It's 3am on the night before the final stage and I'm sobbing into my sleeping bag. Like every other night, I'm struggling to sleep because the blisters on my feet are so painful. With only one 17K stage to go, I should be feeling confident that I

around for a while making friends. I also paid a second visit to the medical tent, where I learned that the French for blister is 'ampoule'. I'll be saying 'ampoule' a lot in the next few days.A small confession: I started this race daring to wonder where

Time: 2:44Hi everyone,                  enjoyed my first marathon experience thought the weather was not that bad got a bad blister from 9 mile onwards finished in 2hrs 44mins 31secs pleased with that  stuart heaton (east cheshire harriers

Time not givenI thought that I was well prepared for everything that the FLM could throw atme. I had energy gels, immodium, blister plasters and ibuprofen.What I didn't anticipate was the huge lump in my throat in the last milewhich almost stopped

behind me. With blisters upon blisters, every step of the 82K was painful but I broke it into two sections, spending 10 hours last night at checkpoint four to sleep while it was dark, which seemed sensible. The course is marked by glow sticks on posts

woman. I'm not sure of her time because I can't stagger as far as the notice board - I've developed two enormous blisters. This has at least given me the chance to visit each of the camp's medical facilities and I can report that the service provided

the organisers are trying to tell us each day is going to be as brutal as the last or someone really likes AC/DC. Thankfully, the wind had dropped and after a cloudy start the sun came out. We were even more thankful for that fact that it was not blisteringly hot

and blisteringly boiling. In a departure from the norm for the Marathon des Sables, the final stage was to finish in the small town of Tazzarine (rather than on a sand dune). The last 2K would take runners through the narrow streets of the town to the finish line

or blistering current form win the day this summer?Asafa PowellHeight: 1.90mWeight: 195lbsAge: 27Wins: 6Personal bests:60m: 6.56100m: 9.72200m: 19.90Tyson GayHeight: 1.80mWeight: 165lbsAge: 27Wins: 7Personal bests:60m: 6.55100m: 9.69200m: 19.58The Aviva London

on encouragement meant so much. I have stamina but not speed, and I am so proud of the fact I ran all 26.2 miles and I didn't walk one inch and it took me over 5 hours. Would I do it again? YES. But give me a week or two to get over my sore legs and the blisters