243km across the Sahara
Wednesday, April 11 2007: ULTRA distance runner Adam Foyster, from Grantham, is back home after running five-and-a-half marathons in six days across the Sahara.
Wednesday, April 11 2007: ULTRA distance runner Adam Foyster, from Grantham, is back home after running five-and-a-half marathons in six days across the Sahara.The 26-year-old took part in the Marathon des Sables, which is known as the toughest footrace on Earth.
Adam had to contend with 47C heat, 20 per cent humidity, a calf injury, blisters, snakes and scorpions and physical and mental exhaustion.
One competitor died during the race, another suffered a heart attack and another had to have two toes amputated.
Depsite this, Adam, who kept family and friends updated on his progress with daily emails, says he was inspired by fellow competitiors he met along the way.
He said: "I chatted to a blind lady who is running with her husband - she's as tough as they come.
"I spoke to a man who has pictures of his two dead children on his pack. He is raising money for charity in their honour, which made my immense pain and suffering seem unimportant."
Adam raised around 2,000 for Facing Africa, which supports children suffering from the Noma infection, and family and friends welcomed him home with a surprise party on Sunday.
He said: "Finishing the race was a bit of an anti-climax but it was a relief. It felt better when I got back to normality and started to reflect on things a bit more."
Below you can can read the emails Adam sent to family and friends giving his account of the race.
Day 1
Hi Everyone,
Today was our first day and I had a really bad day out there. The organisers told me the temperatures reached 43 degrees. I didn't take enough salt tablets and about 20km in I started vomiting large quantities of water, which isn't good, I felt helpless at one point. Luckily I managed to take on more water and salt and keep it down. I've a large blister on my left thumb and several smaller ones on my feet! Today's stage was just short of 30km but still took me around 6hours30mins, the warm up! You may know I tore a few muscles in my leg before I came here.....my leg was painful today but has held out. Bring on day 2 which is 35km.
Adam
Day 2
Hi Guys
Day 2 was really tough. I have some new blisters and hot spots on my heals after a lot of climbing today. Luckily I had no problems with hydration today and managed to keep my salt tablets and water down, taking one salt tablet every 20 mins. The temperatures were similar to yesterday but I'm told the humidity was up to 20% which is high for the Sahara. Today we had to climb a huge hill fondly known as "the hill to cleanse you of all your sins". It was a one in three climb on moving rocks and sand and as the rocks shifted we saw snakes and scorpions anyway i have been subsequently cleansed after 8hours and 26mins of hell. I did speak to a man who has the pictures of his two dead children on his pack, he is raising money for charity in their honour .......it made my immense pain and suffering seem unimportant.
Adam
Day 3
Hi Everyone
It was tough today but the climbs are not as bad as previous days. Feet are still in pieces and legs are agony but hydration and salt intake are good. Today was hot 47 degrees! Many people have received saline IV drips today. Feeling very lonely in the desert it's a lonely place anyway without feeling like this. I have very little energy mainly because I haven't been able to eat much, covered approx 96km so far but only taken on 3000 calories in the past 3 days, I estimate having burnt around 15000 kcal and am conscious of a considerable weight loss.....bonus! Tomorrow is 70km and I hope to have finished in around 20 hours which would bring me back to camp around 5am Thursday morning. Was chatting to a blind lady today would is running with her husband....she's as tough as they come. Hope to come through the night stage in one piece.
adam :(
Day 4
Hi Guys
Day 4 was horrific! It took me 18 hours and 45mins which is a seriously long time on your feet in these conditions. I hit rock bottom in the dunes around 1am where I began to feel light headed and sick, I had serious diarrhoea where I lost a lot of water but because I was alone I couldn't get any help without setting of my flare which I wasn't prepared to do. I managed to fight my way through it and arrived back at camp around 3:51am where I was able to rehydrate myself. I was physically and mentally drained. Unfortunately a French guy died last night, another was repatriated after suffering a heart attack another was repatriated to have 2 toes amputated. A lot of the guys in my tent have lost toe nail, luckily mine are just about intact. Tomorrow is another marathon, I'm going flat out to get it over with, it's not really much fun anymore. Adam
Day 5
Rested.
Day 6
Hi Guys
Today was my best day! I Managed the 42km stage in 6hours 40mins! It was going even better until about 6k out where I thought I had cramp in my calf, so I knocked back a dirolyte sachet, but the pain stayed. Turns out I think I have a strain in my soleus low down where it attaches to my achillies..... But who cares! Got a blister under my big toe which may result in me losing the nail, but the Doc says to leave it as it is small so it could go away...I bloody hope so coz I've seen them chopping peoples nails off and it doesn't look nice. Last day tomorrow. See you all Monday :)
Day 7
Today was fine. Jogged through the Chebi Dunes, they are beautiful. Erg Chebi is a monster though! Calf was killing on the climbs but didn't really care coz the adrenalin was pumping and the exhilaration of finishing was immense. Can't wait to come home now.
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Friday 12 March 2010
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