MDS Part 2 - Stage 1

It seemed early waking up at 05:30 but when the sun gets up in Morocco so does everyone else.

Having an outer tent afforded us an amazing view out over the vast emptiness and into the dunes
where the sun rose. It also afforded us a view of the toilet facilities too which we're starting to
get rather busy with pre race nerves. It was chilly to start but by the time we had collected our water
rations, 1.5ltr, and had a brew it was already getting hot. I order to keep my pack weight down I
had opted for a basic breakfast, coffee (2g), nuts (50g) and cliff bar (68g), around 560kcal.
What took the most time each morning was packing and repacking my rucksack, getting
everything just right. While doing this the Berbers would remove the tent from over our heads
and leave us to finish our prep.

Everyday before the race started we were summoned over to the start line early so that the race
director could give us information for the day, sing happy birthdays and get us in the mood. My
pack didn't feel too bad, I was more concerned that my trainers and clothing would hold up for
the week (having no spares). I wore a white cap but didn't wear the neck guard as I had long hair
and wore a buff around my neck, white t shirt, compression shorts, compression calf guards,
gaiters attached to my trainers by velcro and 2 pairs of socks. A pair of injinji toe sock liner with a
pair of thorlos over the top.

The briefing went on longer than expected but we were soon off. We all burst across the start
line and the race was on. The elites sped away at the front and I was content to check that all
was in order with my pack and that Tom and Marcus were both close by. The race is filmed throughout the week and there is often a helicopter getting close to those hard to reach places. As we charged across the start line the helicopter passed over us, not once but at least half a dozen times. It was truly amazing, it flew only a few feet above our heads and as it passed over it was flying straight ahead but positioned at a 45 degree angle. We couldn't believe it it looked amazing, it roared so loud and the enormity of everything sent shivers down my spine.

The ground underfoot was hard packed stony sand for the first 3km and was easy to run on. A
great warm up, but what waited for us at the 3km point were 'The larges sand dunes in Morocoo'
!!!. There was no gentle introduction into these and afterwards experienced MdSers said it was very cruel
to put such a tough section so early on in the week, especially considering everyone had full and heavy packs at this stage. The dunes were truly beautiful, golden sand in every direction, it was just like something from a movie. Rolling tall dunes and a snake of brightly coloured runners fighting their way relentlessly
up and down. The sand was as expected, very soft. That meant walking on the up, shuffling on
the flats and running on the downs. It was tough going but I didn't mind, this was all new to me
and I couldn't help but marvel in the scenery. Tom and I kept stopping to take photos which in
retrospect was a great idea as we wouldn't experience this again in the same intensity all week.

After 15km we came to our first checkpoint (CP) of the week, it was simple enough, get card
stamped, collect water, fill bottles, dispose of rubbish and push on. That was pretty much the
format we followed all week. It's easy to spend a good few minutes faffing around, sitting or
having blisters tendered to, but we just tended to do the basics and get moving. The next section was pretty flat but it was out first taste of really soft level sand. There were tyre tracks all around where 4x4s had been through but there was no path, no obvious well trodden route to follow out of the soft stuff. It really was sapping, Tom and I tried to run when we could but running on the soft stuff was futile and a waste of energy.

Leading up to our final CP of the day we passed an old disused mine, the terrain was all uphill on
hard packed ground scattered with fist size rocks which were difficult to avoid. It was necessary
to take it steady to avoid an injury. The look of the place had really changed, the sand had gone
from a beautiful golden colour to a grey black blend which would look more at home in the
Canaries. There was even a disused village on the peak of the hillside which was eerie but
magical, no time to enjoy though, a long 5k, running with a Dutch guy and we could see the finish line. I
felt good and pushed Tom along in our 3 man unstoppable train, a decision that would repay me later in the week. Crossing the finish line and day 1 was done. All the planning, all the prep, the time away from my
family, the endless training and the first day was over. Relief and sadness combined. Great to
get the first leg under my belt but I knew it would all be over before I knew it.

Each evening followed the same routine. Sweet sultan tea at the finish line, collect 4.5ltr of water.
Find tent, feet up, eat pepperami and recovery shake. Wait for tent mates to return and talk
about the day. We seemed to have a great tent as everyday our tent would be full while others
only had one or two back. The should have been a tent medal, I think we would have had a good
shot :-) The email tent opened at around 3pm everyday and it was our chance to keep our loved ones
back home up to date. Sam sent out my updates daily and I think I developed quite a following, it
was great because I also received emails from back home with lots of love and encouragement which meant more than I can say. Bed came as the sun went down, we were all exhausted. Often it was warm as we drifted off but I woke every morning at about 3am when the wind whistled through and the temperature
dropped. Should I have packed more clothes?!

MDS Part 1 - Getting to the start line

Well the adventure is over and I'm sat in my lounge with 1) a comfy chair & 2) access to water and
food whenever I like. Quite a difference from this time last week when I was tackling the long
81km stage in 45 degree heat....

Flying out from Gatwick on Friday was a great way to break those pre race nerves and chatting with
my tent buddies was a great way to start. My tent mates Marcus Escott, Tom Parry, Emma
Waterfall, Alfie PearceHiggins and Abby Gouch had been arranged some time ago. There was panic buying of food in order to stock up our fat stores and we even wolfed down the in flight meal with a gusto. When we landed in Morocco it was almost comedic, our luggage was piled on the tarmac and the terminal was no
bigger than a small toilet block. We were treated well and soon ushered out of the heat, onto our
coach and given a packed lunch, this again was inhaled as we headed off into the abyss.

Some time later we drifted off the dusty road, we stopped for a moment and pretty much every
male on the 6 coaches emptied their bladders in unison, if it wasn't so hilarious I would have loved
the view as the evening sun set. It was here while chilling that I bumped into Tim Evans who I
met at the Meon Valley Plod some months previous. We were still one short for our tent and Tim agreed to
join us. We then headed a few miles down a very rough sand path and arrived at our bivouac for
the next 2 nights. Alfie and I dashed ahead, keen to secure a tent and we found 109 empty. Rob
Leonard had been given the 2nd flight so he arrived some time later making tent 109 complete :-)
For the 2 nights before the race starts you are fed by the bivouac team which was great, cous
cous, chicken, bread, that kind of stuff. We had all packed extra goodies too so we carb loaded and
evaluated what we would need for the week ahead. Spending 2 nights at the bivouac also gave
everyone a chance to test their equipment, sleeping bag, mat etc while getting the overall pack
weight as light as possible.

The Saturday was pretty much spent with final preparations and queueing. We had briefings, our
kit checked, race numbers and flares allocated etc. My final pack weight was around 7.5 kilo
including all compulsory items. One final meal and it was early to bed ... It all starts for real in the morning .......

Ready for the off

Its getting late and I leave in less than 12 hours. My kit is all packed but its too heavy. It weighs in at around 7.5 kilos. Once I add the items issued in Morocco, flare, road book and water etc its going to be about 9.



We have a days prep on saturday so I'll spend it trying to strip back to the bare minimum. Hopefully the guys in the tent will have some ideas but basically its going to be food vs weight. Which can I live without?

My Best Friend

His name is Jack, he was never a runner but he was my best friend.

Jack is a Rottweiler and i've had him since he was 8 weeks old. He was beautiful, gentle and never hurt anyone. Jack was so soft he pretty much raised my 6 year old daughter Poppy. 

Today he passed away aged just eight and a half years old. Our whole family is devastated and I feel  so terrible that I am leaving in the morning. 

Please look over my family Jack while I'm away, I'll be thinking of you every step of the way 

Please write to me

Follow these easy instructions from Sunday 6th April,

1) Go to

 http://www.marathondessables.com

2) Go to

'write to competitors'

3) Details needed:

KENDALL, Scott
Race Mo, 675

4) Send email, text only please :-)

Once the race starts (possibly 24 hours prior to this), a link will appear on the organisers' website www.marathondessables.com, entitled 'Write to a competitor' - click on this and follow the instructions given to send the email.  You will need the competitor's running or DOS number - this can be found here, by searching on their name.  Please send plain text only - anything else will be rejected - and please ensure you use the facility provided, rather than send emails to me, or via our website (www.marathondessables.co.uk).  These emails are printed out daily and distributed around the bivouac each evening. It should be possible to see how any competitor is doing via the competitor list - this updates from checkpoint to checkpoint on each stage HOWEVER it has not been 100% reliable in previous years.  There will also be a webcam at the finish of each stage, so you can see competitors crossing the line (remember to wave, guys....).

Chestnut Tree House

As you've probably realised I will be running the 29th Marathon Des Sables on the 6th April. The event is being entirely self funded however I am raising awareness and sponsorship of a local Charity, The Chestnut Tree House Hospice in Arundel.

The Marathon des Sables is partnered with UNICEF to promote solidarity for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.My daughter Poppy is 6 and she is very well, she has love, affection, attention and everything that a child could want. However if things were ever to change I know that here in the UK, only a few miles down the road, the Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice would be there to help.

Chestnut Tree House is the only children's hospice in Sussex; it cares for over 300 children and young adults with progressive life shortening conditions. Their goal is to provide the best quality of life for children and families with practical, social and spiritual support however short their life may be. 

Their aim "to make every day count. The good days, the bad days and the last days."  The children accepted on to their case load are not expected to live into adulthood.

One of the funding methods for the Chestnut Tree Houses is that of sponsorship, monies raised by individuals who complete various challenges such as 10k road races, marathons and beyond. They also organise their own yearly 10k road race in Littlehampton which I have completed. It was a great fun event and I hope to complete it again. If you have the time and inclination lease consider signing yourself up.

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

Please help me help the Chestnut Tree House by sponsoring me to complete the Marathon des Sables. I'm sure my journey will be one of sweat, tears, frustration, camaraderie and ultimately joy. The children and families who use the services offered by the Chestnut Tree House don't have the same possibilities ahead of them in life like the rest of us. Any donation you can make will help them to experience at least a few moments of happiness. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help.

Please sponsor me at:
www.justgiving.com/scottmds2014