The Return of the Marathon Man

Photo shows from Left to right; Tim Hull-Bailey, Tony Gilling, Dave Marshall and John McKenzie who all work for BP in various locations around the world.

John McKenzie gave these answers to these questions.

What was the best moment John?
 
The start line of the first stage on day one; for the previous 12 months I had been training 50-60 miles a week, some of it with a heavy pack. I had tried various shoe/gaiter options and hot environment running kit in the sand dunes of Fuerteventura. I had passed the medical examination and ECG. And there I was; with 1,000 others, at the start of the toughest footrace in the world.

What were your pre race thoughts each day? 

There isn't much time to think once the sun has risen, I quickly got into the routine of boiling water while squaring all my kit away and taping up my feet. All around the campsite is being deconstructed for the move to the next location by shouting Moroccan guys. After a hearty porridge breakfast I would get in the queue for water before making my way down to the start line. 
 
Please describe the general course of race stage.
 
Apart from Jbels (mountains), Wadis (dried river beds) and Ergs (dunes) I had to navigate my way across miles of undulating ground peppered with small black rocks. I ran when I could and walked whenever I couldn't, I just tried to maintain a forward momentum one step at a time. The checkpoints were between 10 and 14 kilometres apart offering the chance to replenish your water bottles. There aren’t any food stations, what I had in my rucksack on day one had to last the entire event. The organisers provided (rationed) water, tents, and pain - in abundance!

 
What did you think about as you ran?
 
If soldiers misbehave they are often exercised while carrying weight of some kind, and there I was now a civilian, on annual holiday, punishing myself by running over inhospitable terrain with a heavy rucksack in extreme temperatures. I need psychiatric help.
 
I deliberately left my wristwatch behind as I didn't want to be concerned about my progress, or lack of it. Water and electrolyte management was always a concern for me. Keeping well hydrated but not running out of water before the next checkpoint was a bit of a balancing act. Meanwhile the Saharan sun was doing it's best to boil my brain.

How hot was it? Or was it colder than you thought?
 
There was a TV crew with us filming James Cracknell for the entire week. At one point of the race in a dried-up lake bed they recorded a temperature of 52 degrees. Believe me, I was never cold.
  
What was the worst moment?
 
Stage four, checkpoint four (about 30 miles); I had planned a short stop to massage my feet and put on clean socks. When I took my shoes off I could have cried, blisters had formed, burst and the skin beneath looked like raw meat. I cleaned them up and irrigated the wounds with iodine before applying fresh dressings. I had to remove the insoles from my shoes and leave the laces loose as my feet had swollen so much. I was forced to walk the remaining 20 miles costing me a lot of time and 52 places.

Tent 98 was home for the week. What was it like reaching Tent 98 after every stage of the race?
 
Everybody in Tent 98 had a good level of fitness, all 8 of us finishing in the top 400. We were the first full tent at the end of every stage that makes feel both privileged and very proud. 

Tony Gilling who is another BP runner was also in Tent 98, he said,

“John is a real legend. His fantastic sense of humour kept our spirits up in Tent 98 when our legs and feet were not feeling at their best”. 

 
In Conclusion:

The Marathon des Sables was without doubt the toughest mental and physical challenge I have ever faced. It makes no difference if you finish the event in 1st or last place; you navigate the same course over the same obstacles with the same amount of water. Definitely not for the feint hearted. In my opinion everyone who completes the Marathon des Sables is a winner.