MARATHON DE SABLES
The Toughest Footrace on Earth
The Marathon des Sables (MDS) (Marathon of the Sands) is a six-day, 254 km (156 mi) ultramarathon (which is an equivalent to six regular marathons) in conditions ranging from sand dunes to rocky dried riverbeds, 50-degree heat to sand storms. The longest single stage is 84 km (52 mi) long. The event is held every year in the southern Moroccan desert. It is considered the toughest foot race on Earth. Competitors must carry all personal belongings and food for the entire event in their rucksack with only water and tents supplied by the organizers. Check out this link to learn more about the MDS.
Profile Dermod Sweeney
- I am a civil engineer working for Atkins where I am the managing director of the Water & Environment business. I am married to Lynne with two daughters, Catherine and Natasha, and each has recently given me a grandchild. I have been a keen sportsman all my life, with rowing as my main sport. I have two Henley Royal Regatta winners’ medals and have coached six Henley winning crews and three Great Britain crews. In my more recent life, I have medalled in the international veteran rowing championships and also won in my age group at the Henley veteran regatta. However, over the last few years, encouraged by Catherine, I have been running marathons and ultra-marathons and competing in triathlons including one at Olympic distance. I will celebrate my 62nd birthday the day after I (hopefully) complete the MDS.Why am I doing the MDS
- I blame alcohol. About 18 months ago after dinner and too much fine wine (actually, cheap plonk), Catherine and my old friend David Kerr took advantage of me and persuaded me to sign up for 2008.I’m afraid I can claim nothing more noble than this. Catherine completed the MDS in 2006 and was going to do 2008, but was not able to time the birth of Naomi with sufficient precision to avoid a clash. To console her for missing the 2008 MDS, I have signed up to do an ironman triathlon with her in September –still crazy after all these years!
Training
- my preparation could scarcely have gone worse. I damaged my ankle progressively leading up to Christmas by not letting it fully recover before training again. I lost January and half of February before I could walk properly never mind run. Now, with three weeks to go, I’m getting some decent training in and hoping that it will be sufficient. For anybody interested in ankle conditions, the syndrome is sinus tarsi – nerve damage in a little recess in the ankle bone. Google the ‘sprained ankle that won’t heal’ and sinus tarsi will come up. Great! To the many people who have lost the will to live hearing about my ankle problems, I apologise.Facing Africa
What is 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.
Why am I running for Facing Africa - Noma is an absolutely horrendous disease and I did not hesitate in deciding to support Facing Africa which is the official MDS charity.
My website – many thanks to Natasha who has found to time to make this website for me between dragon boating, rock climbing and looking after little Zavier.
