Marathon Des Sables - Ultra / Adventure racing

amandarunning

29/03/2004 at 16:47

Hi. A crazy friend of mine is doing this and wondering about taking some music along for the ride...any previous runners of this event here who might be able to offer advice? Is it practical and if so would say an MP3 player be his best bet?

Thanks

Caspar Kennerdale

30/03/2004 at 10:52

there were a couple of ipods last year

and loasd of minidiscs

jason X

30/03/2004 at 11:04

Sounds like unnecassary extra weight to me.

Gumps

30/03/2004 at 11:17

My mate who did it said go as light as possible.

He also said that many people who started with these things chucked them as they went along to get rid of the weight.

Caspar Kennerdale

30/03/2004 at 13:34

I personally didnt need or want music, but the ones that did swore by them.

If it helps you get through the long stages then so be it.

You wouldnt really notice the extra weight of an mp3 player- its what 100grams or something.

The thing most people dumped was excess food and books

jason X

30/03/2004 at 13:42

books!?!?!

Caspar Kennerdale

30/03/2004 at 13:55

a guy my tent bought the koran along with him - a romantic notion at he would lesrn more whilst he was out in the desert.

he burnt ut within a day! so far there has beenno divine retribution.

quite a few people bought books though. there is a lot of time kill - or you think there is until you realise how long it takes to bandage blisters every morning!

cougie

pirate

30/03/2004 at 14:01

OOooh.

Rob Audley

30/03/2004 at 17:02

To extend Caspar's point.

Run/walk - refuel -sleep chat to other people......no need for music.
For me I spent 7 days obssessing about maxingwater and calorie intake and making the backpack as light as possible - if it couldn't be eaten,drunk or part of the survival kit get rid.

the man mandelson couldn't silence

30/03/2004 at 21:19

I'm astonished that anyone would want to take an iPod along. After all they skip, lock up, freeze and the batteries are crap . . . at least that's what I keep getting told.

Mimi

06/04/2004 at 20:29

I did the Mds in 2001 and my luxury item was my MP3 player - no weight at all. as far as I'm concern it was the most important piece of equipment. It can take up to two hours plus to get between CPs and can get very boring while running over the same dried up riverbed. It won't make any difference to the pack weight but a huge difference to your own sanity!!

Mimi

cougie

pirate

08/04/2004 at 11:16

THE most important piece of equipment ?

Not your trainers then ?

(and not sure about the sanity of anyone that does this event - music or not !) ;-)

Mimi

08/04/2004 at 12:05

Too trainers in my hand luggage to avoid them getting lost!

THE YORKSHIRE RUNNING MAN

08/04/2004 at 12:28

unfortunately not going this year but the race starts on this sunday 9th april, follow the fun and race on this link

http://www.darbaroud.com/default_uk.html

Mimi

08/04/2004 at 12:55

You can get your sand fix next year!

ed_m (a.k.a. ultra bunny)

08/04/2004 at 13:11

hmmm.. wonder if the wife will let me do it yet..

jason X

08/04/2004 at 13:26

yeh the uk entrants are flying out to day...

apart from the injured cancellations who at sat in work sulking...f&*(!@g b@!"@cks

THE YORKSHIRE RUNNING MAN

08/04/2004 at 13:47

never mind jason,get your wonky knee right for the marathon of britain,

jason X

08/04/2004 at 14:44

yeh im making sure I give it proper time to heal this time around, even if it means I have to train a bit lighter.

it'll heal and hopefully Ill be at the MOB :-)

Mimi

08/04/2004 at 18:53

MOB - fantastic race

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