Marathon des Sables 2010
Saturday 3rd April 2010 – Inspections complete
Today we have had our checks and all of us have passed. The rest of the day we have spent talking to old friends and packing and repacking our kit. The start is the same valley where we started in 2005 and 1999 so we are in for a beautiful course.
Its hot and humid and last night was very hot. It’s strange weather and weather that could cause a lot of athletes to drop out through dehydation only time will tell, but whatever it will be a memorable week for everyone.
The wind is kicking up so we have to alter the tent now; got to go.
Day 1
The wind died down but not before we had changed the tent to stop it blowing away.
We got to the start and met a man on crutches who is taking part. We have total admiration for him.
The gun went and off we ran for a simple 29K stage except it wasn’t. 3 sets of dunes, valleys and 40 degrees of heat made this one of toughest first stages in the race’s history. Eight went out to run the stage and 8 came back. Some runners have already dropped out by launching their red flares to get the doctors to come to them.
We are worn out; our shoulders hurt and ache from the weight of the packs. Not too many blisters though. The nights are good and us three, sharing our tent with the five Germans, fire jokes and banter until we fall asleep. The moon is so big it shines like a night light keeping some of us awake.
We won’t have any trouble sleeping.
Day 2
We awoke to the sound of the “yala yalas” who decided to pull our tent down first and so we vacated it at 6.15am. We are all tired from yesterday and the night winds and today there was no respite. It’s hot and humid and we had to climb the 600 m sand dune mountain which we did in 2005. In fact anyone who did 1999 or 2005 would feel right at home.
The last runner has just arrived at 9pm 12 hours for 35k over dunes up and down mountains and in humid 40 degree heat.
Colin was pulled out today due to the heat. He was given an IV drip on the course which is serious and he is getting better but not right yet.
Day 3
Today was Hot! Hot! Hot! 50 degrees, humid and flat. We had a bad night’s sleep as again it was hot and we lay awake under the night sky- frustrating. Needless to say running a marathon in this heat is not great. We ran across a flat plain for 9.5 kilometres before climbing a mountain and crossing a plain to Checkpoint 1. The huge stye in my eye burst and blood obscured my vision, but the doctors swooped on me and I was fine in a few minutes.
The next two stages were salt flats and featureless plains. The sun baked down and we STINK thanks to the humidity. These stages sap the brain and several first-timers were struggling.
We all got in to camp and the weather is changing for the better. It’s now Wednesday morning and we are sitting here waiting for the start of the double marathon stage. Its hot. But getting clearer. We will be out all day and night. Paul is fine and the tent is great.
Wish us luck!
Day 4 – The double marathon day
You actually have 2 days to complete this but the trick is to complete it in one and have a day off.
This year the course has been made the toughest in its 25 year history. Wednesday’s run was no different. 70 percent was sand – a treacle-like substance that dragged at your ankles and sapped your resolve. People are finishing at 3 – 9 in the morning a good 8 hours slower than usual and as I write many are still out on course carrying injuries from this week.
Paul came in at 7am this morning a very good effort but again he was exhausted by the track.
I took 24 hours – 11 more than usual. We all visited the doctor today and our feet are covered in pink Iodine as blisters have been lanced and treated. We start a marathon stage tomorrow (Friday).
Day 5 – Rest day
The whole tent is in though much slower than usual because the long day was longer and tougher.
So now we’re basically trying to get well for the marathon tomorrow. Everybody’s feet are trashed through a combination of heat, humidity, rocks and sand. Our feet, legs, and groins ache. Its an ache that comes in waves; it catches your breath with a mass needle-like pain before settling down.
The staff are the three -fuls: wonderful, beautiful and helpful. Being French they chatter away in this delightful sing-song language We talk and adjust our kit but do little else as a walk to the toilet is enough exercise. We are burning 9,000 calories a day and have already drunk 52 litres with 2 days to go.
Day 6 – Marathon Day
Well 200 kilometers in 50 degrees heat is clearly not enough exercise so we shall run a marathon – the fourth in four days. We get up at dawn at 5am and spend three hours getting our kit right. Paul takes 45mins a foot about the same as most. His feet look as if they have undergone surgery, bandaged all over. Each toe is carefully wrapped and taped and inspected at each stage. Many friends who have not got this right are already out of the race.
The Yala yalas take down the tents and in a space of one hour an encampment for 2,000 souls disappears from view. We say our march or die promises to each other and each of us Paul, me, Andreas, Stephan, Werner, Christian and Bridget go to our places on the line.
Stephan and me team up again after our success on the double marathon. We decide to march the whole race to avoid hurting our injuries any more and to make it to the last stage.
Day 7 – Final day
We awoke to see the dunes in the early morning sun – fabulous. Then we felt our injuries and were brought back to earth. Our feet have kept us awake most of the night as they hurt so much; a continual throb intermingled with needle stings when you move. Bearable but not conducive to sleep: And so the desert wears you down bit by bit day by day. Today its time to say goodbye.
We run across the two largest sets of dunes; a mere half marathon today. The sand sucks away at your feet and again you spend most of the time finding hard sand to run over whilst others are struggling in .Mild quick sand. Most of the tent are off at full pelt whilst Stephan and I continue our strategy of keeping together and motivating each other. It works again as we overtake runner and group after another.
The dunes are huger; 3000 feet high and the second largest in Africa. We wend our way through them and finally, after three hours, come to the finish line. The cameras flash and the crowd cheers each runner as he finally overcomes the trials of the last week and crosses the line.
Patrick decorates each runner and treats them like heroes for having the courage to take part and to commence on a journey in life that influences them for the rest of their days.
Over the Top? Some think this at the start but not when they leave.
We are now back at the hotel unable to eat too much or drink too much. We are at the closing ceremony for the event.
It has definitely been the hardest… until next year…
