Running Club even ran the course twice as part of his training for March's Marathon des Sables! He set off at 4:50am in the icy darkness, finished in 3:58 and then set off again for his lap of honour."Battle won: Iron Tractor Boy with his hard

long. While sitting my finals, a friend suggested that we enter Marathon des Sables - the infamous seven-day, 150-mile footrace across the Sahara. I thought he was crazy, but the next day we signed up, and six months later we were baking under

with a cold glass or two after chalking up another PB, you can snap the skirt back on again to keep the nasty sun off the side and back of your neck. And should you ever find yourself standing at the start line of the Marathon des Sables or the Badwater

surely have gone to bed on Saturday night pleading: 'Whatever you do, Dad, don't get overtaken by a rhino'."John Brown, 4:50Many thanks to the Runner's World pacer. Sticking with the 11-minute mile group made my first marathon (at 57) a lot easier