“Tuesday
11th April 2000: The day will live long in my memory due to an
unforgettable experience that would eventually prove life threatening
until a fat, French controller put a 1.5 litre bottle of water into my
sweaty hand at exactly 9.32 that evening…”
Bob Woodford (P49) had announced his intention to enter the infamous
Marathon des Sables 2000, just a small matter of running across the 150
miles of Sahara Desert in five days. Other than being mad, the idea was to
raise money for Motor Neurone Disease – the illness that took the life
of his friend and DaC driver Paul Bishop at the tender age of 44. Bob had
dedicated the race to Paul’s memory. Bob kept a diary for Call Sign and
we are publishing an edited version of it. Our only comment is to echo
that of Bernadette Bishop, Paul’s widow, who told Call Sign:
“
Paul would have been so proud of Bob. He used to love running marathons
with the boys, but to run across the Sahara Desert in summer? Well done
Bob…”
Thursday 6th
April: Up at 4.30
am to rendezvous with fellow loony Mark Treadwell in Roehampton for the
lift to Gatwick. Eventually took off for Ouzarzatte in Southern Morocco
some 30 minutes late due to Del, Ronnie and Peter’s mid-morning
‘tincture’ in the departure lounge! We arrived at the hotel in good
spirit, had a dip in the pool and sorted out our kit ready for the journey
to our first bivouac in the desert the following morning.
Friday
7th April:
Most of the day spent traveling to a mystery destination in the desert.
Arrived to find our open-sided Berber tent ready to sleep nine! Spent the
day bartering with nomads and getting to know the 200 or so controllers,
administrators, and most important of all – medical staff.
Saturday
8th April: Registration day. The organisers also inform us that in addition to
carrying all our supplies, we also need to pack a distress flare and
survival blanket! Many competitors are now suffering from Diarrhoea but
I’m OK thanks to Dr Ian Oliver’s magic potion! Passed the time with a
penalty shoot-out against the German lads.
Sunday
9th April:
Had breakfast at 6.00am, demolished our tents and arrived at the starting
post. This was it. Briefing first, then participants from 29 countries
went to the start and off we go at 9.30am…
The first stage is an 18-mile ‘stroll’ through some
breathtaking scenery. I pace myself at a steady 3 mph, not wanting to
damage some scar tissue caused by a training injury at Christmas.
Temperatures are pretty warm at 112/F. So long as it doesn’t get any hotter, I
think I’ll cope. Not too many blisters and two guys drop out. Manage to
finish in 6 hours – 4 hours inside the limit allowed.
Monday
10th April: 22 miles today. Getting a regular diet of freeze-dried porridge, 2
energy bars, an Energen C drink and 9 litres of water. Similar to
yesterday but 4/ hotter! Started to feel a bit tired and pick
up a few aches and pains not to mention my first two blisters. Finished
the stage in 7 hours 55 minutes with 2 hours to spare. Pleased with that.
More competitors dropping out…
Tuesday
11th April: The day will live long in my memory due to an unforgettable experience
that would eventually prove life threatening until a fat, French
controller put a 1.5 litre bottle of water into my sweaty hand at exactly
9.32 that evening…
Full of confidence at the start of the day. Getting the hang
of things now although today may be harder. 23 miles, mountainous sand
dunes and no checkpoints. But no one could have foretold the carnage that
was to decimate the field today causing over 100 runners to drop out.
Many
runners had had their blisters burst by a ‘doctor’ whose methods I’d
sooner forget! They now need to use trekking poles. Becoming aware that
the temperature is much hotter today.
Even in the Sahara Desert you'll find DaC
DUNE DAY: THE DIARY OF BOB WOODFORD’S SAHARA RUN
Bartering with Nomads & riding their camels - the only
way to pass the time before the race. Notice the height of the sand dunes
in the background
It peaked in the sand dunes at 129/F.
Still feel confident that I can manage to complete the stage within the 12
hours allowed. Told to be careful as I’m handed my last two 1.5 litre
water rations of the day. These sand dunes are big bastards – taking
about 30 minutes to get over.
Starting to sweat more and am aware
of it. Taking regular sips of water through the tube on the camelback
water system. Strength failing a bit and at 6.00pm I have run out of
water. How much further is there to go? I’m feeling terrified. I can see
distress flares going up. Found a Welsh lad who had been carrying his
flag. Now it was lying limp in the sand. He has been waiting 45 minutes
for help. Looks very distressed. Must seem like 45 days…
A German guy has broken his leg
after falling and a Brit has badly burned his hand while setting off his
flare. All around, guys are becoming dehydrated, suffering from sunstroke
and sheer exhaustion.
Still feeling mentally strong but
having no water is now a serious problem. There are several drops of my
energy drink left in my energy drink but two flies are having a cooling
swim in it. Tough! I drink the drink AND flies!
This is it. Just prior to the starting line
Dune Day: Bob's Sahara Nightmare
How to sleep in the desert
Losing feeling in my back and feet.
Can’t feel the blisters. Tongue swelling up frighteningly. Another
problem, it’s getting dark and I can’t see any footprints of other
competitors.
Caught up to a group of 9 runners
including Del McCarrick. Trying to encourage each other to finish within
the time, but it’s not to be. At 9.32 pm we are told that our race is
over. But at least we didn’t quit and boy is it good to be drinking
water again!
My race is over. Feeling very
disappointed. One friend finished 577th and last, but what an
achievement just to finish.
At the gala dinner, I am honoured
to sit near the winner, Moroccan runner Hansoul. I’ve made some good
friendships along the way. There’s Mark, Brant, Darren, Dave, Neill,
Gerry Brian and Guy. Thanks go to Ian Oliver, Tony Sephton, Helen Cox,
Hazel and Neil Crane and Alan Fisher for all their help.
If anyone fancies the race next
year, I can point you in the right direction and if anyone wants to chip
in with some more money for MND, it is still required no matter how
little… I can guarantee you one thing – I won’t be there next
year…!
Bob
Woodford (P49)
