Mighty marathon effort in Morocco

5:37pm Monday 12th May 2008

A RACE of 151 miles, often played out in temperatures of more than 50 degrees, was the marathon challenged completed by a Lymm dentist.

John Moorhouse, aged 52, completed the arduous Marathon des Sables in the Saharan desert of Morocco in April - with the toughest of routes.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the event and the sense of camaraderie it fostered among all nationalities overcame the daily pain of competition.“

Lymm dentist, John Moorhouse

This year's run was the hardest ever taking runners across sand dunes, mountains and flats.

He said: "The daily attrition of the heat, the sand and the weight of the packs meant the medical stations resembled a battlefield as competitors were given scalpel blades and dressing to treat their blistered and bleeding feet and backs.

"Less fortunate runners were given medical attention, many were overcome with the heat and needed intravenous saline to rehydrate but the rules only allow two and you have to retire.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the event and the sense of camaraderie it fostered among all nationalities overcame the daily pain of competition."

The dentist, who works at Oasis Eagle Brow Dental Practice and Implant Centre, finished 313 out of the international field of 820 and 43rd out of 237 British runners.

The runners have to carry all their food for a week with fuel, cooking equipment, clothing and sleeping bags because it gets so cold at night.

And as if all that wasn't bad enough, Mr Moorhouse has signed up for the Jungle marathon in September in the heart of Brazil's Amazonian rainforest.

It has a similar format but exchanges the dry heat of the desert for swamps and hot wet forest where the Jaguar is top of the food chain!