemed to get along, and it really was an incredible bonding experience. Another adventure is needed, another desert race, or perhaps an ironman? Who knows, for now I'll stay content with the High Peak 40 and the 3 Peaks challenge.

Cheers

Andy

MdS - Day 6 - A marathon to remember

Hi,

Stage 4 - Aferdou Nsooualhine to Mekta Sfa: 42.2km

Quick results
------------
Position Time
659 out of 771 08:16:17
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Well after a little rest on Day 5 after finishing the long day at 09:30 there was now just 26.2 miles seperating Dave and I from the finish line. We all lined up battered, blistered, patched to high heaven and body condition wise we must have been one of the worst looking fields assembled on a marathon start line, and for the first time in my running career I realised I had no fear of the marathon distance, repect yes, but not fear.

Dave's condition had taken a turn for the worse and whilst his spirits were high his bowels had decided that it would be a hard fight for him to the finish line. Dave and I started as usual with a consistent stroll at the back. As the race continued his emergency stops got ,ore frequent and unpredictable, but nothing could dampen his spirits.

This years Marathon stage route ironically seemed to sum up the whole event. There was a tall rocky hill to clinb, lots of sand dunes, and the special signaturue of the MdS 2009, a river ford to cross. The river really distroyed all those carefully placed plasters and so I sat down and tore mine off.

As we approached the finish line we desecended a rocky slope and Dave descided there should be a full on sprint finish as is his usual signature finish, and so with some final words to one another Dave and I went full pelt, and in a blur we legged it over the finish line to the surprise of the spectators as our pqrt of the field was the walking wounded section!

We have our finishers medals now and are quite happily stuffing our faces with lovely desserts in the hotel. Dave is on the mend, and I'm left with a feeling of what next? :)

Thanks for all the messages, they really meant a lot.

Cheers

Andy

MdS - Day 4 - The Long Day

Hi,

Stage 3 - Erg Znaïgui/Aferdou Nsooualhine : 91 km

Quick results
------------
Position Time
583 out of 773 24:26:16
------------

The long day is traditionally 40 to 50 miles long, because of the cancellation of Day 1 the race organiser made it the longest ever in MdS history at 56 miles. Throw in appalling rocky climbs, countless dunes, hot temperatures, sand storms, pushing on through the night and its fair to say I've never been through anything so horrific in my entire life.

It took me 24 hours ish to complete and the memory is to raw to recount now. My feet are trashed, my shoulders muscles destroyed, and I've ended up eating what must be about 1kg of dust. Dave and I went through the most extreme highs and lows many times and managed to get each other through somehow.

On the bright side I have this afternoon to recover before a marathon tomorrow. There's rumours it will be super hard again to make up for the shorter distance this year. The last stage (a 10 mile run) has been cancelled for reasons unknown (their translator has the worst accent ever).

Thanks for the messages, they're great to receive.

Below is a picture of the camels finishing late in the day!