Jason's 2023 Marathon des Sables challenge

Marathon des Sables – 21st April to 1st May 2023.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….I’m not a particularly good runner. I have completed a number of marathons, a couple of 50 milers and one 100 mile race before, all mainly through bloody-mindedness, perseverance and stubbornness rather than natural ability. I’m hoping this approach will get me through what is referred to as ‘the toughest footrace on Earth’.

For those that are unaware, the Marathon des Sables (MdS from now on) is a seven-day, six-stage race across the Moroccan Saharan desert covering over 250km of sand dunes, rocky jebels, dried river beds and salt flats with temperatures frequently topping 50°C. The race is self-supported, meaning I will be carrying my week's supplies throughout - food, clothing, sleeping bag, medical necessities, sun cream (lots of), torch, compass etc, as well as a whole lot of other stuff I hope I won’t need, like an emergency flare, survival blanket and signalling mirror. Water is supplied but rationed, and a bivouac is provided for shelter each night (effectively a goats’ hair blanket propped up by wooden poles, which you share with seven other participants). Other than that you're on your own.

In all honesty there are probably tougher races out here, but not many.

So, each year around 1000 people line up to spend a week trying to run through one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, attracting some of the best endurance and ultra athletes from around the world. And next year I’ll be joining them, a 52 year old dad of two from East Sussex whose most significant sporting achievements are the 50metre breaststroke badge that was proudly sewn to the front of my swimming trunks and the blue and black FA soccer skills badges from when I was about 10 years old...

(If you remember these, you're old too). 

If you’re running the MdS there’s no obligation to raise money for charity. I’ll be paying the entrance fee myself, but I want to use the opportunity to raise as much cash as possible for Macmillan Cancer Support, who do amazing work supporting individuals and families of those with cancer. So please sponsor me with whatever you can spare. A small contribution will make a huge difference; a large amount comes with a free hug.

Oh, and if for any reason I don’t make it to the finish line I’ll still be taking your money!

I’ll be updating this sponsorship page regularly, but if you’d like more of an insight into the race there are various clips on YouTube (there are some good personal accounts and the official film of the 2016 race gives a good overview), as well as the Discovery Channel documentary ‘The Toughest Race on Earth’ that was filmed when James Cracknell completed the MdS in 2010. If you have Netflix the first 10 minutes or so of 'Human Playground' also has some great footage.

Anyway, thanks so much for reading. Please circulate this page to as many people as possible – forward to work colleagues, family, friends, club members etc. Also please share on whatever social media platforms you can in order to get this out to as many people as possible.

Take care,

Jason