Siobhann and Neal - Sahara Marathon 2010
I inspired myself when I completed the London marathon in 2008 but Sophie’s life taught me what inspiration really meant. She battled through nearly a decade with the disease, with more zest for life I have ever seen in a person in my lifetime.
That a girl can smile so hugely, and so warmly and so positively through such immense heartache, fear and pain was something that made such an impact on me, it changed my life perspectives forever. I learnt what “inspirational” really meant.
Her widower, Rob, described how one thing that kept Sophie’s mind so remarkably strong even though her body was slowly dying, was her passion for running. She’d come straight out of chemotherapy and run for miles and miles, ignoring the pain and listening to her heart….enjoying the opportunity to smile. For this reason, I couldn’t resist dedicating my future efforts to this remarkable person.
In front of her unimaginable suffering, to run a marathon is surely a blessing.
On completion of the Rome Marathon, we were all struck by the impact of the experience and the immense sense of camaraderie shared by all. It wasn’t long before the emails were circulating about the next challenge and what it would be. Eager to continue Sophie’s Legacy and always willing to try something new, I didn’t hesitate in accepting Eric’s invitation to join the Marathon Des Sables team.
So, on 2 April 2010 whilst all of our friends and family will be tucking in to their Easter Sunday Roast – Team Perseverance (Cengiz, Alexis, Eric, Christophe, Neal and myself) will be standing on the starting line of the ‘Toughest Footrace on Earth’
Under a 130 degree Fahrenheit sun, we will be looking ahead at 240+km of Saharan Desert ready to race in one of the world’s most extreme endurance events and in one of the her most hostile environments.
We will be wholly self-sufficient for seven days and nights, the length of time given to complete the distance. We must carry a back pack with all of our food, clothing, provisions, cooking utensils and emergency equipment including an anti-venom pump for the scorpions and snakes who may well be sharing our sleeping bag. This we will haul over rocky mountains, dry river beds and some of the most colossal sand-dunes on the planet. Mostly, with compass in hand, we will be racing through the vast expanses of remorseless, scorched plains that are the Saharan Desert, though crippling sand-storms that can reach frightening speeds – forcing sand in to every crevasse of our body.
As if this wasn’t grueling enough, we are rationed a meager 9 litres of water and day – at designated times – and over-indulgence will lead to disqualification.
After approximately one full marathon per day – we will arrive at camp hungry and dehydrated, most likely with a traumatised stomach wrecked with pain-killers and anti-inflammatories, to begin the daunting procedure of popping, draining and completely removing our blisters, caring for chaffs and burns and managing our aching, swollen body before getting up at 5am to do the whole thing again the next day. ‘Rest-time’ will be challenged by the freezing night temperatures and open bivouac tents full of suffering athletes.
On day 4, we have the pleasure of 2 full marathons in one day – a distance of approximately 90kms.
The Marathon Des Sables is not just any sporting or challenge event, but an emotional and physical journey that will shake us to the roots; a true test of human will power and spirit which is reflected in those that we are raising money to support. Hearts like Sophie. We have seen reality wind itself up in a pickle of financial concern but real issues, tragic issues, like cancer, still exist and still affect us and still need supporting and we hope that this extraordinary effort will make a small impact on making this better for all of us.
www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/Cotswold-woman-taking-Sahara/article-1468897-detail/article.html
www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk/news/Cotswolds_woman_to_tackle_
worlds_toughtest_race_in_Sophies_memory/