Soggy Sahara…
27th March Day: T minus 2 – Into the desert Excitement Level: Damp So you thought the Sahara was hot and dry. Well Today that couldn’t be further from the truth. The entire country seems to be flooded and half the competiors can’t even get to the first camp. What is notoriously the toughest foot […]
Marathon des Sables 2009 – the toughest footrace on earth
26th March Day: T minus 3 – Fly to Ouarzazate (Morocco) Excitement Level: Medium rare “Training to run 100 miles is like training to get hit by a truck” Luis Escobar Right now I am pondering the collective noun for the throng of Marathon des Sables competitors that congregated at Gatwick this morning; an asylum, […]
Marathon des Sables 2009 – the toughest footrace on earth
Day: T minus 7 days Status: Philosophical Excitement Level: about 5 on the Richter scale “You’ve got an abnormality in your heart”, said my doctor, “but it’s quite normal for an athlete”. Phew! Medical passed. Never has so much teetered on the latter part of a sentence. So cleared as being fit as a fiddle, […]
Last days in Africa
Our penultimate day was spent at the Candlelight Memorial. It was memorable for meeting the former President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda. He was quite delightful and warmly greeted us every time we bumped into him. He was staying at the same hotel and allowed us to accompany him to the mausoleum of his friend and […]
Day 7 – Gerald multi-tasks as a getaway driver
One of the aims today is to find time for a proper swim….. Three quarters of the crew headed off very early to the Lighthouse Project leaving me to do battle with Avis to change our two inadequate vehicles for one with tyres big enough to cope with these roads (oh, and brakes, a complete […]
Day 6 – Malawi
Two days of manic filming. We have visited the football stadium where Sunday’s Candlelight Memorial is to be held. They are holding a run through and there are groups of school children, boy scouts and adults waiting to practice their songs. The President of Malawi is expected on Sunday, so the excitement is rising… The […]
Day 5 – Travel Day!
I’m writing this from the departure gate at Johannesburg where we are waiting for our Air Malawi fight. We’ve had to come to the gate by 11 for our 12.15 flight because apparently the pilot may decide to leave at 11.15 instead! We’re only fractionally concerned that no one else seems to be on our […]