Boris
Skulczuk
Marathon Des Sables
(March 25th-March31st, 2007)
Boris
Skulczuk
The MdS is a 6 day / 150 mile endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Southern Morocco and is billed as the toughest foot-race in the world. During this time competitors are required to be self sufficient having to carry all food, cooking equipment, survival and medical equipment, etc in a back pack normally weighing between 10-15 Kg over terrain ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground. The organisers provide a basic bivouac at the end of each stage and water rationed between checkpoints. There are no showering or toilet facilities!
Expected daytime temperatures are between 86°-120°F falling to just above freezing at night.
Hit the link below to find out more:
A few photos just to provide a taste:
Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables
Many, with some justification, have questioned my sanity. The training and preparation have taken a big chunk out of my life over the past 18 months. I'm entering into this with a healthy respect as to the enormity of the challenge and aware that many competitors each year are forced to retire through fatigue, dehydration or severely traumatised feet.
I'm running in aid of Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource. It's a small local charity dependent entirely on local government funding, grants and donations. Any and every donation will make a difference. I have borne all costs of the race myself so every pound raised will be directed to tangible projects aimed at helping people that really need it.
Please click the link below to make an online donation.
www.mentalhealthtunwells.org.uk/Donations.htm - Charity web-site
Alternatively, just hand me your filthy lucre.
Rule #1: never, ever, go skiing a month before the MdS. (Added on 17th Feb 07)
I did and inevitably crashed on the last run on the last day. Result: mashed head (always wear a helmet skiing!) and a rather fetching 8cm long and 1cm deep wound needing 6 stitches just below the knee. As I write this I think my chances of making the start line are just a little over 50:50
My chances of still being there at the finish are considerably less.
Here's the head and knee (hairy) . (Added on 24th Feb 07)
I'm hoping the stitches will come out in 2 days time.
Last update before the off. (Added on 8th Mar 07)
Two weeks exactly before I leave for the Sahara. The knee is healing nicely but inevitably I've lost a lot of hard earned fitness and mobility. Barring a last minute hiccup I'm determined to be there at the off. Sponsorship is starting to flow in so thanks to all for your generous support.
THE END. (Added on 8th Apr 07)
I made it!!
I’ve been back just over a week and my mind has already blanked out all the bad moments and I can only remember the good bits. It was a truly fantastic, humbling experience and one I will never forget.
This year’s course, much tougher than I ever imagined, covered 230 Km in the Northern Sahara. Humidity was high and temperatures hit 45º C. It took me 49 hours 26 minutes to complete the event and I was placed 552nd out of 757 competitors. This was good enough to put me just behind a guy in an armadillo suit but, thankfully, ahead of a team from an Eastbourne retirement home.
I’ve managed to raise around £5,000 in sponsorship for Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource. They are simply staggered by people’s generosity. For those of you that have pledged money but yet to pay please make cheques payable to the charity and forward to me either at work or my home address (7 Yardley Park Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1NE).
I’m definitely hooked on these ultra events. There’s a whole world of madness out there once you start delving. I’m already contemplating my next venture and would love company. Take a look through the following links:
http://www.arcticultra.de/en.php
I’m aiming at having a go at one of these in two years time. Looking for like minded individuals with GSOH to share evenings out and perhaps more….
Finally, thanks again for everyone’s immense generosity.
www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS