Meet the stars of the Brathy 10 in 10

	Steve Edwards  NEW WORLD RECORDS Age: 45 Marathons to date: 450+ Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Salina da Silva Age: 51 Marathons to date: 150+ Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Matthew Evans Age: 35 Marathons to date: 15 Donations Target: £4,000 Read Profile »
	George Russell Age: 40 Marathons to date: 10 Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Paul Adams Age: 58 Marathons to date: 210+ Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Susan Adams Age: 56 Marathons to date: 145 Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Ray O'Connor Age: 38 Marathons to date: 37 Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Michelle Atkins  NEW WORLD RECORDS Age: 42 Marathons to date: 22 Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Phillip Roberts Age: 32 Marathons to date: - Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Jim Mundy Age: 58 Marathons to date: 109 Donations Target: £2,000 Read Profile »
	Malcolm Anderson Age: 47 Marathons to date: 10 Donations Target:£2,000 Read Profile »

Runners World Healthy Choice

Everest summit in aid of Motor Neurone Disease

David Ratciffe climbs Everest in aid of Motor Neurone Disease.  He summited on Monday 21st May. ' Nuri and I did summit successfully with out great alarms (no solid food for 4 days and my water bottle freezing on summit day so only 1/4 litre of fluid to drink).  More news of this event to follow.

Why this IS the toughest footrace on Earth

It covers 243km/151 miles (in sections similar to 25, 34, 38, 82, 42, 22 km) run over 6 days (7 for some) - equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons. That's a speed of between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78). In addition to that, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint.  (link to site) www.saharamarathon.co.uk/index.html

You will have to prepare all your own food throughout the race and I warn you that there is not a chain of Tesco stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. You will experience mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F, of running or walking on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15 - 20% of the distance being in sand dunes.

The heat, distance and rubbing will trash your feet and may cause severe trauma if incorrect shoes and equipment are used. Mental stamina probably constitutes at least 50% of whether you will complete the distance or not. Physical fitness is important but don't underestimate the mental stress that you will need to endure. Even if you have run dozens of 26 mile marathons, this does not mean that you will automatically find the MdS easy - either way you will be planning to do lots of training prior to the MdS.

On the 4th day, you will set off across the barren wilderness to complete a 45 - 50 mile stage. Few people complete this before dark that evening and some will not come in till after dark the next night. This is followed by the 42km Marathon stage!! Its tough, so don't say that nobody warned you in the strongest terms.