Posted Wednesday, April 09, 2008, 3:09 PM by Lonely Planet
And so dawned the last day of the 23rd Marathon des Sables, a 17.5 km 'sprint' into the small oasis town of Tazzarine and a long-awaited return to civilization. Spiked by an imperceptible homing instinct and fuelled by inordinate amounts of adrenalin, the pace was breathlessly electric as we emerged like escaped hostages out of the desert and ran in small groups through Tazzarine's dusty streets lined for the occasion with throngs of cheering spectators.
I had long dreamt about the cocktail of conflicting emotions that I would feel as I crossed the finish line. But, as the magic moment approached and I dug deep into my for a last reserves of energy for a final push, all I could muster was a dry gasp of disbelief. All around chaos reigned. Behind me a Spanish runner crumpled in exhaustion to the ground and began to weep, up front about half a dozen strangers reached out and enthusiastically shook my hand, while poised at the end of the finishing funnel the ebullient race organiser, Patrick Bauer, grabbed me in an obligatory French bear hug and heartily congratulated me on my feat (brave man - I hadn't showered in over a week)
And it was only then - for the first time in 7 days - that I was able to turn around and glance back at what I had long thought to be the impossible road; 152 miles of raw and uncompromising desert wilderness; ten nervous months of dreaming, plotting, training and planning.
Seen today through the prism of our euphoric post-race celebrations, the Marathon des Sables is far more than just a run across the desert; it is an uncensored journey into the inner workings of the human soul. Tested to your physical and mental limits and pushed daily to the brink of exhaustion you need spade loads of heart, passion, courage and determination just to survive it. But for those that finish, the rewards are immeasurable. The heady joys of life lived at a higher intensity, the sweet satisfaction of a hard won victory, the strange camaraderie borne out of short-term friendships that are forged like unbreakable bonds in the desert dust.
Would I do it again? Absolutely not. But after coming in an extremely pleasing 70th out of 801 starters on my 42nd birthday, the memory of this extraordinary event will stay with me long after the sore shins and bleeding blisters have subsided.
- Brendan SainsburyLabels: Marathon des Sables
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4 Comments:
Congratulations on a tremendous--and inspiring--achievement! Your experience puts my daily annoyances into proper perspective.
If some of our so-called world leaders were forced to endure even one hour of what you went through, I'm sure the planet would be better off.
Congratulations Brendan - an awesome achievement!
Paul Clammer
(Author LP Morocco, currently on the road in Fez and feeling sheepish that the extent of my exertions is currently climbing up and down stairs in trendy riad hotels...)
I understand that you don’t want to do it again. But how you write it sound like a wonderful experience!
Interesting Read. I will continue to follow your posts.
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