Marathon des Sables
Retailhomepage founder Peter Gold spent most of the 2006 Easter holiday running 150 miles across the Sahara desert, carrying 7 days worth of food and clothing for good measure, primarily to raise money for Facing Africa!
The Marathon des Sables is a 6 day/243km (151 mile) endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco 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. 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 even rationed and only handed out at each checkpoint!
More details can be found at www.saharamarathon.co.uk
A full diary can be read at Mds - the full story!
Peter completed the event in 42 hours 12 minutes, averaged 5.05 kph and was placed 339th out of an initial field of 735. There were 143 non-finishers - the highest ever!
The charity Peter chose was Facing Africa who raise money to fight the terrible plight of the hundreds of thousands of children suffering the hideous affliction of Noma. Noma (cancrum oris) is an acute and ravaging gangrenous infection affecting the face. The victims of Noma are mainly young children caught in a vicious circle of extreme poverty and chronic malnutrition.
For further information or to donate online please use the links below:
Thank you for your support.
Peter Gold
