A sea of Pirates on the 3.8K swimPre-race, the city was teeming with yellow and stamped with skulls and crossbones. The question ‘who are these pirates?’ was asked in 25 different languages. The roadsweepers, the shopkeepers, the motorbike officials – all had a wave and a cheer f...
des Sables?The Marathon des Sables (MdS or Marathon of the Sands) is a seven-day six-stage race held annually across a section of the Sahara desert in southern Morocco. 2012 sees the 27th running of the event that is often referred to as the toughest
five miles, the stiles had no dog gates and I had to hoik the smug Belgian sod from field to field. Eventually we reached Sandsend, where I gratefully embraced the prospect of a flat, two-mile jog along hard-packed sand to Whitby. But the sand wasn
Desert Race: Marathon des SablesThe 700 runners who wake up one March morning in Southern Morocco for the Marathon des Sables (MdS) are faced with vast expanses of wind-swept flatland, strength-sapping sand dunes and the prospect of six days spent
) on it is advisable. Rating: 68. SandSand offers a run with a real difference. If its dry and deep, you can give your calf muscles the work-out of their life without risking any impact damage to your joints. If youre on the beach, you get the sea breeze
much energy is lost during foot contact," explains Dr Sharon Dixon, a senior lecturer in biomechanics at the University of Exeter. "More energy is lost on less 'stiff' surfaces. A very soft surface like sand will dissipate more energy than Tarmac
during foot contact," explains Dr Sharon Dixon, a senior lecturer in biomechanics at the University of Exeter. "More energy is lost on less 'stiff' surfaces. A very soft surface like sand will dissipate more energy than Tarmac and requires more effort
to work and back as often as I could with a loaded backpack, and doing back-to-back long runs at the weekend. But none of it really prepared me for the first stage of the 250.7K challenge, and its 13K section of sand dunes. They were the kind
-add for your racing diary. Starting at pretty Viking Bay at Broadstairs, you'll continue to chase across the golden sands until you reach Ramsgate Pier Wall - then it's time for a U-turn and a fierce dash back to the start. Energy-sapping sand, rock pools
response dilates your blood vessels and sends more fluid to your extremities,” says Ronald Otterstetter of the University of Akron in Ohio, US. “But because of gravity, your heart is unable to pump fluid back out of your feet.”3. Rough StuffTo keep sand out
