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MARATHON DES SABLES 2009 – The Sand
“……..The Toughest Endurance Foot Race on Earth……….”
On 26th March 2009 the two old fellas of Odyssey II - Team Rudd will be leaving the UK to take part in the 24th Marathon des Sables. This is a 6 day 151 mile running race (made up of legs of 16, 21, 24, 50, 26, and 14 miles) through the and is generally considered to be the World’s toughest footrace.
Every year around 800 competitors from around the world set out to run the equivalent of one marathon a day for 6 days over open desert, rocky ground, sandy barren wilderness and mountainous dunes, in temperatures which reach 120°F/48°C.
The organisers provide us with only a meagre ration of water each day and a series of carpet bags sown together, thrown over two wooden poles, and loosley described as a tent. in which eight people will eat, sleep and snore for the duration of the event. We must carry everything else that we may need including all of our food rations, which we must prepare ourselves, which is probably why Mike lost so much weight during the 2006 race!! There are no washing facilities, no toilets and no change of clothes, something that we doubt will bother Paul in the slightest!
The members of Odyssey II - Team Rudd are brothers Mike Rudd (Barrister) and Paul Rudd (Ex Royal Navy Submariner and sometime builder of Toyota motor cars).
We will suffer long hours of enduring pain and the sponsorship that you give will provide us with that extra surge of energy, allow us to draw up from the depths when we at our lowest ebb, and help us through to the finish. Every penny counts and in these difficult economic times please give what you can, however little. This charity should be important to all, especially those families touched by cancer and there is no doubt that every donation is welcome.
You can find further details about the endeavours of Team Rudd in the 2009 Marathon des Sables (and Team Odyssey in the 2006 MdS) at www.teamodyssey.co.uk. The site is a bit basic at the moment but will be updated over the next few weeks with photographs and further information.
Please, please click on the sponsor link now........don't leave it until later, you wont do it!! Click, click.....click!!!
So please sponsor us now!
Update:
The Race is over and we both completed in around 49hrs. Our feet and bodies are screwed but I'm sure in time we'll look back with fondness at the experience.
You can check out our blog at;
http://teamodysseymds.blogspot.com/
Even though the event is over we are continuing to raise sponsorship, hopefully achieving our target and will bring the adventure to an end at the Cheshire Triathlon on 31st May.
Thanks again
Mike & Paul
