My MdS Story in Photos

Tent 74 Day 7
Originally uploaded by edgehonson

These are some of the great people I shared my week in the desert with. Click on it to link to flikr.com and see more of my MdS pix

Desert Blues

One month on, I now realise that it is difficult to come out my experience in the Sahara unscarred.

Physically, I have no problems. I had a few small blisters but nothing serious. I will lose one toenail in due course, but that's fairly normal. My knees were weak and slightly damaged and consequently I am only just getting back into running having rested them during April. I have joked that I was not there to sunbathe but I did get a bit of colour in my skin and that is now fading.

But mentally, I feel I have some scars. I can find the positive in these scars and they are motivational for me. I experienced something amazing, and want to share that with others so they are inspired to set targets for themselves. Those who have seen me in the past month know that has been my mantra, a little bit of an evangelist. "Set youself targets and thou shalt achieve!"
But I miss what we achieved out in the desert in that amazing week. I also miss having a focus and a target. MdS was part of my heart and soul for many months. It was always there on the horizon. It is difficult to now close that book. I have yet to decide 'What Next', which is a question I am asked. I will, and that will help. Tess and Bruno hope it's not for a while! But for now Sark and I and The Gherkins are preparing for our annual 100km run along the South Downs in July. Until I am able to close the MdS book and open another, I am experiencing Desert Blues.

Thanks For Your Support

Workaid Visit

I visited Workaid, the small self-help charity I raised funds for (currently approaching £7,000). Sylvia Parrot (Chairman) and Bill Duperouzel (Administrator) along with many of the volunteers who refurbish all the tools were there to greet me and hear all about my adventure. They were all very keen to see the state of my feet which sadly (!?) were lacking in any blisters or real evidence. Many thanks to them all, they raised so much money betwen them. Their support throughout was also important to me. I believe in the ideals of the charity and was so proud to run for them. You can find out more via their web site link to the right.

Dancing Not Running

Merzouga, South-eastern Morocco. Saturday March 31st. Approx 10:40am. Finish line of the 22nd Marathon des Sables.
Bravo Edouard!

I Finished MdS!

I returned back home today (Tues). MdS finished on Saturday morning with runners appearing exhausted but elated out of the dunes into dowtown Merzouga after an 11km final stage. The last section was a 1:30min 'sprint' over the 'Erg Chebbi' sand dunes for me. I finished in 236th position overall for the week, taking 35 hrs 17 mins. I am proud to have completed and extremely pleased with myself to have placed so well out of 757 competitors. I have felt stronger every day and have only three small blisters. Very lucky and in the minority in that respect. More later but now I need to sleep, eat and let my body relax. I'll download my photos later.
Thanks much to Tess for updating in my absence.

Day 6: 42.4km - Done

Day 6, a proper marathon of 26.2 miles or 42.4km. Done and dusted in 5 hours 41 minutes. Would you believe it, I have never run that distance before competitively. Only either more than or less than. I really enjoyed it and the 10km of big dunes in the middle. My position is now 239th, which I am amazed at. I came here to finish and am now in the top third. I have got stronger each day.

I'll try to describe this event when I get home but for now it has been the most incredible experience of my life. Utterly recommended for anyone. There are lots of solid walkers as well as runners. For now we are all so dirty and yet content. Even the cripples who have feet problems, and there are many.

There are opera singers doing their thing in the middle of the camp now so I must go. I really appreciate all the emails. Thanks for news regarding the Workaid total (NB: Ed raised more than £7k as of Friday morning) -- I am so proud of this.

Day 5: Rest day

Rest day after the long 70km stage.

We have just been told that a competitor died last night in his tent. Bernard Jule, from France, came in 45th last night as one of the elite runners. He went to bed saying he was fine. He got up briefly at 3.30am to cheer some others in to the finish, said he was fine and looked fine, then went back to his sleeping bag. He never woke up.

As you can imagine the tone around camp has changed. I am sure you will hear about it on the news so please don't worry. I am fine. I came in yesterday in 12hrs 19mins, to make me 235th overall in just over 28hrs. It was a long hard hot day, but I ran well on my own.

The race will continue tomorrow. Most talk is that though this race is intense and extreme, it was not the cause of death. A doctor who works in A&E says he sees this sort of death regularly. Perhaps some heart condition that he never even knew he had. His ECG for the race was fine and he was an ultra fit guy. It just happened.

Thanks for all emails.

Rest day

Day 4 - no news yet

This isn't Ed. I just downloaded and posted it because I imagine that's what he looks like -- bandaged feet, empty water bottles and all. Most participants are running through the night, so we're not getting an update tonight.

Tess

Day 3 - Done

It's a bit late and i need to sleep so I'll be brief.

32km today. Finished in just under 5 hours. 254th overall. Long hard stage today. Sark just ahead of me in rankings. Big 70km day tomorrow so that's the real test. Probably won't be able to email.

Desert still beautiful, event still incredible, but didn't enjoy today as much as yesterday. Too hot.

Day 2: 35km - Done

It is almost impossible to describe how amazing this is! Sark and I finished together in 5 hours 55 minutes, having completed what evryone is describing as the toughest ever stage. Two mountains, the last of which rose like a colossus out of a hot dry plain which took over two hours to get across. Just when you thought you had only 5km to go the markers pointed upwards! The majesty of the desert is indescribable. The camaraderie is humbling. The race is totally deserving of its title, toughest footrace on earth.

I might have a penalty since I seem to have lost my emergency flare today. We each have one but mine was not in its side pouch when I came in today. I await a decision from the officials.

I was 288th out of 757 starters yesterday. Happy but more pleased to get through with no problems. One blister today under the left big toe which the two doctors in our tent are looking forward to treating with some very painful solution.

Thanks to all for the messages, I got them fine.

Day one: 29.6km - done!

All well. I got back to our tent first with Sark 5 minutes behind. Took it easy and walked (fast) a large percentage of it. 4hrs 50 mins; I'm in 288th place.

The terrain is amazing. Ruggedly beautiful. Lots of small sand dunes and hills. Very tough going underfoot and up to 40 degrees C. Aim was to get in the first day unscathed, so have achieved that. No blisters, I can feel my bum knee but it’s okay.

This really is the most incredible event. The atmosphere is so real. A mix of ultra-fit serious endurance athletes, and then people like us, and then those who will get through on sheer will power.

We do 35km tomorrow. Most difficult so far is the organisation of food. Got my pack down in weight to 8.5kg at check-in. Very pleased, it gets lighter every day now!

Day of reckoning

As of 9 this morning, Ed was in base camp, about 100km east of Tazarine, along with 700+ other runners. He was making his last phone call before turning in his travel bag and all other non-essential items. At 2pm today, he will be self-sufficient, carrying everything he needs for the next seven days on his back. The good news is he's able to trim his load even more (no luxuries at all!) and everything so far has gone well. But he is scared at what's up ahead.

Wha exactly is up ahead? 29km the first day, 33 the second, 35 the third, 70 the fourth, rest the fifth, 42 the sixth, then 11 the last. But the last day is all sand dunes! It is a circular route that takes them to a place called Merzouga.

Tess

PO Box 1, Sahara Desert

Please send me messages, apparently they get delivered to our tents in the Sahara! Here are details:

Go to www.darbaroud.com, look for US/UK flag for site in English (It is also hyper linked on the right of this page - Ed). Each day, the organisers list all that day’s results with times and positions. Messages can be sent from 25 – 31 March. In order to send a message, they will need to go to www.darbaroud.com web site and under the special heading “ecrire aux concurrents” (write to competitors) fill in a message form which will require your surname, first name and competitors ID number (Mine is 698 - Ed) . ONLY send text messages and NO attachments or pictures.

Thanks for your support!