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Risking sounding selfish, day 7 was for me. thank god it's done.
Day 7 - 46degrees, 17.5km, I finished in 1hr38mins. came in 91 spot which leaves me ending the race in 155 position overall. I believe close to 65 people have withdrawn from the race leaving 737 at todays start line. Most were in agony. Many had blood seeping thru bandages and sneakers, a lot needed help to the starting line. Fridays marathon took a big toll on the group but spirits were really high. One poor guy today took 6min to walk 300m to the start line. He then walked with sticks for 5hrs to complete the 17.5km at snails pace. He was in so much pain yet he managed a jog across the line. The 5000 odd people and press whom were waiting erupted.
Crossing the line today was just unbelievable. I cant describe just how satisfying it felt and how content it makes you feel. I probably hurt as much as I ever would care too, yet really couldn't have felt more elated. Completing the race gives finishers the biggest buzz you can imagine. Other runners become instant friends, onlookers and officials all cheering and hugging you. Children by the dozens ran into the desert to finish the last 4 or 5 km with us. I really witnessed some amazing examples of human caring, kindness and true grit over this last 7 days.
So this is one extremely hungry, happy and satisfied guy signing off. Your support ranging from the remote aussie bush thru to new york, hong kong, singapore and london has been immense and touched me very deeply. If there is a life altering aspect of this race it would be the effect such support has had on me.
So before I sign off here are some tidbits I noticed on the way. We covered approx 261km in total once hills and dunes are included. I'd say 50percent of the race was dune, hill or deep sand, the other stoney plains or salt flats. Reckon the ave running temp must have tested 48 each day. The big day burnt approx 9500 calories, I ate 4500 which had me chewing hard every 30min. I lost close to 4.6kg over the seven days.
The winners did the race in over 12-14km per hour pace the entire run. Just freakish. Their back packs started at 6.5kg, most like mine was 10.5kg plus. Some big eaters even started with 14kg packs. To get the calories but not carry the weight the winners are getting very scientific. An example is some eat nothing but powdered mash potato the entire week given its high calorie content but very low weight. One guy had a lab in perth mix maltodextrine to olive oil. This makes the olive oil into a powdered form making it lighter to carry but still a high fat and calorie oil. He ate this the entire week. Freak.
Many cut labels off clothes, sleeves off shirts, pockets, take the stuffing out of sleeping bags - all to save backpack weight.
We drank 11 litres of water on ave each day, 16 on the big day. Even with drinking so much loo breaks would only be 3-5max a day given how dry we were.
Each day two camels with riders set off behind the group. You had to beat the camels across the line each day otherwise you were disqualified. There were also time limits placed on completion making it a real race against the clock.
Eating would be simply adding water to dried food and eating it out of the bag cold. Amazingly whilst half the sole of my right shoe melted off in the heat of day 6, some had jelly beans that stayed solid and chocolates that held firm.
Overall an awesome event, something in everyones capability and something I think most can achieve if they put their mind to it. A polio sufferer failed in his 4th consecutive attempt this year. Very sad but he started the registration process for next year the second we hit the hotel today.
An excellent week overall.
My shout for beers in hk and sydney and the bush when I return. Thks again to all , I wish you and your families the very best of luck.
Day4 started at 9.15am, crossed the line at 9.22pm. gps read a total of 82km, 2 big climbs of 1km. high temp saw 51 deg.
A totally awesome experience which tested every emotion. ran alone for 12hrs without saying boo to anyone except nodding to doctors. started talking to myself outloud at the 40km mark, started seeing odd things that i dont think existed. thought i was losing it but then if u question ur sanity it means ur ok. my 12hrs time earnt me 175spot. added triple water to my powdered lunch lasagne and drank it out of a drink bottle. ate every 30mins, drank every 5, this race is about managing nutrition. am seeing much fitter fail as a result of not.
Today is rest day. camp looks like field hospital in war. smells worse. food rations low, everyone in subdued mood ahead of tomorrows 42k plus. am holding up very well. have low food stores. altho cactus, legs and feet much better than many. am going to eat last of my food tonight and stick it out fri nigh/sat
today was for andrew and the school project (childs dreams). thks to all you excellent supporters. Andy would have said what the hell am i doing and i am starting to think he's maybe onto something.
DAY3 46 degrees, (some saying their gps systems hit 50), 45km including elevation of which 18km was ankle deep dunes. today hurt bad. not much to write , am pretty exhausted and nervous about tomorrow. Day 4 is the big one, 75.5km from a to b, 83km including elevation. need to shed some backpack weight but i also need the food.
hope everyone is well and happy. hope the markets have settled down. john shaw keep well. all your emails and the ipods are my lifeblood at the moment so a huge thks. feet are holding up ok when compared to most, both legs taped tightly to hold em together. jogged a bit today with an inspiring 51yr old french women today who is doing her 4th race. still loving the experience but the desert gave me a nice back hander wake up call today. tomorrow ill pay attention.
Day2 was for the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and all the brave affected by cancer.
DAY2 welcome to blisterville pop.793. 9am start with choppers in sky and ACDC pumping over loudspeakers.backpack 9kg+water. 32 degrees at start, by end 5.1hrs later 43deg. 42km with elevation, today was about heat. never experienced heat like it. we ran across rock hills and salt plains. felt for the english whom have had prepared for this in the uk winter.
Drank a litre every 40min, salt intake huge, food every 30min. hamstrings still shot but bearable. can someone fedex me a new set? i am loving the experience but its hell and getting worse. ending a days run to lie on the ground, eat dried food and sleep as i ran is tough but thats why were here. If Perspiration is the prefume of success tomorrows 44km in the dunes will test that theory.
Ciao all and good luck.
Todays update is for all you wonderful supporters of the charities i run for.
Day 1 i new this was going to be a tough day when the first sand storm hit at 4 am. by the time the 2nd hit us we were 18 km into the toughest dunes i had ever seen , let alone tried to run. erg chebi is their name and well worth a google. easily the toughest thing ive ever done and its only day 1.
802 people started todays race , the most yet and to celebrate they've made this one the longest yet. today was 35km including elevation, i saw 4 people chopered off the dunes. we take salt tablets every 30mins, i drink every 6mins and eat every 40mins. everyone is totally focussed on trying to be clean. 802 people answering natures call in the desert means hygene and modesty dont exist. as a result lots get food poisoning and bugs.5 peoples race over from this.
I end day 1 in 225 position which i am happy with but hurt my right hamstring.its cactus so toms 44 will be a walk. otherwise loving the experience.
As a 34yr old husband and father of one, running 280kms through the Moroccan desert isn't the most responsible thing I could be doing, but at least the training keeps me out of the pub.
The Marathon Des Sable (Marathon Of Sand) is known as the toughest footrace in the world and for the last 21 years a few hundred brave runners have pit themselves against man and the elements to achieve the satisfaction of beating the sand and each other. Now its my turn to beat the elements and myself. The race distance changes yearly but ranges in distance between 250-280km and the course itself is not declared until a few days before the start. Its run over 5 days across the Southern Moroccan Sahara in some serious heat.
All provisions for food, clothing and nightly shelter are carried on the runners backpacks with water dispensed daily by race officials. The super fit cover the race at a staggering average speed of 14km/hr for the full 280km whilst most (90%) alternate between walking and running the course. The terrain is best viewed rather than described and pictures can be found on the official website www.darbaroud.com but needless to say drop out rates are high given the toll the sand takes on the legs and blistering. If the desert beats me, whilst bitterly dissappointed, it wont be without a big fight.
The 2008 race starts on the 31st March 2008. I am running solo and, at present, I am excited and very scared about the challenge. My training has to kick up a gear into year end however at present I am covering approx 70-90km per week to get in shape. By Jan/Feb 08 this will need to be above 120-130km per week.
I will be dedicating my run to raise money for the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation. My wonderful mother Wadette Shaw, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in Jan 2007. By October 2007 after 3 operations, 6 months of chemotherapy and 8 weeks of radiotherapy she bravely soldiered through her treatments and is happy to have the ordeal behind her. We are very proud of our mum, wife and grandmother. All cancer sufferers are heroes in my opinion. Breast cancer patients are no exception, often juggling the kids, families, husbands, jobs and money worries throughout this stressful process.
"12 months ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have fought and I have survived. Now my beautiful son Antony is running the Marathon Des Sables to assist other Breast Cancer sufferers with their fight. I thank Antony and all you amazing people who are there with support no matter how small. Thank you."
Wadette Shaw (Antony's mother).
Therefore the reason why I have chosen to support the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation is because they provide support to individual breast cancer sufferers and their families. This disease is far too sressful as it is, without the added pressures of financial burden. This small gesture by me and now by you helps directly some breast cancer sufferers who need it most.
I thank you all for your time and support. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery and today is a gift. Thats why we call it the present"
Your support just gave someone a present with meaning !!
Antony Shaw
Copyright © 2008 Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation
The fundraising arm of the Sydney Breast Cancer Institute, one of Australia's leading centres for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
