Weekly Meeting - Mark Roderick (Marathon des Sable)

Marathon des Sables - Mark Roderick 

The Toughest Footrace on Earth 2015

John Roderick introduced his son Mark who earlier in the year entered the Marathon de Sables.  The event is a six-day, 156-mile race, through the sand dunes and hills of the Sahara Dessert, in Morocco.

Mark explained that he had determined to work in his business for 10 years and then take time out to do something different. What was this to be?  With the encouragement of his wife he decided on what could be called Endurance Extraordinaire. He began training in this country with short(!)10 K races up and down the hills and dales, stopping off at the occasional pub we were told.  He trained in a special hot room at Gloucestershire University, on a treadmill with the temperature up to 50 degrees, to emulate possible condition in the dessert.

Along came April and the race was now for real.  Some 1200 competitors from all over the world assembled in Morocco.  They were housed in tents and began to acclimatise and meet other entrants, including the redoubtable Sir Ranulf Fiennes.

Mark explained that you have to carry equipment, food, and water in a rucksack including the bed you have to sleep on. This requires innovation and Mark showed us his mattress which was so light and compact, it could be carried in a pocket of the bag.

During the course of the race Mark did encounter temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius, got very blistered feet, drank up to 14 very large bottles of water per day (no pubs on the way) and still only stopped once for the call of nature each day.   He illustrated the race with photographs and a video and we could all feel the heat!  He finished the race and got the medal.

Part of the project was to raise money for charity.   In all he raised some £5000 which was split between Sue Ryder and The Philippines Community Fund.

So, fancy a week in the desert? Mark has the Details!

Richard Sugdon