On behalf of everyone at Tyne Bridge Harriers, many congratulations to Simon Pryde for completing the 2013 Marathon des Sables.
After six tortuous days, Simon finished 387th out of 1000, a truly fantastic performance.
We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to reading about his amazing adventure.
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 six-day 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 28th consecutive year and continues to grow in popularity every edition. 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.
Imagine yourself in the Sahara desert with nothing but rolling sand dunes for miles around. When you plough your feet through the sand, a fine dust kicks up. You can’t feel the sweat dripping down your face because it’s evaporating in the baking heat. Your lungs feel parched. Today’s temperature is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees centigrade). Part of your brain is screaming at you to stop, right now, to drop out of the race, but the other part of your brain is stronger. The other part of your brain knows that when you complete the final stage of the Marathon des Sables, you will have run the equivalent of six marathons in six days, a total distance of 251 km – 156 miles.
 
No one can deny that finishing the MdS is an incredible accomplishment. But more importantly, you will walk away with a new slant on life – that you can achieve anything you set your mind to do.
8 Responses
Absolutely fantastic ! Well done Simon.. what an awe inspiring achievement. Have a well deserved rest & a few beers. superb running !!
Well done Simon, we have watched you all of the way. Oh and we managed to persuade Helen to join as well, so double well done
Well done Simon, great running…
Given that I could barely run a mile on a beach then that Mr Pryde is simply awesome and I have massive respect for you for doing that – and then SAFC winning today. A canny good week for you.
Well done Simon simply amazing.
Sandtastic!
Just want to thank everyone again for the wonderful support before and during the event – it was incredible to receive all your messages, and I hope I get to thank as many people as possible individually. Was immensely proud I ran under the TBH name (and was great to have the club crest on my running top). I absolutely LOVED the race. I’m still recovering – have spent most of the week sleeping – but I will start writing the race report shortly and bore you all senseless with that! Thanks again.
11:38pm on a saturday evening and still waiting for THE race report……..