Marathon De Sables finisher?

timebandit · #1 22nd Jul 08, 04:42 PM

Hay

Just wondering if anyone here has finished or taken part in the Marathon de Sables?

Marathon Fool · #2 22nd Jul 08, 04:55 PM

A very good friend of mine did it 3 years ago and finished about 35th out of 500 starters.

I couldn't imagine even starting it!

Ito · #3 22nd Jul 08, 08:52 PM

An old boss of mine did it. He also finished the Dublin Marathon in 2'47", both at the ripe old age of 45 (apologies for calling 45 year olds "ripe").

I watched a program about it on the box the other night. Holy Crapoli!

**richardsimkiss** · #4 23rd Jul 08, 09:33 AM

It really does look like quite the challenge, I'm not aware of anyone on the forum having said they've done it before...

Generous Hypocrisy · #5 23rd Jul 08, 09:34 AM

I looked into it and just thought that anyone who enters this is either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave.

It looks like one hell of a challenge!

ed_m · #6 23rd Jul 08, 12:09 PM

not done it... know a few that have.
pretty damned expensive to for entry & travel... and thats before buying specialist kit.. training events in the build up etc

= TheMdS.co.uk Home Page = has a VERY active forum.

Edward Chapman · #7 23rd Jul 08, 05:48 PM

I must admit to being incredibly stupid or incredibly brave as I completed the MDS in 2003.

Fantastic experience.

An even better one is the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon - same format as MDS.(index). I did it in 2007 (badly) and am going back again this year.

You may have seen on the forum that I keep trying to promote it. Yes the organisers are friends and yes I am their UK agent but the main reason I plug it is because I love the event.

As I am not very brave I must be incredibly stupid.

Ito · #8 23rd Jul 08, 05:53 PM

I looked into it after watching the program. It costs around £3000 to enter. That is before your flights, equipment, etc.

Not for the feint hearted, or the skint!

Generous Hypocrisy · #9 23rd Jul 08, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Chapman

I must admit to being incredibly stupid or incredibly brave as I completed the MDS in 2003.

Fantastic experience.

An even better one is the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon - same format as MDS.(index). I did it in 2007 (badly) and am going back again this year.

You may have seen on the forum that I keep trying to promote it. Yes the organisers are friends and yes I am their UK agent but the main reason I plug it is because I love the event.

As I am not very brave I must be incredibly stupid.

I didn't mean it in a bad way and if that's how it came across I apologise.
I think that someone would be brave to do this run. I mean 120F temps and sandstorms not to mention the sand!
I would love to do it but honestly, I don't think I could.

All I'll say is well done. That is some achievement!

timebandit · #10 24th Jul 08, 02:42 PM

Hey guys,

If anybody is interested in learning a bit more, theres a new interview with a guy who finished the event last year. It's available on endurancesource.com homepage, the interview also includes the Diary he kept during the event!

It sounds very painful! Muchas respect to those brave enough to dare!

It helps to inspire the rest of us to keep going!

Edward Chapman · #11 27th Jul 08, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Generous Hypocrisy

I didn't mean it in a bad way and if that's how it came across I apologise.
I think that someone would be brave to do this run. I mean 120F temps and sandstorms not to mention the sand!
I would love to do it but honestly, I don't think I could.

All I'll say is well done. That is some achievement!

I took the comment in the spirit it was intended so no need to apologise. Most people could do MDS - it is not about being incredibly fit it is about having the right mental attitude. Success comes from managing, managing your water, your food, your spirits and your feet.

It is a life changing experience I would recommend to anyone provided they go into it with their eyes open and a little bit of fear so that they prepare adequately.

Go on commit to it and start planning.

Generous Hypocrisy · #12 27th Jul 08, 12:26 PM

Good.

I bet it would be a life changing thing to do and something you could be incredibly proud of completing many years in to the future.
But unless I suddenly win the lottery, get a boss who'd be ok with me taking 2 weeks off to run a marathon and also find a netball team that would allow it as well.
It won't be happening til I'm much older!
And by then I may even have the guts to do it!

And considering you've done it, I reckon you should tell us all about it....... your experiences. Might help people who plan to do it in the future..?

epocian · #13 15th Dec 08, 05:57 PM

My lad raced to the North Pole a couple of years ago (320 nautical miles- 368 land miles) and it was about
50 miles from Resolute Bay to the start line at Polaris Mine I think.