Fresh from his organisation of a hugely successful Connemara Marathon Weekend Ray O'Connor is on the brink of taking on the biggest challenge of his racing life. This might sound strange as many of us know that Ray completed the infamous 10-in-10 Brathay Challenge which involved running ten standard road marathons (on a hilly course) in ten days, but, Ray flies out today on the first leg of the trip that will lead him to the starting line of the Marathon des Sables.

Keep a close eye on Ray at www.rayinthedesert.com

Wikipedia describes this race as follows "The Marathon des Sables (MDS) (Marathon of the Sands) is a six-day, 254 km (156 mile) ultramarathon, which is the equivalent to five and 1/2 regular marathons. The longest single stage is 84 km (52 miles) long. The event is held every year in the southern Moroccan desert. It is considered the toughest foot race on Earth. The first event of the Marathon started in 1986. This year the race takes place from the 27th March to the 6th of April.

Ray has trained hard over the last number of months, but like most participants in a race of this intensity, would surely like to have done more. We want to send the best wishes of all Athenry AC members out to Ray and let him know that we'll be supporting him from afar all through this gruelling event.

It's possible to send messages of support and encouragement to competitors during the race and I'll post details here later of how exactly we can support Ray in that way. Ray is one of a number of Irish competitors in the race this year and we send all of those atheltes our very best wishes for a successful and safe race.

List of Irish Runners in the 2009 MDS

Official Race Website here: http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php

UPDATE

Have just had an update email from Ray that gives an insight into his final preparations;

Just before I head off you might like some info on how I am doing etc.

My preparation for this event has been a bit hit and miss. On the positive side I ran the Connemara Ultra (without the first mile) twice in training with 10lbs on my back. The first run on Feb 7th was very much a tester of equipment and was the first time for me to venture beyond 26.2. To say it was an eye opener is an understatement. I got just about everything wrong, from forgetting my salt tablets to using straws in bottles for the first time. I couldn't drink properly at all and got myself into all sorts of trouble. Mile 27 was the start of the end, but I struggled on and finished it out in 6 hours and 45 minutes. Knowing that I got so much wrong, I was determined to give it a second go and headed out the following Saturday to do it again. This time I got everything right and cruised the course in 6 hours 17 minutes in much better shape. I could have run longer in fact. Overall my training included running at least 18 miles every Sunday since January 1st always with my new best friend, my back pack. My peak training was late January.

In the buildup to the Connemarathon, obviously I get very busy so the training has suffered. I have done very little in the last 5 weeks but did run once with 18lbs which I managed just fine giving me just enough confidence that at least strength at the outset is one less thing to worry about. Everyone who has participated before assures me that the two Ultras were very good training and apparently my 10 marathons in 10 days last May will stand to me mentally.

The Marathon Des Sables requires us to be food self sufficient for 7 days. Basically, I have to carry everything except water and tent for the entire 150 odd miles. The usual format is something like this:

Day 1 - 20 miles

Day 2 - 22 miles

Day 3 - 24 miles

Day 4 - 50 miles

Day 5 - rest (if you finish the 50 miler during the night, if not then you continue running into Day 6)

Day 6 - 26.2 miles

Day 7 - a small trot home usually around 13 miles It is a new course each year so the distances vary.

The terrain varies too, sand dunes, tracks, rocky tracks, small mountain ridges etc. I am estimating my running time to be in around the 45 to 50 hour mark.

The event seems to be as much about survival as stamina, so there is a massive amount of information, gadgets, food types, electrolytes to be gathered which has just about taken over my life for the last three months. It will be lovely to have my kitchen looking normal again. I have used several motivation techniques one of which included covering my kitchen counters will all the gear that I need.

I have been constantly looking and feeling and checking everything out. New things like, head tourch, tiny little stove, compass, venom pump, gaiters, and the contents of a small chemist. It seems that more time has been taken up gathering stuff than training. My nine year old broke a tiny piece of my venom pump and has been offering me his pocket money since to ensure I buy a new one :-) (little pet).

I'm heading to Shannon at 4 today. Staying in Gatwick tonight. Flying to Morocco tomorrow. Staying in a hotel Thursday night. 5 hour bus journey to the desert on Friday. Stay in camp that night - 8 per tent so I am hoping to hook up with the other Irish out there. Baggage and compulsory item check on Saturday (I am required to have a minimum of 2,000 calories a day - I've packed about 15,000 and I expect weight loss). Stay in camp Saturday night and Food self sufficiency starts on Sunday morning as we prepare for our first days running. Finish run on Saturday. Bus back to hotel to stay Satruday night. Tourist stuff on Sunday. Stay in hotel Sunday night. Back to Gatwick and on to Shannon on Monday - Hopefully.

Keep an eye on http://www.darbaroud.com for death notices :-)

Here are some YouTube videos that gives a little flavour of the event