Getting Over That Sahara Marathon Hump

Dawn waits for no man…

t wasn’t until the confirmations for the Marathon Des Sables arrived that two Vicks regulars realised they were both going to take on this 7-day, 270km challenge out in the sandy wilds of the Sahara Desert.

So, naturally, they became the bestest of sweating buddies from day one of their arduous trek back on Easter Sunday.

Justin Dutton lives in Delgany, but underneath that thin veneer of quiet village living is a proud Bray man with a massive sporting background, having played football for Bray Wanderers for over a decade before turning to the likes of Iron Man, the Tokyo Marathon and now, a sun-kissed return to trail running.

Ross Thompson may be an active trail runner in Greystones, but he identifies as a 1983 transit van compared to the performance sports car that is Dutton, and had actually decided almost 5 years ago that he wanted to do the epic Marathon Des Sables. Which is, of course, the natural next step after taking part in Greystones’ 2020 Mindful West Run to Galway and back.

Dubbed the toughest footrace on earth, the mildly legendary, self-sufficient 270km ultramarathon that is MDS is held annually in the Moroccan Sahara over 6 stages in 7 days. Participants carry all their food, gear, and supplies on their backs, battling temperatures over 35 degrees, plus sand storms and show-stopping mega blisters on their feet that could bring more than just pain if infected.

Now in its 40th year, the fun began on Sunday, April 5th, and wrapped up yesterday, Saturday 11th, participants sleeping out in berber tents and tucking in to the sugar and banana sandwiches their mums had packed.

“We have spent the past 8 days out in the desert,” Ross tells the Guide, “running, walking, crawling and clawing our way to the finish line after what sometimes felt like an endless 270 kilometres. And yet, it felt pretty great each and every day too…

“Except maybe on day 4, when we had to cover a fairly gruelling 100 kilometres…”

Ireland featured strongly in this year’s event of 500 competitors, with 30 distinctly sunburnt runners showing up, in their runners. Two Irish lads, Donegal’s Shaun Stewart and Delgany daredevil Dutton, finished in the Top 50.

You can find out more about the Marathon Des Sables right here, and, more importantly, Vicks right over here.