Comments on: 10 Great Races to do in Britain http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2009/10/10-great-races-britain/ Adventurer | Author | Motivational Speaker Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:29:27 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Richard Westover http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2009/10/10-great-races-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-1715 Richard Westover Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:40:08 +0000 http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/?p=3702#comment-1715 thanks for the advice George, Tom and Duncan. it looks like i will try to enter the 2013 mds and from looking at the sarahmarathon website it seems registration will be in Feb 2010 for this race (only based on the fact that registration for 2012 was in Feb 09), is this consistent with the years that you entered? i'm assuming that will have to get very lucky on registration day to be one of the first 800 or so allocated a place....is there anything i can do to improve my chances of getting one of the places? or did you find it took a couple of attempts over a couple of years to get in? is there any information i will need to have ready when i submit my application for a place? thanks, richard thanks for the advice George, Tom and Duncan.
it looks like i will try to enter the 2013 mds and from looking at the sarahmarathon website it seems registration will be in Feb 2010 for this race (only based on the fact that registration for 2012 was in Feb 09), is this consistent with the years that you entered?

i’m assuming that will have to get very lucky on registration day to be one of the first 800 or so allocated a place….is there anything i can do to improve my chances of getting one of the places? or did you find it took a couple of attempts over a couple of years to get in?

is there any information i will need to have ready when i submit my application for a place?

thanks,
richard

]]> By: Duncan Hill http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2009/10/10-great-races-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-1578 Duncan Hill Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:45:53 +0000 http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/?p=3702#comment-1578 Good Morning, As you can see there are ways to get into the MDS quicker, if time is an issue, it is hard to know what you might be doing in 3 years! But i agree with Tom it is worth the wait.. something to look forward to! and you could do some other events/ultramarathons leading up to it for experience, of which there are loads in this country. However another option would be another desert race? There are now a few races of the same format as the MDS run by other people in the Sahara, Atacama, Gobi deserts. they are easier to get into and a little cheaper, but not as well known, just a thought. It's a good list Al but i think a european IM is probably more attractive especially as know IMUK has moved for it's previous venue and there are loads in europe. Also notice the Bob Graham's not on the list?! Duncan Good Morning,

As you can see there are ways to get into the MDS quicker, if time is an issue, it is hard to know what you might be doing in 3 years! But i agree with Tom it is worth the wait.. something to look forward to! and you could do some other events/ultramarathons leading up to it for experience, of which there are loads in this country. However another option would be another desert race? There are now a few races of the same format as the MDS run by other people in the Sahara, Atacama, Gobi deserts. they are easier to get into and a little cheaper, but not as well known, just a thought.

It’s a good list Al but i think a european IM is probably more attractive especially as know IMUK has moved for it’s previous venue and there are loads in europe.
Also notice the Bob Graham’s not on the list?!
Duncan

]]> By: tom middlemiss http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2009/10/10-great-races-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-1503 tom middlemiss Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:36:30 +0000 http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/?p=3702#comment-1503 Hi richard, did the MdS a two years ago. I think that going through other countries is a quicker way but you have to have an address in that country etc I think. you must just have to sign up and wait it out. a few years actually goes very quickly and gives you a great chance to get fit over that time if you have not done anything like it before. Getting someone else to do it with you would be my big suggestion. For all the banter during the build up, to persuade you that a £500 non-refundable deposit is a sensible thing to do and to share all the good times during the race. Sure there are hard bits but that's the point isn't it? could not recommned it high enough. the only problem is that once you have done it (and you will) you will want to go on and do more and more of the same sort of thing. Also would recommend Dean Karnazes Confessions of an All-night runner. " Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, but never ever give up". Great times! Good luck Hi richard, did the MdS a two years ago. I think that going through other countries is a quicker way but you have to have an address in that country etc I think. you must just have to sign up and wait it out. a few years actually goes very quickly and gives you a great chance to get fit over that time if you have not done anything like it before.
Getting someone else to do it with you would be my big suggestion. For all the banter during the build up, to persuade you that a £500 non-refundable deposit is a sensible thing to do and to share all the good times during the race. Sure there are hard bits but that’s the point isn’t it?
could not recommned it high enough. the only problem is that once you have done it (and you will) you will want to go on and do more and more of the same sort of thing.
Also would recommend Dean Karnazes Confessions of an All-night runner. ” Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, but never ever give up”. Great times!
Good luck

]]> By: George Bownes http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2009/10/10-great-races-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 George Bownes Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:09:12 +0000 http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/?p=3702#comment-1480 Richard, basically the MdS is cool, so don't worry about the money just get involved you won't regret it. You can try american .com searches to find an american agent to get a place through as they have loads of places going. the official uk agent is fine but the waiting list is always about two years. if you us an american agency another european country like spain or germany then you may have to sort out your own transport to get to morocco but it will save you waiting two years for a uk place. either way it well worth getting out there to do. good luck Richard, basically the MdS is cool, so don’t worry about the money just get involved you won’t regret it. You can try american .com searches to find an american agent to get a place through as they have loads of places going. the official uk agent is fine but the waiting list is always about two years. if you us an american agency another european country like spain or germany then you may have to sort out your own transport to get to morocco but it will save you waiting two years for a uk place. either way it well worth getting out there to do. good luck

]]> By: Richard Westover http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2009/10/10-great-races-britain/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 Richard Westover Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:15:00 +0000 http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/?p=3702#comment-1477 Hi all, Alastair recently gave an after dinner speech at an event held by the company which I work for and to cut a long story short, this inspired me to take on the Marathon des Sables. I am looking to enter either the 2011 or 2012 race, however have found long waiting lists and expensive entry fees and fund raising requirements at the agencies which I can find. I wondered if anyone has any experience of this race and can recommend agencies to use as well as specific things that I should ensure the agency includes in the race package? I have no experience of competing in something of this magnitude and literally any advice you are able to provide would be invaluable to me, whether this is to do with equipment, training, fund raising or most likely something I haven't even considered yet! Thanks for any help that can be given, please email me at <span id="enkoder_0_77782763">email hidden; JavaScript is required</span><script type="text/javascript"> /* <!-- */ function hivelogic_enkoder_0_77782763() { var kode="kode=\"110 114 103 104 64 37 62 44 95 42 95 42 61 44 52 48 107 119 106 113 104 111 49 104 103 114 110 43 119 68 117 100 107 102 49 104 103 114 110 66 107 119 106 113 104 111 49 104 103 114 110 63 108 43 46 123 64 104 103 114 110 128 44 108 43 119 68 117 100 107 102 49 104 103 114 110 46 44 52 46 108 43 119 68 117 100 107 102 49 104 103 114 110 64 46 123 126 44 53 64 46 108 62 44 52 48 107 119 106 113 104 111 49 104 103 114 110 43 63 108 62 51 64 108 43 117 114 105 62 95 42 95 42 64 123 62 95 37 62 95 42 95 95 44 61 95 42 95 95 52 44 107 48 106 119 104 113 49 111 103 104 110 114 119 43 117 68 107 100 49 102 103 104 110 114 107 66 106 119 104 113 49 111 103 104 110 114 108 63 46 43 64 123 103 104 110 114 44 128 43 108 68 119 100 117 102 107 104 49 114 103 46 110 52 44 108 46 119 43 117 68 107 100 49 102 103 104 110 114 46 64 126 123 53 44 46 64 62 108 52 44 107 48 106 119 104 113 49 111 103 104 110 114 63 43 62 108 64 51 43 108 114 117 62 105 95 42 95 95 95 42 95 95 123 64 95 37 95 95 62 62 44 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 43 113 108 114 109 49 44 43 104 118 117 104 121 104 117 49 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 43 44 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 119 108 111 115 118 49 104 103 114 110 64 104 103 114 110 62 95 37 95 95 110 103 95 95 95 95 64 114 95 95 95 95 104 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 44 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 44 95 95 95 95 48 61 119 52 113 107 111 106 104 104 114 49 43 103 68 110 100 119 102 117 104 107 114 49 66 103 119 110 113 107 111 106 104 104 114 49 63 103 43 110 123 108 104 46 114 64 128 103 108 110 119 44 117 43 107 68 49 100 103 102 110 104 44 114 46 46 43 52 68 108 100 119 102 117 104 107 114 49 64 103 123 110 44 46 64 126 108 53 44 46 48 62 119 52 113 107 111 106 104 104 114 49 43 103 108 110 51 63 108 62 117 64 105 43 95 95 95 95 114 62 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 64 62 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 123 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 44 65 95 95 95 95 50 100 110 63 49 120 102 114 111 49 100 108 119 112 107 114 117 67 121 104 119 114 104 118 107 122 108 102 95 95 95 95 117 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 110 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 65 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 120 95 95 95 95 114 49 49 102 108 111 112 100 114 119 67 107 104 117 114 121 118 119 122 104 102 107 117 108 114 61 111 119 100 108 95 95 95 95 112 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 64 95 95 95 95 104 105 107 117 100 35 95 95 95 95 63 43 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 119 117 95 95 95 95 49 104 113 108 112 122 102 119 103 104 95 95 95 95 120 114 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 64 103 95 95 95 95 110 104 95 95 95 95 114 95 37 95 95 95 95 95 95 110 95 95 95 95 103 62 64 114 114 104 104 110 118 103 111 49 119 115 95 42 95 95 108 43 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 44 117 95 95 95 95 121 49 117 104 104 104 44 118 109 43 108 49 43 114 95 95 95 95 113 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 42 95 95 95 95 95 95 62 95 95 95 95 64 44 95 95 95 95 95 37 95 95 104 103 114 110 64 95 37 95 95 103 104 110 114 95 37 64 104 103 114 110 37 62 110 114 103 104 64 110 114 103 104 49 118 115 111 108 119 43 42 42 44 49 117 104 121 104 117 118 104 43 44 49 109 114 108 113 43 42 42 44 62\";kode=kode.split(\' \');x=\'\';for(i=0;i<kode.length;i++){x+=String.fromCharCode(parseInt(kode[i])-3)}kode=x;";var i,c,x;while(eval(kode)); } hivelogic_enkoder_0_77782763(); var span = document.getElementById('enkoder_0_77782763'); span.parentNode.removeChild(span); /* --> */ </script> or I shall keep an eye out for posts on here. Richard Hi all,

Alastair recently gave an after dinner speech at an event held by the company which I work for and to cut a long story short, this inspired me to take on the Marathon des Sables.

I am looking to enter either the 2011 or 2012 race, however have found long waiting lists and expensive entry fees and fund raising requirements at the agencies which I can find.

I wondered if anyone has any experience of this race and can recommend agencies to use as well as specific things that I should ensure the agency includes in the race package?

I have no experience of competing in something of this magnitude and literally any advice you are able to provide would be invaluable to me, whether this is to do with equipment, training, fund raising or most likely something I haven’t even considered yet!

Thanks for any help that can be given, please email me at email hidden; JavaScript is required or I shall keep an eye out for posts on here.

Richard

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