I made the decision to run the Marathon des Sables in October 2018. That didn’t leave me much time to train – most people undertaking this challenge would train for a year beforehand. The only thing which made it feasible for me to be ready in time is the fact that I am a seasoned runner.
I ran my first marathon in 1981. It was the first ever Humber Bridge marathon, and as I lay on the ground, exhausted from the effort of completing it, I swore I would never put myself through that sort of torture again. But I did. Many times. In fact, I’ve never really stopped running since.
Neither Janice nor I were interested in taking life at an easy pace. Her photograph above was taken on a trip to Yellowstone park, which was far from easy, given her medical condition and the weather we were exposed to. Seeing the wolves and the amazing landscape they inhabit was absolutely worth the effort though. Janice would understand why the Marathon des Sables attracts me. Everything worth having in life involves a bit of work.
Training for the Marathon des Sables involves work all right, but it’s gone as well as I could have hoped, so far. I started off in my normal gear but made a trip to My Race Kit in November to pick up some specialist equipment. That’s when the enormity of the challenge started to become clear.
I bought trail-running shoes (2 sizes to big, because my feet will swell in the heat). I bought gaiters to keep the sand out of my shoes and prevent rubbing. I now also have a special lightweight backpack so I can carry water as I run. The backpack will have my ground mat (for sleeping on) attached to it and will contain my sleeping bag, clothes and all my food for the whole 6 days.
There are strict guidelines for the marathon, and I need to carry enough food to sustain me. I’m taking freeze dried expedition food (the sort of thing astronauts use), with a solid fuel stove to heat water for it, and some ready-to-eat snacks. The good people at My Race Kit have parceled this up for me, so I can see how heavy it makes my pack. The answer is: heavy. But there is no option, I have to carry it all. The only thing the organisers will carry for me is water.
Seeing all the gear was a little overwhelming. I decided to share the experience with friends who attended a celebration of Janice’s life which was held a couple of weeks ago. The celebration was a chance for people to come together and remember her, including some who had been unable to attend her funeral. We drank champagne and ate Christmas cake (2 of Janice’s favourite things) and smiled over old photos, like the ones from Yellowstone. Some friends from Blue Cross even posed with me in my gear!
The support of my friends helps keep me going, although that pack really is heavy! I’m getting used to running with it now, and on Sunday I decided to practice for the Sahara by running on Cleethorpes beach. I got pretty close to the shore.
Never one to let an encounter with the elements stop me (even the North Sea), I went out again on Sunday afternoon, to do some different exercise. It’s important to vary the sort of exercise I do, rather than always relying on running for my training. A bit of cross-training is good for the mind and the body. So I went horse riding.
My preparation for the ultra-marathon is now well underway. It’s a serious challenge but the support of my friends is invaluable. I really appreciate it (including that of my friend who lets me ride her horse – riding helps clear my mind, in a slightly different, more sociable way than running does). If you would like to support me, please leave a comment, or visit my Just Giving page to donate to Blue Cross in Janice’s memory.
John's Ultramarathon 