A team of Army officers has completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), known as 'The toughest footrace on earth’.
A team of Army Officers have completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), known as 'The toughest footrace on earth.’
A team of Army Officers have completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), known as 'The toughest footrace on earth.’
The challenge
Over sand and mountains, navigating dried-up river beds and hard-packed salt flats, competitors in the 40th edition of this gruelling challenge had to complete a total distance of 270 kilometres, including a punishing standalone 100 kilometre stage, making it the longest in the race's history.
Looking back, the scale of the challenge, the distance, the location, the conditions, really left a mark on me
The team of five Army educators, who all serve with Army Educational and Training Services (ETS) from the Adjutant General’s Corps, took on the challenge: Major Dan Connolly, Major Greg Dove, Captains Logan Vinters, Jas Woodford and Charley Rogerson. They competed under the team name ‘Endurance Army Educators’.
They spent a year preparing, researching, testing kit, and training hard to make sure they gave themselves the best possible chance of succeeding.
Major Dan Connolly said: “Last year a group of ETS officers rowed the Atlantic Ocean and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to continue that tradition and do something amazing alongside colleagues and friends whilst also raising money for fantastic charities.
“Looking back, the scale of the challenge, the distance, the location, the conditions, really left a mark on me.”
The team did their homework down to the last detail, as well as undertaking heat chamber sessions and salt tests to get their bodies used to the scorching temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius.
Simple tasks like trying to eat and drink became a huge challenge
Arriving in the desert
A team of Army Officers have completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), known as 'The toughest footrace on earth.’
A team of Army Officers have completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), known as 'The toughest footrace on earth.’
Around 1,600 people from across the world gathered at the start in the Moroccan Sahara, all with the same goal, to survive 270 kilometres of punishing desert.
The first few stages proved tough but manageable. By day three, though, the real race had begun. The desert and terrain were unforgiving and the team faced fierce sandstorms, had to deal with damaged kit and daily struggled to keep their bodies fuelled on very little food.
Major Connolly added: “We knew coming into the event that the heat would be our biggest risk, but one of the most challenging parts was an unexpected sandstorm in camp. Simple tasks like trying to eat and drink became a huge challenge.”
MDS was an incredible experience, it was the ultimate opportunity to really push myself physically and mentally. I think this is definitely one of the greatest opportunities I have been given through the Army
The longest stage
The 100 kilometre stage provided the ultimate test. The team was up at 3am for a 5am start. Hours later and they were still running in the blazing afternoon sun. Some of the sand dunes were so steep that a rope was put in place to help competitors climb them. At one point, Captains Vinters and Rogerson pushed their poles into the sand only for their hands to sink straight in.
Finishing strong
A team of Army Officers have completed the Marathon des Sables (MDS), known as 'The toughest footrace on earth.’
Despite tired legs, painful blisters and battered feet, the team pushed on through a full marathon on Stage Five and 23 kilometres on Stage Six — finishing the final leg, again in a sandstorm.
Each team member covered 271.5 kilometres in total, the equivalent of over six marathons. They finished 14th out of 44 teams, with every single member placing in the top third of all runners.
Captain Charlotte Rogerson reflected on the challenge: “MDS was an incredible experience, it was the ultimate opportunity to really push myself physically and mentally.
“I think this is definitely one of the greatest opportunities I have been given through the Army, and to be able to raise money for charity made it all the better.”
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