He ran toughest
race in the world

By Laurie Watson
QUITE often our loyal readers look to go the extra mile for The Sunday Post Sick Children’s Appeal.
But one Aberdeen man decided to go 6500 miles before tackling an additional 151 miles in the baking sun and gruelling conditions of the Sahara desert.
Electrician Mark McLeod has only been pursuing a passion for running for three years, but already he’s challenged himself with marathons and triathlons in London, Chicago, New York and Las Vegas.
However, last month he took on the “toughest footrace in the world” — the Marathon of the Sands, near Morocco.
The 32-year-old, who used to carry out maintenance work at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, was only too happy to raise more than £4000 for a cause close to his heart and that of his wife, Susan, who is a nurse in the children’s wards.
Although it was for a worthy cause the Stornoway native admits his day and night trek through the Sahara was the toughest challenge of his life.
In the space of six days, Mark pushed himself through the equivalent of five and a half marathons. A remarkable feat in anyone’s book, but all the more impressive given the conditions.
“I trained through the winter here and went over in March,” he explained. “There was no acclimatisation, just straight into temperatures in excess of 120F. I’d never experienced anything like it.
Rope
“Some parts you were climbing sand dunes of close to 1000 feet and a few mountains and hills even higher. Some of the climbs are very steep and you have a rope to help pull yourself up.
“It’s a totally different kind of terrain compared to a normal marathon. It was a case of going over old river beds, sand dunes, mountains — you name it.”
Fortunately, Mark didn’t encounter too many hairy moments on the six-day slog, although he admits negotiating the desert at night with nothing more than a miner’s lamp on was an ordeal.
“One of the stages involved running 75km in the dark and right at the start there was a climb of 1000 feet,” he explained.
“It’s pitch black and basically you’ve a head torch and green beam to head towards. It’s pretty hairy being in the desert and not really knowing where you’re going, but fortunately I didn’t suffer any injuries or falls.”
Organisers of the event describe the race as being for masochists and amongst extreme running fans it’s regarded as the toughest footrace around.
Gruelling 
The gruelling task saw Mark burning more body fuel than he could replenish. 
“I was probably eating about 1200-1500 calories a day and burning 7000 to 8000,” he explained. 
“I lost more than a stone, and the thing is you’re all self-sufficient as well.
“You’re carrying your own food. My pack was about two stone at the start of the race. After the second day I stripped it down to the bare essentials.”
Arriving home suffering major fatigue, he took some hard-earned rest. “I got back on Monday, April 7, and was supposed to go back to work on the Tuesday. But I took the rest of the week off because I was shattered,” he explained.
However, you can’t keep Mark’s energy levels down for long and he’s already pondering what charity challenge he can take on next.
“Susan thinks I’m a bit nuts, but she’s really cool about it all really,” he enthused.
“I love challenging myself and if I can help a good cause all the better. I used to work closely with the staff and children at the sick kids hospital so it’s a very special cause for my wife and I.
“It was a brilliant experience. I quite fancy an iron man challenge next — or a jungle marathon. I’ll look around to see what catches my eye.”

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