A bunch of piccies via the link on the right, and still sorting through it all.
Glad it is over, happy to be home, but a little unsure if really satisifed with my run... should have gone out harder? Dunno. Despite that, I had a great time. Excellent tent mates, all competitors incredibly supportive and friendly, organisation superb, and conditions had a bit of everything. On top of that, the longest and toughest to date, so what was there not to be happy with? :)
Now, next time.......
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Made it
The fastest stage of the race for me! 1:35 for the 17.5k and highest finish with a 75th. Tickled pink! The last couple of km were on road into Tazarine and when my shoes hit the tarmac I flew (relatively speaking ;-)). Getting rid of all but about 5kg helped, and not fronting up tomorrow for another marathon may have contributed, but hey, it worked a treat! Warm start, but not too hot - guess mid 30's. Pretty featureless course - soft sand, rocky stretches, and rough tracks through the fields on the outskirts of town. I just charged it. Spent the entire stage passing people, and rocked past at least a dozen in the last 1,600 metres.
Now in OZZ and looking forward to coming home. We have already showered, put on clean clothes, had 2 cokes, chocolate, chippies, and a pizza. No guilt! Awards tomorrow, then Marrakesh, Casablanca, London, Singapore and home Thurs early. All good!
Thanks to all for the support, and huge thanks to my lovely wife Megan and new son Josh who have helped out more than words can ever explain.
cheers all
Stephen
Now in OZZ and looking forward to coming home. We have already showered, put on clean clothes, had 2 cokes, chocolate, chippies, and a pizza. No guilt! Awards tomorrow, then Marrakesh, Casablanca, London, Singapore and home Thurs early. All good!
Thanks to all for the support, and huge thanks to my lovely wife Megan and new son Josh who have helped out more than words can ever explain.
cheers all
Stephen
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Fin
Last email. 17.5k tomorrow to Tazzarine, then a bus ride to hot showers and cold drinks at OZZ. Will look for a 'net cafe but dunno. Looking forward hugely to coming home.
Definition of surreal? We have the Paris Opera and Orchestra performing tonight in the bivvy.
Lot's of kids today running along both cheering & begging. Glad I was running as there rarely kept up. Flies have come out, must be close to a town.
Our front numbers were exchanged for clean ones last night, along with a small can of Pepsi - heaven - cold & sweet. Bartering happening all over as essentials run short. Loo paper at the top of the list, & lots of food available.
Solar charging worked well, the Olympus 795 has been faultless & despite 300 piccies & some vid, the battery only died this morning. MP3 and Garmin also good with charging on the run.
Thanks for emails from the iTa guys, PeteC, IanM, TimF & AK; all the CR troops - bloody marvellous; family & friends - superb.
Definition of surreal? We have the Paris Opera and Orchestra performing tonight in the bivvy.
Lot's of kids today running along both cheering & begging. Glad I was running as there rarely kept up. Flies have come out, must be close to a town.
Our front numbers were exchanged for clean ones last night, along with a small can of Pepsi - heaven - cold & sweet. Bartering happening all over as essentials run short. Loo paper at the top of the list, & lots of food available.
Solar charging worked well, the Olympus 795 has been faultless & despite 300 piccies & some vid, the battery only died this morning. MP3 and Garmin also good with charging on the run.
Thanks for emails from the iTa guys, PeteC, IanM, TimF & AK; all the CR troops - bloody marvellous; family & friends - superb.
Personal Worst for the Marathon
5:15 for the 'thon, and definitely a personal worst for a marathon distance race, and I couldn't be happier! 50C & high humidity (no num given), but I ran the whole way.
One slightly used (and abused) 50 yr old 5hr marathon pacer now available ;-) Will supply own pack (to 8kg) & will accept any course & weather conditions. Common sense not avail.
Berbers dropped the tents at 6:30 but the scary thing was that it was already warm. Packs getting lighter, and my aim today was to beat the lovely Fleur! I ran & ran & ran, up & down, hot & hotter, but at 8k to go she caught me. Nope, she wasn't going to get me, so I took off for the next 6k not looking back. Turned the last corner and saw the finish 2k away over the salt flats, glanced back, and she was 10m behind me. So, the hardest 2k of my life, but got there. I will admit to serious tears at the end.
Lesson? a 'thon 36hrs after a 75k not recommended, even with 100k training in the 3days before. Perhaps more taper?
One slightly used (and abused) 50 yr old 5hr marathon pacer now available ;-) Will supply own pack (to 8kg) & will accept any course & weather conditions. Common sense not avail.
Berbers dropped the tents at 6:30 but the scary thing was that it was already warm. Packs getting lighter, and my aim today was to beat the lovely Fleur! I ran & ran & ran, up & down, hot & hotter, but at 8k to go she caught me. Nope, she wasn't going to get me, so I took off for the next 6k not looking back. Turned the last corner and saw the finish 2k away over the salt flats, glanced back, and she was 10m behind me. So, the hardest 2k of my life, but got there. I will admit to serious tears at the end.
Lesson? a 'thon 36hrs after a 75k not recommended, even with 100k training in the 3days before. Perhaps more taper?
Stage 4 - The long one
[Note: out of order! Received the Stage 4 email a day late, which is why it appears after the 'Rest Day'.]
All good, another blister or two, but nothing serious. Damn long day over huge dunes, salt flats, passes and dry lake beds that stretch out forever, and soft sand - damn soft sand. Started at about 9:15 with a monster climb at 7k. Needed to "visit the loo" on the first loooong flat, but do you know how many trees are out there?
The elite 50 guys & 5 women started 3 hrs later. The leader caught me at 6 hrs, so he was travelling twice as fast over that terrain. My tent had 3 elites and one just outside, so I was waiting for them to catch me. Damon got me at 50k and we ran together for a km or so, but Andrew snuck past at CP6. Was dark with no moon from CP5, so I had to stop occasionally to navigate. Passed many on the last few km.
Glad to get to bed at about 11 last night. Rest day today. Blue skies, soft sand, light breeze, and 45C!
All good, another blister or two, but nothing serious. Damn long day over huge dunes, salt flats, passes and dry lake beds that stretch out forever, and soft sand - damn soft sand. Started at about 9:15 with a monster climb at 7k. Needed to "visit the loo" on the first loooong flat, but do you know how many trees are out there?
The elite 50 guys & 5 women started 3 hrs later. The leader caught me at 6 hrs, so he was travelling twice as fast over that terrain. My tent had 3 elites and one just outside, so I was waiting for them to catch me. Damon got me at 50k and we ran together for a km or so, but Andrew snuck past at CP6. Was dark with no moon from CP5, so I had to stop occasionally to navigate. Passed many on the last few km.
Glad to get to bed at about 11 last night. Rest day today. Blue skies, soft sand, light breeze, and 45C!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Rest Day
Only 2 more nights under the tarp and then the trip home starts. Next weekend here would have been nice - the marathon is on!
Cousin Joel (Mackay, Aust Rogaining Champ) sent me an email that simply said "eat, EAT". How true, but it is not quite that easy. There are only 2 limits that apply to our food out here. Officially, we must carry at least 2,000 Calories per day, and your pack must be less than 15kg ex water. Typical basal rate for average sedentary people is 2,000 Cals. Needless to say, there is a bit more going on out here, so there is much discussion about who is eating what & when. Carbs vs fat calories, protein and powders, gels vs bars. In our tent, Andrew has a concoction of maltodextrin & olive oil, and some amaranth for good measure. Then taste and being able to eat things day after day also comes into it.
Oops, have to go. The very last runner of the long stage is about to finish and we are gathering to wave her in, some 27 hrs.
Cousin Joel (Mackay, Aust Rogaining Champ) sent me an email that simply said "eat, EAT". How true, but it is not quite that easy. There are only 2 limits that apply to our food out here. Officially, we must carry at least 2,000 Calories per day, and your pack must be less than 15kg ex water. Typical basal rate for average sedentary people is 2,000 Cals. Needless to say, there is a bit more going on out here, so there is much discussion about who is eating what & when. Carbs vs fat calories, protein and powders, gels vs bars. In our tent, Andrew has a concoction of maltodextrin & olive oil, and some amaranth for good measure. Then taste and being able to eat things day after day also comes into it.
Oops, have to go. The very last runner of the long stage is about to finish and we are gathering to wave her in, some 27 hrs.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
He lives!
Had a brief phone call from Stephen - he is fine, successfully through the 75km stage.
He finished at about 10pm last night local time, which I think makes it about 13 hours for the stage (better than the 15 hours predicted).
Next trick is to line up to send an email, which I probably won't receive until morning.
Doesn't matter, he lives! :-)
He finished at about 10pm last night local time, which I think makes it about 13 hours for the stage (better than the 15 hours predicted).
Next trick is to line up to send an email, which I probably won't receive until morning.
Doesn't matter, he lives! :-)
Long wait...
Note from TigerMeg:
Not sure when to expect the next post from Stephen. His estimate of around 15 hours for the long Stage 4 would see him finish late Thursday morning (Sydney time). Then presumably things like rest, food and recovery would take priority over lining up for email time!
Will post as soon as I hear anything. Keep running Stephen!
Not sure when to expect the next post from Stephen. His estimate of around 15 hours for the long Stage 4 would see him finish late Thursday morning (Sydney time). Then presumably things like rest, food and recovery would take priority over lining up for email time!
Will post as soon as I hear anything. Keep running Stephen!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Stage 3 - A 'petit adventure'
First up, Happy 80th birthday to my Dad, the long one tomorrow is for you! It should have been 80k!
46C today in the shade, but took it easy and had my best stage in terms of finishing full of running and feeling fine. Blisters were not too much of a problem, and food went well. Rooming with Andrew & Damon is priceless, the info and tricks they have are superb.
Had a little adventure today. At about 22k we went back into the dunes and the bearing given was 288, but all the footsteps went off at about 250, so me being me, I charged off into the dunes on the correct bearing and spent the next hour totally alone in a sea of dunes. Came across camels and their berber who pointed me in the direction I was going, and up and over the next dune was the checkpoint. Ok, so I came at it from the wrong side, but hey, it was great!
Ran strongly from there, either a slightly lighter pack, perhaps 8kg, or excitement of the off course experience. A great booster for that little stage tomorrow.
The email here is batched up on a CD, then sent into town for sending, hence the delay. Emails typically arrive at about 7pm.
Results are being done with a DAG system [same as used by Striders]!!!! so my time yesterday was really 5:24ish. No prob, today was 6:07ish.
Thanks for all the emails, they are a highlight. If I list them I will miss someone, so I have kept them (despite the extra weight ;-) & will drop you a note when I get back.
Latest report was for 49C at CP2, so it is a tad warm, but the humidity is down around 10 per cent which helps. Water is the key element here. We have a tag a around our neck which is punched for every 1.5 litres given, and you must manage the water you have. Extra water above allocation costs a 1 hr penalty per 1.5 litres. So far no prob for me, although deciding to carry an extra litre from the last checkpoint to the finish is a tough decision!
No email tomorrow - expect 15hrs.
46C today in the shade, but took it easy and had my best stage in terms of finishing full of running and feeling fine. Blisters were not too much of a problem, and food went well. Rooming with Andrew & Damon is priceless, the info and tricks they have are superb.
Had a little adventure today. At about 22k we went back into the dunes and the bearing given was 288, but all the footsteps went off at about 250, so me being me, I charged off into the dunes on the correct bearing and spent the next hour totally alone in a sea of dunes. Came across camels and their berber who pointed me in the direction I was going, and up and over the next dune was the checkpoint. Ok, so I came at it from the wrong side, but hey, it was great!
Ran strongly from there, either a slightly lighter pack, perhaps 8kg, or excitement of the off course experience. A great booster for that little stage tomorrow.
The email here is batched up on a CD, then sent into town for sending, hence the delay. Emails typically arrive at about 7pm.
Results are being done with a DAG system [same as used by Striders]!!!! so my time yesterday was really 5:24ish. No prob, today was 6:07ish.
Thanks for all the emails, they are a highlight. If I list them I will miss someone, so I have kept them (despite the extra weight ;-) & will drop you a note when I get back.
Latest report was for 49C at CP2, so it is a tad warm, but the humidity is down around 10 per cent which helps. Water is the key element here. We have a tag a around our neck which is punched for every 1.5 litres given, and you must manage the water you have. Extra water above allocation costs a 1 hr penalty per 1.5 litres. So far no prob for me, although deciding to carry an extra litre from the last checkpoint to the finish is a tough decision!
No email tomorrow - expect 15hrs.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Stage 2 - A bit more!
I decided to line up for another go. Not much else happening here. Our team, Westrac is 8th, and my time today was 30 mins faster than I thought - much happier now! Food is going ok, I am a bit behind as I seem to be able to only eat before it gets really hot, then I am on fluids only. Should have got more flavours.
Blistered toes are not too bad, I am still draining them. I suspect it was salt buildup after only a basic rinse last night. They got a serious wash tonight.
Toilets are the classic trench warfare, but not a lot of flies, so pretty good. Cooking in the sun in cut down water bottles works a treat, but I am having a problem stomaching too many nuts.
We had a hot air balloon this morning, and wild camels on course, plus lots of small lizards.
Oh yes, todays temp revised to 46C at CP 3, more of the same tomorrow with more dunes.
Blistered toes are not too bad, I am still draining them. I suspect it was salt buildup after only a basic rinse last night. They got a serious wash tonight.
Toilets are the classic trench warfare, but not a lot of flies, so pretty good. Cooking in the sun in cut down water bottles works a treat, but I am having a problem stomaching too many nuts.
We had a hot air balloon this morning, and wild camels on course, plus lots of small lizards.
Oh yes, todays temp revised to 46C at CP 3, more of the same tomorrow with more dunes.
Stage 2 - Active Recovery
42C & a gentle tailwind - not a good combination. At least it is over. Some dunes, some stony patches, and far too much very dry mud flats. I ran (if you call 7:30/km running) to checkpoint 2, but at that point we heard the temp and looked across the shimmering flats. Time to walk. End result, a long day in the sun, but still about double the winners time, so all good.
Many thanks for the emails, they arrived last night. I was the envy of the tent with a pageful of messages. They are superb, it certainly lifts the spirits.
Gaiter disaster averted. Scammed some needle & thread from the amazingly prepared Andrew Cohen and it was sweet. Unfortunately, I still copped some blisters on a couple of toes, so tomorrow is looking like a loooong day, although not as far as the next day.
We have a 1000 char limit on these emails, and with a 45 min wait in the sun, one must be concise!
Hey, Damon wants to join Striders. 16th yesterday!
Many thanks for the emails, they arrived last night. I was the envy of the tent with a pageful of messages. They are superb, it certainly lifts the spirits.
Gaiter disaster averted. Scammed some needle & thread from the amazingly prepared Andrew Cohen and it was sweet. Unfortunately, I still copped some blisters on a couple of toes, so tomorrow is looking like a loooong day, although not as far as the next day.
We have a 1000 char limit on these emails, and with a 45 min wait in the sun, one must be concise!
Hey, Damon wants to join Striders. 16th yesterday!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Surviving Stage 1
Got there. Started with 14k in the dunes, then too much across the salt flats, then just to be nasty, another couple of km in yet more dunes. I feel ok. very sore shoulders - 10kg will do it ever time! Damn french keyboard. Magnificent views, classic Sahara, but those dunes will haunt me for a while. No blisters, but my left shoe has thrown a gaiter, so it may get ugly later on. No more dunes for a few days - well, not that big anyway.
Awoke to a sand storm, wind has been relentless, and sand in everything. Not too hot, perhaps high 30s today. My dinner is cooking in the sun back at the tent.
Tent has 4 Aussies, a Canadian, and 2 yanks. 2 ladies - Aussie Fleur, Damon Goerkes better half, and Canadian Mary, currently in her 3rd or 4th midlife crisis and turning 50 in Nov.
Rude awaking this morn, the Berber tent guys drop the tents at 6am no matter if you out or not, and then it is still 3:30 to the start - in the sandstorm!
Note from TigerMeg:
Results show Stephen finished Stage 1 in 4Hrs49'57", in 179th position. Send him a message via the official MdS website (link on right)!
Awoke to a sand storm, wind has been relentless, and sand in everything. Not too hot, perhaps high 30s today. My dinner is cooking in the sun back at the tent.
Tent has 4 Aussies, a Canadian, and 2 yanks. 2 ladies - Aussie Fleur, Damon Goerkes better half, and Canadian Mary, currently in her 3rd or 4th midlife crisis and turning 50 in Nov.
Rude awaking this morn, the Berber tent guys drop the tents at 6am no matter if you out or not, and then it is still 3:30 to the start - in the sandstorm!
Note from TigerMeg:
Results show Stephen finished Stage 1 in 4Hrs49'57", in 179th position. Send him a message via the official MdS website (link on right)!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
4.5 hrs to Start
Final SMS from Stephen this morning, before handing in the phone.
Stage distances are:
Day 1 - 31.6km
Day 2 - 38.0km
Day 3 - 40.5km
Day 4 - 75.5km
Day 5 - Rest (?!)
Day 6 - 42.2km
Day 7 - 17.5km
Total: 245.3km
Start time is 0900 local time (8pm Sunday, Sydney time).
Stage distances are:
Day 1 - 31.6km
Day 2 - 38.0km
Day 3 - 40.5km
Day 4 - 75.5km
Day 5 - Rest (?!)
Day 6 - 42.2km
Day 7 - 17.5km
Total: 245.3km
Start time is 0900 local time (8pm Sunday, Sydney time).
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Ready, Set...
Brief phone call from Stephen last night - lots of waiting around happening, looking forward to actually getting underway.
Text message this morning saying he has made it to Bivouac 1, and has mobile phone coverage! Call costs are prohibitive though - both outgoing and to receive inbound calls (SMS isn't too bad). The phone has to be handed in at check-in today.
Warm and dusty, good tent mates.
I think (hope) the nerves are settling, and he is getting focused.
The email to competitors bit should be up and running very soon (may be already), via the official MdS site - link on right.
TigerMeg
Text message this morning saying he has made it to Bivouac 1, and has mobile phone coverage! Call costs are prohibitive though - both outgoing and to receive inbound calls (SMS isn't too bad). The phone has to be handed in at check-in today.
Warm and dusty, good tent mates.
I think (hope) the nerves are settling, and he is getting focused.
The email to competitors bit should be up and running very soon (may be already), via the official MdS site - link on right.
TigerMeg
Thursday, March 27, 2008
SYD-SIN-LHR-RAK-OZZ
Have made it to Ouarzazate in eastern Morocco, after a couple of days in Marrakesh and a long bus ride up and over the snow covered Atlas Mountains. Dry and dusty, very reministent of Jerusalem and Kathmandu, hassling sellers of everything under the sun, and then some. As we filled up the bus somewhere on the way I noticed that petrol here is about the same price as in Australia - but there certainly isn't the income to pay for it.
Got to OZZ last night and spotted our first MdSers. Can't miss the skinny blokes with caps and legioniare flaps, bike shorts and shoes with velcro sewn around them. Quite a contract to the classic Berber local. Dinner with the US contingent, dicussions ebbing and flowing from food to weight to calories back to weight, then camel spiders sand, strange concotions of maltodextrin mixed with olive oil,and again back to weight. Andrew is battling to get his pack UP to the minimum weight of 6.5kg, whereas Trent (http://marathonman.com.au) is struggling to get his pack DOWN the the max of 15.5kg. Me? About 10kg right now, but I am feeling a little overweight looking at how some have trimmed all excess baggage... I will go be packing and repacking today, but following my lovely wife's missive to not skimp on food. Currently I have 6.5kg of food which averages out at 3,600 Calories a day. Well over the legal minimum of 2,000 C per day, but it weighs so much ;-)
Got to OZZ last night and spotted our first MdSers. Can't miss the skinny blokes with caps and legioniare flaps, bike shorts and shoes with velcro sewn around them. Quite a contract to the classic Berber local. Dinner with the US contingent, dicussions ebbing and flowing from food to weight to calories back to weight, then camel spiders sand, strange concotions of maltodextrin mixed with olive oil,and again back to weight. Andrew is battling to get his pack UP to the minimum weight of 6.5kg, whereas Trent (http://marathonman.com.au) is struggling to get his pack DOWN the the max of 15.5kg. Me? About 10kg right now, but I am feeling a little overweight looking at how some have trimmed all excess baggage... I will go be packing and repacking today, but following my lovely wife's missive to not skimp on food. Currently I have 6.5kg of food which averages out at 3,600 Calories a day. Well over the legal minimum of 2,000 C per day, but it weighs so much ;-)
Monday, March 24, 2008
On the way
Action has left the building. Now en route to Morocco, via Singapore and London. All the important stuff packed in to carry-on baggage to minimise the impact should anything go astray.
Seen off at the airport by his parents, a resolutely cheerful Megan, and an oblivious and gorgeous youngest son (Josh, 11 months).
With travel time and time differences, I expect it will be at least Wednesday before he sends anything for me to post. In the meantime, please sit back and enjoy the in-flight entertainment...
Megan (aka TigerMeg)
Seen off at the airport by his parents, a resolutely cheerful Megan, and an oblivious and gorgeous youngest son (Josh, 11 months).
With travel time and time differences, I expect it will be at least Wednesday before he sends anything for me to post. In the meantime, please sit back and enjoy the in-flight entertainment...
Megan (aka TigerMeg)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Event Summary
7 day stage race across the Sahara Desert somewhere near the border of Morocco and Algeria.
Carry all your own gear, with water drops and a hessian tent each night shared by 10 competitors.
9am start each day, except the long day where the top 100 start 3 hours behind the rest of the field.
Day 1 - 30k (rumoured distances - final course not announced until day before start.
Day 2 - 30k
Day 3 - 35k
Day 4 - 84k
Day 5 - rest day (because not everyone finished Day 4 on Day 4)
Day 6 - 42k
Day 7 - 20k
Overnight temps 0C-5C
Daytime temps 40C-50C
800 competitors, waitlists to 2011!
Reputedly "The world's toughest footrace"
Carry all your own gear, with water drops and a hessian tent each night shared by 10 competitors.
9am start each day, except the long day where the top 100 start 3 hours behind the rest of the field.
Day 1 - 30k (rumoured distances - final course not announced until day before start.
Day 2 - 30k
Day 3 - 35k
Day 4 - 84k
Day 5 - rest day (because not everyone finished Day 4 on Day 4)
Day 6 - 42k
Day 7 - 20k
Overnight temps 0C-5C
Daytime temps 40C-50C
800 competitors, waitlists to 2011!
Reputedly "The world's toughest footrace"
Camel spiders
Every competitor must carry a number of compulsory items. Sensible ones like a sleeping bag and compass, torch and antiseptic... but one of the items is a venom pump. Why? Something called a camel spider apparently. Definitely something to avoid: http://www.camelspiders.net/. Apparently non-venomous - in the same way that pitbulls are non-venomous....
Keeping in touch
From the Race website:
"Remember to tell your family, friends and sponsors that they can leave you messages during the MARATHON DES SABLES, but only from 29 mars to 04 april 2008. Go to the website and follow the instructions.
http://www.darbaroud.com
section "écrire aux concurrents/write to competitors"
After 04 april, this email service will no longer be operational.
Only messages with surname, first name and race ID number will be transferred. Do not send attachments (e.g. photos). This will cancel the message. Messages will be given to competitors on the bivouac every day.
"Remember to tell your family, friends and sponsors that they can leave you messages during the MARATHON DES SABLES, but only from 29 mars to 04 april 2008. Go to the website and follow the instructions.
http://www.darbaroud.com
section "écrire aux concurrents/write to competitors"
After 04 april, this email service will no longer be operational.
Only messages with surname, first name and race ID number will be transferred. Do not send attachments (e.g. photos). This will cancel the message. Messages will be given to competitors on the bivouac every day.
Packing the pack
10kg is a fair bit of weight to lug around. However, the bigger task is fitting everything for 7 days in to a 25 litre pack. We have to carry it all for the duration of the race. Everything gets weighed, kilojoules counted, excess packaging cut off, sleeping bag downsized and discussions about including or excluding the 200gm stove are had.
Will I really need the extra pair of socks (30gms), and there are the three spare batteries for the 65gm headlamp which weigh in at 36gms. I will have 6.5kg of food on board, which will reduce at nearly a kilo a day - did you know that macadamias and cashews have the highest kilojoule per gram ratio of any food I have found? I am allowing myself the luxury of a sleeping mat, although it is a shaped uber-light mat but still tipping the scales at 235gms.
If anyone saw a strange bloke with a small set of scales going from shoe shop to shoe shop earlier this week, it was me searching for a lightweight pair of sandals to wear in camp each night. Managed to score a pair at 125gms from which I can probably trim something off.
Will I really need the extra pair of socks (30gms), and there are the three spare batteries for the 65gm headlamp which weigh in at 36gms. I will have 6.5kg of food on board, which will reduce at nearly a kilo a day - did you know that macadamias and cashews have the highest kilojoule per gram ratio of any food I have found? I am allowing myself the luxury of a sleeping mat, although it is a shaped uber-light mat but still tipping the scales at 235gms.
If anyone saw a strange bloke with a small set of scales going from shoe shop to shoe shop earlier this week, it was me searching for a lightweight pair of sandals to wear in camp each night. Managed to score a pair at 125gms from which I can probably trim something off.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Flying out in a week
This blog is simply to track my emails - which will be short and random - during the 2008 edition of the Marathon des Sables in Morocco. 245k over 7 days, billed as the toughest footrace on earth, the 800 odd entrants run in temperatures raging from 0C to 50C across the Sahara Desert carrying nearly everything we need for 7 days - everything except water.
In past years there has been no more than 1 or 2 Aussies entered, but this year seems to be a bit of a magnet - 22 Australian starters, including 3 females, as of tonight.
Rough timeline has me leaving Sydney on Monday 24th March, arriving Marrakech 24th, getting to the start over the Atlas Mountains on the 28th, Stage 1 on the 30th, then 7 days of the race. Back to Casablanca afterwards, and home by the 14th April.
Links to the race site and daily results, as well as the Coolrunning discussion thread are on the right hand side of the blog.
My race number is 477.
In past years there has been no more than 1 or 2 Aussies entered, but this year seems to be a bit of a magnet - 22 Australian starters, including 3 females, as of tonight.
Rough timeline has me leaving Sydney on Monday 24th March, arriving Marrakech 24th, getting to the start over the Atlas Mountains on the 28th, Stage 1 on the 30th, then 7 days of the race. Back to Casablanca afterwards, and home by the 14th April.
Links to the race site and daily results, as well as the Coolrunning discussion thread are on the right hand side of the blog.
My race number is 477.
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