Day 5 - WE ARE RUNNERS!!! AND RUNNING!!

36km
Stage 1 – 12 km
Stage 2 – 12 km
Stege 3 – 12 km

Up at 06.30 - ration food – shower and took some hexamine tabs from Zane and all on coach for 07.00. We arrived at start line around 30 mins later just off the side of the road and at the base of the ERG CHEBBI DUNES, only the largest moving dunes in the world….. Some 28km long and 8km wide.. ENOURMOUS!!!! 1st water ration of 2 x 1.5 ltr bottles handed out and took place by country flags All water handouts with names and numbers, had my 1st desert number 2 and took heaps of start line shots before we were finally off…. The helicopter, news crews, quad bikes, 840 runners, 4x4, spectators, photographers were all a little overwhelming and the sight of the biggest dunes in Morocco drawing ever nearer was incredible. We had a final speech from Patrick before a 10 to 1 countdown and off we went!!!!!!!!!! The run to the start of dunes was incredible as they seriously got bigger and bigger…. Very excited about the prospect of running into the desert….
Check point 1 after dunes, 1,5 litre ration of water, Power-bar and we were off again…. Saw Deb, Zane, Michaela, Matt & Sarah.. Bruce and I headed off for a 45 min quick run with Bruce.. Maybe an error, actually – certainly an error…. The Sahara Shuffle is something I wish I had picked up on sonner than I did….

Quote of the day from myself at check point 1 while having a number 1:

Bruce – there is a fly on my Penis!!

2nd check point didn’t come for ages and was a real eye opener as to how to not only complete this race but complete it in a good time… Steady, at your own pace and not to let the speed of others worry you…. There were walkers who just kept on walking at 6 or 7km / hr who completed the race in extraordinary time... We ended with dunes and the bivouac.. I managed to put away x 2 expedition foods after the race… The 1st at 16.00 and then again at 19.00 so went to bed with a v full belly…

During the evening we had visits from Angelique, Leticia, Celia and various other French volunteers to cheer us up which was greatly appreciated by all the lads… J From 19.00 the desert is pretty cold as to say from 19.30 after the sun has gone down we were all pretty much restricted to our sleeping bags. My £170 PDF Sleeping Bag proved a wise and fantastic choice as it kept me perfectly warm in the near freezing nights… Awesome!!! Fragle rock or Ollie was on Valium and after a lot of laughs and some quiet mumbles at 20.05 I reckon all 7 of us fell asleep…

Day 4 - The fattest MdS yet....

On bus for 08.00 and off to 5* hotel for Kit Checks and more food, ha ha ha.. Beautiful hotel in the desert, queued again, great team of lads in queue, only 45 mins for Passport check, suitcase check in, Shirt number, Flare and Salt, ECG and Medical.. Done by 11.00 for a 2 hour wait until 13.00.. LUNCH – more buffets… I reckon I am putting on weight so far with all the food on offer….

Lunch good, lazing by pool, roof of hotel, Louise, Lou, Adam, Tom, Pen, Jen, Zane, Michaela, Debs all present and had a lovely day... Speech of Patrick, average.. Best comment:
‘We, as a group need to make a decision from here (expecting length of race) cancel the race or carry on as planned?!?
Umm difficult one Patrick...

Discussed, safety, route, doctors, volunteers etc, before heading back to hotel had a quick shop, tea, dinner, re-pack, bed...

Happy Training

Charlie

Day 3 - It's all about the kit....

Up at 08.30 to breakfast, rumours spreading like wild fire.. MdS organisers came with news bulletin…… Wait for it…….

'You will be sleeping here again tonight other than that we do not have any other information….. Are there any questions?

I THOUGHT HILARIOUS!!!!!!

Breakfast to dinner was spent kicking back, talking and enjoying what is an awesome groups company. We are heavily into the Moroccan tea, Zane, Michaela, Debs, Sarah and a short run with Louise, Lou and a few others amongst some sunbathing when the clouds parted before more rain….. Brilliant!!!
Contending with rain, sun, rain, beautiful sun, downpour, gorgeous sunshine, tropical thunderstorm most of the day… The tents were properly waterlogged, no chance of retrieving therefore the 1st day cancelled. Tomorrow we have our kit checks and handover of bags. Kept on meeting new faces of the group like Penelope, Jenny, Adam, Langers, Adam etc etc, some really awesome guys and girls... Packed kit for the 4th time - last check dinner with Pen and Jen and bed...

Happy Training!!!!
CS

Day 2 - The day the rain came!!!!

Woke at 06.30 or should I say 06.00 as I had my alarm on Spanish time..
Coach moved forward 1 hour without us knowing so a quick breaky, we did manage to have a massive breakfast of everything and were successfully on the coach with Gary, Jeremy, Michaela, & Debs for 08.30 – of course even though we were all on the bus for 08.30 we didn’t move until 09.30. The most eventful, unwelcome and unexpected part of the trip started exactly as we departed….. RAIN!!!!!!! The rain started literally as we pulled away from Oz… Obviously with a near 300km to travel and the fact we were in the Sahara Desert nobody was at all worried…. How foolish we were, ha ha ha…. The rain came down, harder, harder and harder for the entire journey… I emailed this to my mum and sister – (little did I know how much it would all change).

All amazing, amazing group, can't wait.... Chilly in evening, spot of rain this am in Oz but otherwise warm.... Just been handed race guide on coach out to Start line...

Day 1 - running to Erg Chebbi - 30km
Day 2 - Erg Chebbi to Erg Znaigui - 33km
Day 3 - Erg Znaigui to Oued el Jdaid - 39km
Day 4 - Oued el Jdaid to Ouchanne Alnif - 80,5km
Day 5 - rest day or completing day 4
Day 6 - Ouchanne Alnif - Bou Inagai - 42km
Day 7 - Saturday 04/04/2009 - Bou Inagagai to El Hazbane. Finish line is in a town called El Hazbane.... No idea where it is, google map it....

See you next Saturday in El Hazbane, ring Sarah from Best of Morocco on Tuesday on - 08450264588
All well,
Charlie
Beautiful journey if not for the rain... Stopped for a pee pee which also turned out to be a very funny aspect of the week with Angelica our tour rep, French from near Brittany, very cute and a very sweet girl volunteering for her first time on the MdS…. Wee stops were infrequent and I was introduced to the She Wee - too funny (don’t ask). We got to the 1st bivouac at about 16.00 and made the 1st drop off, girls loaded up not enough space. We decided to wait for the next army truck but instead we were shipped to a car park where runners started to buy warm weather gear and plastic as all started to stress about the severe wet we were not prepared for….. Patrick Bauer appeared after about 2 hours before we were shipped to Hotel Salam where we checked into sh*t-hole of a room with Bruce and Matt... We then ate around 11.00, welcomed all the initial runners who were shipped to the 1st bivouac and went to bed around 12.00....
Happy Training!!!!
CS

Day 1 - Because we're RUNNERS!!

WE'RE RUNNERS!!!!! Funny story from our Valencia training trip.. Told 2 annoying chicks we couldn't give them a lift to Madrid - Why?

Because we're RUNNERS!!

No other reason, simply We Run!!!! Telling this now as I think that statement may pop up frequently!!! We're RUNNERS!!!!

It's 06.15 on Thursday 28th March... I have had so many emails and texts of support in the last 48 hours, it’s been INCREDIBLE.... Thank you all so much for the support through Facebook, Post, SMS, Email, Just Giving, MSN, Hotmail, Homing Pigeon, it’s been truly amazing... I woke this morning to an Inspirational best friend of mine who tackled a 1km run on the treadmill, its a start Legend, remember every great journey starts with a single step.. Ha ha ha :-)

Updated my Facebook page: Charlie is runner number 741 – http://www.darbarboud.com/

Slept well, very well considering and I am full of excitement, nerves, worry, anticipation - you name it I am thinking it.... Sounds funny but after all the waiting, training, build up etc of this race my main concern is its going to fly-by so quickly I am starting to write this from now... Off to airport at 08.00, lets this show on the road!!!!!!! We RUN!!

Left for the airport typically early (thanks Tricky :-) and found myself at check in K - Gatwick South with Brucey in what can be described a 'Raidlight Advertising Campaign' - hilarious!!! Checked in, met a mate Matt from University & since then Facebook :) another few lads before sitting next to a lad Garry from Dublin & Jeremy.... Nice lads, probably going to share bivouac with them.. Fairly un-eventful journey, had a sleep & pretty good meal.. Landed in Ourzazate for a 90 minute customs check, ruuuubish!! So unorganised but Welcome to what will be our next 48 hours.. QUEING!!! Picked up luggage, queued again to check in.. Room no 560 - big lovely room, big beds & checked out the bigger pool / outdoor area and busting to enjoy beers here next Sat with all my new friends and family.... However, wanting to savour every experience, taste, km, funny story, blister and companionship we have ahead of us in the next 8 days... Can't Wait!! Bartered for a 6 pack of water and some Sweet Tea - like a hot sweet mojito without the alcohol...

Quote of the day from Rob from Best of Morocco:

Hi my name is Rob, I am here for moral reasons only!! – spoken in the most monotone, voice ever….. He turned out to be quite harmless and always the source of a little amusement…

Dinner was a buffet, oooohh yes!! Ate as much as I could, the chocolate orange was a beauty..
Night night,
Happy Training!!!!
CS