Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) It’s right up there with all the things you have to do before you die. It’s one of the classic stage races. It has all the ingredients of an incredible endurance event; the heat, the struggle, the dunes, the self sufficiency, the mangled feet and the torturously long stages. This year’s event kicked off over the weekend with a 13km opening stage. Sounds like a walk in the park for the leader Mohamad Ahansal who did it in 2 and a half hours!

A less pleasant surprise for Jordan Salameh El Aqra’ who found the course harder than expected and also had to deal with tummy trouble. Today the Marathon des Sables was particularly worthy of its name: sand was on the menu, starter, main and pudding. And it’s only the beginning…

It’s one of those classic events that every ultra runner seems to want to do. I’ll hopefully get my chance in 2010 as I’m on the waiting list. Hopefully the gear technology will have advanced so much by then that my bag and it’s contents will weigh next to nothing! ;-)

There are ten Irish competitors listed this year so best of luck to them!

-Aisling-

Qoute and images from Darbaroud.com.