Desert Runner Training Camps
Desert and other similar "hostile terrain" ultra running events are increasing in popularity. The MdS in Morocco is always oversubscribed with the next chance to enter 2013 (for UK entrants) but there are similar events in Mali, Jordan, Namibia, Gobi Desert, Atacama desert, Egypt, Australia and even in Andalucia where the heat and tough mountain terrain ensure a very tough challenge.
The Marathon des Sables attracts a field of over 800 runners from all over the World. Many come from Northern Europe with a high percentage from the UK. As the MdS is held in late March or early April it comes on the back of winter. Not an ideal time for attempting one of the world’s toughest challenges when the previous months have meant training in cold, wet, snow, frost and fog.
The " Desert Runner Training Camps " will enable you to find out for yourself just what it takes to compete in high temperatures over hostile terrain. Instruction and guidance from Paul Bateson, organiser of Al Andalus Ultimate Trail, ultimaFrontera160 and an MdS veteran with event experience in Israel, Jordan and Tunisia as well as races in UK and Andalucia from Duathlon (on and off road) up to 126km distance and numerous age category wins in everything from 10 to 50km.
Training camps usually begin on a Wednesday or Thursday and can finish on either a Sunday or Monday. (Programme depends on arrival and departure times).
Desert Runner Camps include informative talks and demonstrations on :
- Equipment, clothing, pack weight, nutrition, hydration and foot care.
- Practical sessions running with and without kit.
- Basic Navigation instruction (if requested).
- Vehicle support where necessary.
- Airport pickup and return. (usually Malaga but some flights into Granada).
- Bed and breakfast, (shared accommodation in self contained apartment).
- The camps will give you the opportunity to see how you fare when running day after day often in high temperatures, e.g. 35-45Centigrade or more. *We do camps all year round but in the winter months it isn’t as hot but generally still much better than UK. You also have the opportunity to test out assorted packs, poles etc.
- Berber camp, only if here for a week or by special arrangement.
- Granada visit inc Albaycin, Arab quarter, Alhambra grounds. (recovery day) - only if here for a week.
During a camp expect to cover around 70-80km.
Numbers 1 to 8, (any more, please check).
Price € 480 euros, (4 night, excluding flights).
Note: Rather than fix all dates in advance I prefer to see what dates are requested and then, once settled, promote to anyone interested to increase the group size. I also do one to one so not a problem if you get a last minute chance to come here.
Note: Entries now being accepted for the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail, July 9 - 13, 2012. five day, five stages, 230 km race
www.alandalus-ut.com. (Ideal test for MdS).
Note:
If you book for a desert runner camp via the runningsahara MDS agency then we will give 10% to charity. Solidarite has been established to help the underprivileged in the Sahara, Southern Morocco using sport and education to both increase their life expectancy and help them out of their poverty.
Preparation
As the majority of runners will be working 9 to 5 jobs and maybe running trails or racing at weekend correct " holiday " preparation is important. It would be very easy to get carried away, running each day, in the usually beautiful weather, and therefore suffering an overuse injury. It would put paid to any forthcoming race plans and waste the holiday.
- Plan to have an easy week of running each side of the holiday.
- Give yourself time to recover from the travelling, although in our case that shouldn’t take long as most of you could be here within 3 hours, ( which is why it is so easy to plan a long weekend out here ).
- Make sure to increase the amount of rest you take whilst here rather than have late nights, sightsee and train. The Spanish do tend to eat late, ( 10pm ) but we try to arrange for evening meals to be ready around 8pm.
Read a selection of excellent articles on desert runner training and preparation >>
Comments
" I'm just back from the 2012 Marathon des Sables and, despite everyone's concerns that I would be lucky to survive as I've never even run a marathon before, I came in 478th out of about 860 including finishing 232nd on the last day. Your Desert Runners' Camp gave a huge boost to my training and an insight into stage racing and what it requires to get up day after day and do it all over again. If anything, the terrain in Andalucia was more challenging and definitely hillier than the MdS so I had no problems at all on the 1000m jebel ascent on Day 4 or the 800m dunes on Day 7: my highest rankings were on the hilly days! My wife also had a great time walking in and around beautiful Al Hama with Kiko and felt very welcome too.
Thank you again for your hospitality, spot on training that definitely lifted my confidence and my game and also for all the email advice and answers to all to those questions in the months before and after the camp.
All the best,
"
Tom Watkinson
