Running Through Sand

An Ageing Comedian’s Ill-Thought-Out Ultra in the Sahara

250KM IN THE SAHARA DESERT. 2 MONTHS TRAINING. CAN AGEING RUNNER AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR PAUL TONKINSON CONQUER THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST FOOT RACE?

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'Moving, inspiring and laugh-out-loud funny' LISA JACKSON

250KM IN THE SAHARA DESERT. 2 MONTHS TRAINING. CAN AGEING RUNNER AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR PAUL TONKINSON CONQUER THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST FOOT RACE?

Ageing as a runner is no joke. Paul Tonkinson discovers that in running, as in life, you are gradually overtaken by a stream of young people wearing clothes you couldn’t get in to and in shoes you don’t recognise. He observes that your relationship with running changes – you no longer run as fast as you can, you run as fast as your body can handle, which is slow. So, embrace it.

Why not the toughest footrace on earth? The Marathon Des Sables, a week long, 250km self-sufficient sweat fest across the Sahara Desert. What could possibly go wrong?

Turns out… lots. While training for the event, calves explode, tendons pop, knees disintegrate. Years come and go, time seems to be running out as the race seems an impossible dream and then, in 2024 when fitness is finally achieved, a freak accident. Paul is run over by dogs, hospitalised, all hope is lost…

Spring 2025, the planets align. Tonkinson snags entry to MDS, two months till race time. It’s on – the last hurrah. Get the gear down from the attic, apply the toe jelly and find that mandatory whistle.

With such little time to train, he can’t compete any more that’s for sure. So the question is more basic: can he possibly finish?

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