THE MARATHON DES SABLES
JAMES INSKIP
My name's James Inskip, I am a 27 year old Accountant from Bath. The Marathon Des Sables will be the first time I have ever run an endurance race although I have run the Bath and the Reading half marathons. This really will be the biggest physical challenge I have ever undertaken in my life and as such I intend to spend most of the next year training to get myself ready
The event involves running 151 miles through the Sahara Desert in Morocco. There are around 500 participants from around the world and we will be running from 12 miles to 44 miles a day including running through the night on the longest day. We have to carry all our clothes equpiment and food for the week with us although water is supplied by the organisers at checkpoints everyday.
We will be running through terrain ranging from sand, stone and rock (above), dunes and also lush oasis (left) while dealing with soaring heats of upto 50 degrees and sand storms, while trying to avoid snakes and scorpions.
I am running the MdS on behalf of the Bath Cats & Dogs home. This home is one of the biggest of its kind in the country and has annual running costs of over £900,000. I have helped out at the home since an early age and am taking this chance to show my support for all the work they do.
If you would like to help me support this worthy cause please visit the Justgiving website via the link above. Here you will be able to donate money online securely, all funds are passed directly to the charity who are also able to reclaim the tax. Please aslo feel free to visit the homes website to find out more about this great cause.