“Shropshire Man Overcomes Adversity to Finish World’s Toughest Race”
Participants will run multiple marathons over six days as part of the Marathon Des Sables
A Shropshire man is training for an ultra marathon in the desert dubbed the ‘toughest run on earth’.
Nathan Walton from Woore will take part in the Marathon Des Sables – a six day 251 km (156 mile) race across the Sahara Desert.
“It’s not something to be taken lightly,” said Mr Walton, who is raising money for the Dougie Mac Hospice, which cared for his mother.
He has been training for the race, which takes place in April, for two years.
He recently returned from a training camp in Lanzarote to practice running on sand and in the heat. Further heat training is planned at a specialist facility at the University of Manchester.
On the course, participants run a marathon every day except on day five, when the distance is between 85 and 100 km (53 and 62 miles).
“It’s stupid,” said Mr. Walton.
“Sand dunes, spiders, scorpions, bubbles… it smashes your feet like no other race,” he said.
Runners need to carry everything they need for the week
Mr Walton was inspired to raise funds for Dougie Mac, a hospice in north Staffordshire, to thank them for the care his mother received when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
“The Dougie Mac walked in and they were brilliant,” he said. “They came to take care of mom at home and they also took care of us as a family.”
Mr Walton is aiming to raise £3,000 and is more than halfway there.
“It’s a thank you for everything,” he said.
“A few blisters, a few sore muscles, that’s nothing.”
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