Local man takes on Marathon des Sables challenge (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Local man takes on Marathon des Sables challenge

8:22am Thursday 8th April 2004 in Sport By Gazette News Desk

While people are relaxing on Easter weekend, one man will be in a different continent, running mile after mile over snake-strewn desert sands.

Richard Chambers, 56, an outdoor shop general manager from Dent, will be in Morocco to take part in one of the world's toughest endurance events, the Marathon des Sables.

The run takes place over six days and 150 miles (230 kilometres) of tough desert terrain in temperatures that soar to 120F (49C) during the day and plummet to 40F (4C) at night.

Mr Chambers said: "Initially, I was doing it to prove to myself that I could. Don't ask me why, it could be a mid-life crisis!"

Day by day the distance covered varies but on the toughest section competitors run almost 50 miles with only other runners and eagles wheeling high above for company.

The organisers' website warns competitors not to apply greasy products on places that rub when running, such as on calves and thighs, as sand sticks to it and turns it to sandpaper.

As Mr Chambers puts it: "That's the one they throw in to really sort the men from the boys."

The terrain he covers will vary from sand dunes to dried up riverbeds to tarmac roads - but it will always be tough.

He will have to be largely self-sufficient for most sections of the event, rationing each day's allotted nine litres of water between his rucksack and the base camp that is set up for them each night.

"To a certain extent, the whole of the event is as much how you manage your resources as the physical running side," he said.

To prepare for the event, Mr Chambers has slogged 1,000 miles since October but has yet to experience the desert.

With five caving expeditions in the damp jungle heat of Borneo under his belt, he feels he will be able to cope, and raise up to £3,000 for Medecins Sans Frontieres at the same time.