About the Marathon Des Sables

The Marathon des Sables (MdS) is a 6 day / 230km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normally taking place at the end of March / beginning of April.

During this time the competitors (myself included!) have to carry all food, cooking equipment, survival equipment, etc over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures upto 120°F.

Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables

Thanks for taking time to read my page I am a serving Police Officer with the West Midlands Police at Sutton Coldfield Police Station and intend to raise as much as possible for UKCOPS by taking part in the hardest foot race in the world. About Cops Care of Police Survivors (otherwise known as COPS) is a UK registered charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, rebuild their lives. It aims to ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such a tragedy This is an idea of what takes place during The Marathon Des Sable It covers 243km/151 miles It is a 6 day / 151 mile (243km) endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, taking place at the begining of April 2010 The stages are run over 6 days (7 for some) - equivalent to five and a half regular marathons. Pace is between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78. In addition to that, I have to carry everything I will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on my back in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint. I will have to prepare all my own food throughout the race unfortunately there is not a chain of stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. I will experience mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F, of running or walking on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15 - 20% of the distance being in sand dunes with some climbing as well. On the 4th day,I will set off across the barren wilderness to complete a 45 - 50 mile stage. Few people complete this before dark that evening and some will not come in till after dark the next night. I hope to be somewhere inbetween. This is followed by the 42km Marathon stage!! Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now.

Events I am competing in

Marathon des Sables 2010

THIS IS A CHARITY FORMEED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A NATIONAL MEMORIAL AT THE ARBORETUM ARLEWAS LICHFIELD STAFFORDSHIRE.THIS IS FOR ALL POLICE OFFICERS KILLED ON DUTY SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE POLICE SERVICE

In aid of COPS

Links

• www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
• www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA
• www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS
• www.bestofmorocco.co.uk - Tailor-made trips to Morocco (marathon not compulsory)