About the Marathon Des Sables
The Marathon des Sables (MdS) is a 6 day / 230km endurance
race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normallytaking place at the end of
March / beginning of April. The Course varies from year to year but always has
one long day of around 80km, normally at day four. A dune day is also included
and as it implies is over dunes, for approximately 40 km.
Competitors
have to carry what they need to survive the race in a rucksack, including food,
clothes, distress flare, medical kit and sleeping bag. Only water rations are
provided by the race organisers. And when competitors stop for the night, they
have to prepare their own food — before snatching a few hours of exhausted
sleep and getting up to tackle the next day of the six-stage race. A description of the race from a BBC highlights what is involved and some background information.
Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables
It's a
challenge? It's Fun? Well that’s what the organizers say….and some past
competitors. My main goal is to finish what is described as “the toughest
footrace on earth” and in the process raise money for Mencap. The money raised
will help Mencap support thousands of people with a learning disability do the
things most people take for granted – like learning new skills, finding the
rights place to live and getting involved in community life.
This is
certainly a challenge and as you can imagine a great deal of training is
necessary over the coming year. A majority of this will be carrying an
increasingly heavy backpack over the hills of Southern Scotland.
So please
sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/hortonmds
Links
