Updated 27th October 2021: 

Now having completed the most tortuous event I've ever undertaken I am taking it easy. The MdS was 6 marathons in 7 days over ~250km across the Sahara desert from 1st to 11th October 2021. www.marathondessables.com. I am a Garscube Harriers life member, joining in 1972. As I have run plenty of marathons over the years but never an Ultra, I thought I'd start with the toughest as I don't intend to do another! I have added a summary of my experience below...

The reason I am fund raising for the Brain Tumour charity is the recent diagnosis of my wife's young friend and colleague. 

The combination of a d+v bug spreading through the camp and the heatwave in the Sahara reaching an unbelievable 58 degrees! in the 15km of sand dunes meant I quickly had to forget trying to get as high a ranking and just survive to the end of each day, focussing on finishing only. The main issues were staying hydrated without throwing up the hot water and keeping my body temperature and heart rate down. I lost over 5kg during the race and had to stop eating after the 3rd day, surviving on wine gums and jelly babies at night. The Sahara wind blowing through the open bivouac each nigh cooled the water to allow rehydrating through the night for the next day. The long day 82.5km had various challenges from the midday heat to mile after mile of the sand looking like glaring snow when lit by my headtorch and following green neon glow stick markers for hours. The only high point was looking up at the myriad of starts and constellations free of city lights was stunning. The course was meant to test over various terrain and consisted of flat salt beds; sharp stony undulating hills, small dunes, wadi, large dunes, and the odd mountain rope climb thrown in for good measure. The course was staged such that you could see the check points and finish lines miles before actually reaching them and they never seemed to get any closer. Designed to test your mental resolve as much as a physical challenge.

  The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, were moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.We're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can't wait.