Unusual training request!

Musashi

A mate of mine has asked me to run in a ,well, strange race with him.
It is called the Marathon De Sables and it looks tough?
Any runners here got any idea how much training I need to do or plan I should run to hope to complete this thing?

http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/index.html

pma-ire

Musashi wrote:

A mate of mine has asked me to run in a ,well, strange race with him.
It is called the Marathon De Sables and it looks tough?
Any runners here got any idea how much training I need to do or plan I should run to hope to complete this thing?

http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/index.html

Heres one tip for ya!

GO TO BED EARLY!!!

Look at the time you posted that!! You bold boy!!:rolleyes:

dlofnep

6 day, 151 mile endurance race? If you complete that, fair play to ya. I know I wouldn't make it past the first day.

Colm_OReilly

My first advice would be don't do this race in 2006. you'd need at least 18 months of training to get your body used to the extreme endurance demands that race will put you under.

Geet some books on ultra distance running, find a board adn look at the posts, check out runners world etc

memphis

Fair play to ya if your serious about doing that. It'd be some achievement to finish that... so you think your really up for it old man??

I wouldn't last 2 miles not to mind say 151.

My advice is start jogging now, focus on your breathing and increase the lenght of the jog gradually. Can't speak from experience, but I hope it works, worth the try anyway!!

dlofnep

memphis wrote:

Fair play to ya if your serious about doing that. It'd be some achievement to finish that... so you think your really up for it old man??

I wouldn't last 2 miles not to mind say 151.

My advice is start jogging now, focus on your breathing and increase the lenght of the jog gradually. Can't speak from experience, but I hope it works, worth the try anyway!!

Not bad advice for someone who mods the sweets/snacks forum

Mr E

It covers 243km/151 miles (made up of legs of 25, 34, 38, 82, 42, 22 km) run over 6 days (7 for some) - equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons. That's a speed of between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78). In addition to that, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint.

You will have to prepare all your own food throughout the race and I warn you that there is not a chain of Tesco stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. You 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.

The heat, distance and rubbing will trash your feet and may cause severe trauma if incorrect shoes and equipment are not used. Mental stamina probably constitutes at least 50% of whether you will complete the distance or not. Physical fitness is important but don't underestimate the mental stress that you will need to endure. Even if you have run dozens of 26 mile marathons, this does not mean that you will automatically find the MdS easy.

On the 4th day, you 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. This is followed by the 42km Marathon stage!! Its tough, so don't say that nobody warned you in the strongest terms.

All I can say is fair play to you if you're considering it..... To run what is almost a double marathon on the 4th day (followed by another marathon on the day after) is incredible. Good luck!

combat_sombo

I seriously recommend you do not do this.

Dave Joyce

Hey Mush if you're serious about tackling this race I suggest you contact a former neighbour, student and friend of mine Richard Donavan who has ran that particular race and regularly organises marathons in the both the North and South Poles amongst others. He ran it with his two brothers (one of them Paul represented Ireland in the Olypics) a few years ago in memory of their Dad who was not long deceased. He is a very experienced runner (especially in these type of events) and would give you excellant advice and hes one sound guy. However, don't get me wrong its not for the faint hearted, as he had some memorable stories!!!!:eek:

As a side note, he was telling me about this guy who was doing security for the event and that he was a practising MA and had "done" a few things. I asked him to describe him and guess who it was.... no other than Orlando Weit who fought Remco Pardoel in one of the early UFC's, had a lot of Thai fights and who then went on to a Pro Boxing stint. He told Richard he was seriously thinking of running the race the following year, but don't know if he ever did. Talk about a man who gets around!!

Rabies

It was on TV last year. Serious race. Expect your feet to suffer extensive damage. Blisters and infections on a large scale were on everyone's feet.
I think the object of the race is not to win but to actually finish

Musashi

Cheers for the replies lads! A mate of mine likes doing this type of thing, he trekked to Matchu Pitchu through the jungle last year and wants to do one to the North Pole at some stage.
Now neither of us are running at all currently, but he's one of these stubborn guys who gets an idea and can't stop until he's done it.I'm not sure if this will actually go ahead yet, but I would like to know what would be involved in training for it.Obviously I'd be looking at it more like an ultralight backpacking trip than a race, finishing al;ive would do the finest if we do go ahead with it
Cheers for the contact Dave, I'll see about getting in touch and ask him what kind of training level we'd want to be at to stand a realistic chance of completing this thing.
Again thanks for the input and I'll let ye know how it pans out!

memphis

dlofnep wrote:

Not bad advice for someone who mods the sweets/snacks forum

That is a fair point and one that I get alot of stick about. So for the last time I'm gonna try defnd myself as best I can with regard to this. Subject to being mod of the snacks/sweets forum, I do train in TKD, and will watch my diet when important events come up etc.

Modding the snacks/sweets forum doesn't necessarily mean that I spend my days munching on junk. I like the ocassional bar of choccie or a bag of crisps, like everyone else really, but I don't go mad on the stuff. All you need to mod the snack forum (and any forum for that matter) is a level head, and some patience, along with, in my case, a basic knowledge of some brands and the like.

Hope that clears up a few things!!! For a 24 year old, and current holder of a Green belt in in TKD, I'd consider myself to be reasonably fit, and very passionate about MA. Modding here is nothing more to me than a past time.