Why I’m running the Marathon des Sables
Some people will never understand why. Why on Earth anyone would spend a week of their lives in the Sahara, running more than 150 miles, with a 10kg pack strapped to their backs. And, perhaps more to the point, why would their partner or family let them?
I’m not entirely sure I know the answer. I wouldn’t say for a moment I’m a running junkie. Plenty of my friends would disagree, but I think it’s all relative. A short run for me might be 10km, whereas many people may feel that’s too far to contemplate. I’ve done a few normal marathons – London, New York, Paris – and then I started to do more varied races: Man versus Horse, the Great Wall, an Ironman. I’m even in the Guinness World Records 2010 for the fastest marathon run in a three-piece suit …
The last ‘training’ run I did was the Pilgrim Challenge, 66 miles in two days, which was pretty tough. There were times when I really questioned what I was doing and why I was there. But the answer is actually pretty simple: I needed to see if I could do it.
It’s always been the race talked of in hushed tones, the “toughest foot race” on the planet. The Marathon des Sables. The MDS is a multi-day event through 150 miles of the Sahara. Runners are largely self-sufficient (although organisers do stick up a shelter and give you water rations) and it’s a massive challenge in terms of physical and mental strength.
Naturally, training for such a big event takes over – my life seems to be dominated by the subject, and I can’t really see past it at the moment. Chat over the dinner table is about kit, weight, training and injuries. Sometimes I wish we could get back to the normal subjects that I love – wine, the kids, DIY – but somehow the chat always seems to come back to the MDS. My wife Kirsten knows this is a one-off so she’s putting up with my lack of input around the house, but I’m sure she’ll be as pleased as me when it’s done. When life gets back to normal, I’ll get back to renovating the house.
It’s a big financial commitment, too. The event costs an arm and a leg, and that’s before you’ve bought the kit. Some people become obsessive about weight, saving a gram here and a gram there to ensure their backpack is as light as it can possibly be. I always said I wouldn’t be one of those people, but I’ve already bought some things based entirely on weight. We’ve been fortunate to get sponsorship from SKINS compression clothing, but even so the cost is adding up. I tell myself I’m only renting it – it’ll be on eBay when I get back.
There’s no doubt these massive events put a strain on your relationships, whether at home, work or even socially. While Kirsten is no stranger to my training, this is on a different scale. She’s been incredbily supportive throughout and that makes a massive difference, especially when I know that, deep down, doing this is a bit selfish.
My son Harry is going to be four on the day we fly out, though he couldn’t care less that I’m off to the desert. All he wants is to play Octonauts games. My daughter Georgia has just turned one, so her biggest concern is likely to be about her own teeth – which does give a certain sense of perspective to the whole thing.
I’m also lucky in that I’m running with a couple of really good friends, Dan and Simon. We’ve all done things that have pushed us a bit, and we know each other very well. While sympathy isn’t one of our greatest attributes, we do know when to stop joking.
We are also trying to raise some money for a good cause: this time it’s for First Touch, a charity that helped Simon’s identical twin boys, Alex and Ben, when they were born prematurely at 29 weeks. Knowing the boys and how close they came to, well, not being here at all, is another thing that helps me keep going. I try to visualise the end of the race, and what our cash could mean to other families. Pain is temporary, that’s what I keep telling myself!
We fly out on 4 April – which is also the twins’ birthday – and we start the race on my birthday, 7 April. I don’t think I’ll ever be really ready for this, but all we can do is get out there, get it done and get back in one piece to play Batman with the kids.
• Donate at justgiving.com and follow the Marathon des Sables at darbaroud.com.
Are you a running widow/widower? What would you think of your other half spending so long training and participating at the expense of family time?
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