Forest Runner heads to the Desert!

The arrival of Saharan sands brought over to the UK this week by prevailing winds has offered FODAC runner Simon Dimmer a final chance of some acclimatization before he heads off to Morocco later this week to compete in the infamous Marathon des Sables. The Marathon des Sables is ranked by the Discovery Channel as the toughest footrace on earth. Known simply as the MdS, the race is a gruelling multi-stage adventure through a formidable landscape in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates – the Sahara desert. The rules require you to be self-sufficient, to carry with you on your back everything        except water that you need to survive. You are given a place in a tent to sleep at night, but any other equipment and food must be carried.  Started in 1986 by Patrick Bauer, the race is now in its 28^th consecutive year and continues to grow in popularity every year. Places are much sought after, but those who do make it to the start line are richly rewarded. Under the scorching Moroccan sun, life-long friendships are fostered through a shared experience of unforgettable days spent running across saltpans, up desert-mountains, through ruined towns and through the occasional sand storm. The Marathon des Sables is open to individuals and teams of individuals, amateur and elite runners. With runners coming from all over the world, the MdS is a truly international event that has a positive impact on the local environment and in local        communities. Through the MdS foundation Solidarite, runners have raised funds to help hundreds of families through education and improve their quality of life. For Simon Dimmer, who is more used to training in the lush (and frequently wet!) Wye      Valley and Forest of Dean the race is going to be a challenge of a lifetime – both physically and mentally.  As such he is using it to raise funds for St David’s Hospice and donations may be made at  www.justgiving.com/Simon-Dimmer As Simon said “I was inspired by the title “Toughest footrace on Earth” and then I got to thinking that there are tougher battles to fight and so running for the hospice I hope will keep me going across the Sahara.”