16th Marathon Des Sables April 2001 - Part 7 - Page 1

Woken by the throbbing of my feet. With a start I realise where I am and what a state my feet are in. Fumble around in the dark for my pack, and swallow a couple of painkillers.
It is only using my walking poles that I am able to drag myself off for a pee, my feet are too painful to take any weight at all.
Gosh, thats encouraging. Dragging myself for 26.2 miles seems somewhat daunting!
To my amazement, and delight, within about 30 minutes the painkillers have kicked in and I can actually stand unaided. No, better than that, I can walk. This is nothing short of a miracle! Almost excited at the thought of todays stage. Somehow I feel that if I crack this bit, I should be home and dry. Nothing short of death would make me drop out on the last day. .....

Everyone in the tent seems high spirited, except we are all sorry that James is no longer around. He has formed an escape committee, and has gone back to Ouarzazate. Dont blame him. Dont think I could cope with seeing everyone else continuing when I had dropped out.

See Phil and Paul before we set off. Shall never forget how we kept each others spirits up on the long stage. Paul, like me, is suffering with his feet, but determined to persevere. Phil seems less injured, and raring to go. Poor Tom has really suffered with injuries too. At the beginning of the week he was way ahead of everyone...now his injuries are keeping him back. Cannot say I am totally devastated at the prospect of having to follow his lycra-clad rear for a few miles!!

The bivouac site is full of people limping,hobbling, grimacing.....it looks more like a scene from Mash than an endurance race!
By the time I am all prepared for the start, the pain killers have kicked in completely and I can actually move quite quickly! Somehow the thought of just a marathon stage doesnt seem too daunting. Normally a marathon would be a big deal, but the distances we have covered so far have been so vast, that 26.2 miles seems like nothing!!!