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

Why on earth am I doing this?

Oh dear, just beginning to wonder what I have I let myself in for? A 250k run across the Moroccan Sahara desert, complete with 25lb backpack. Sleeping in a tent with 700 strangers and possibly incurring loads of injuries along the way! I am not an athlete!!! Anything but! I play at keeping fit, fiddle around on a cross-trainer, don’t really do any weights and am a slow and not very experienced runner. I have completed 4 marathons in very slow times and have no experience of ultras or long distances. I have done NO trail running whatsoever. So here I am, about to attempt the “toughest footrace on earth”. Should have thought of that when I impulsively applied online for this particular event. Still, I guess I have been pretty thorough in my preparations.

The essentials have been taken care of! My eyelashes were permed and dyed last week (no point in looking a complete wreck into the bargain!). My legs were waxed on friday, had a deep-conditioning hair treatment yesterday, and a facial this morning. My ECG is complete and normal. I have passed a full medical. Carolyn had sent me a vitamin c skin capsule for each day of the event. I have pre-moistened cucumber slices already in my pack to reduce puffiness round the eyes. Small La Prairie cleanser, toner and moisturiser are in my toiletries kit, not forgetting the essential extract of eye contour caviar. Well, if I am going to set off my distress flare and be rescued by a George Clooney look-a-like in the medical helicopter, I have to look at least presentable.

I have decided against taking too many of those unpalatable dried meals, and instead have decided on isotonic drinks, energy bars, Pepperami sticks and Japanese rice crackers (though I expect there must be SOME facility for ordering outside catering. Thankfully this has left me room for several changes of clothing. I shall start the week in my blue “in-sport” shorts with the rail-riders shirt. As my tan progresses, I shall go on to one of the white Nike short sleeved tops with the navy shorts and intend to finish the week in the slinky black high cut shorts, coupled with the Nike cropped top. By this time my tan should be fairly golden. I shall use Sheisedo factor 8 on my face for the week, and Clarins factor 6 spray on my body. I have a lip salve to ensure my lips stay soft. A small bottle of after-sun milk should keep my skin supple and a spray of Evian should keep my face from dehydrating.