can you remember where you were last April do you remember where some of you
April do you remember where some of you
April do you remember where some of you might have taken your children on
might have taken your children on
might have taken your children on holiday during the Easter break well
holiday during the Easter break well
holiday during the Easter break well this is where I went
this is where I went
this is where I went hell on earth or as my dad called it a
hell on earth or as my dad called it a
hell on earth or as my dad called it a beach holiday with no see I ran an ultra
beach holiday with no see I ran an ultra
beach holiday with no see I ran an ultra marathon in the Sahara Desert
marathon in the Sahara Desert
marathon in the Sahara Desert so if you think running a normal
so if you think running a normal
so if you think running a normal marathon is hard
marathon is hard
marathon is hard try running 250 kilometers if you think
try running 250 kilometers if you think
try running 250 kilometers if you think running for a day is hard well it’s 6:00
running for a day is hard well it’s 6:00
running for a day is hard well it’s 6:00 if you think running with a backpack is
if you think running with a backpack is
if you think running with a backpack is hard try running with 10 kilos that
hard try running with 10 kilos that
hard try running with 10 kilos that basically sums up my holiday and I
basically sums up my holiday and I
basically sums up my holiday and I absolutely loved it
absolutely loved it
absolutely loved it I ran an ultra marathon in the Sahara
I ran an ultra marathon in the Sahara
I ran an ultra marathon in the Sahara Desert called the marathon desaad when I
Desert called the marathon desaad when I
Desert called the marathon desaad when I was only 16 and the youngest female
was only 16 and the youngest female
was only 16 and the youngest female competitor so now not only do you think
competitor so now not only do you think
competitor so now not only do you think I’m crazy but it’s worse than that
I’m crazy but it’s worse than that
I’m crazy but it’s worse than that it was my crazy idea the idea popped
it was my crazy idea the idea popped
it was my crazy idea the idea popped into my head when I was around 14 and my
into my head when I was around 14 and my
into my head when I was around 14 and my dad’s personal trainer mad dog Mike died
dad’s personal trainer mad dog Mike died
dad’s personal trainer mad dog Mike died mad dog Mike helped my dad turned his
mad dog Mike helped my dad turned his
mad dog Mike helped my dad turned his life around when he was told he wouldn’t
life around when he was told he wouldn’t
life around when he was told he wouldn’t live past the age of 40 he got him into
live past the age of 40 he got him into
live past the age of 40 he got him into ultra running my dad accepted to do it
ultra running my dad accepted to do it
ultra running my dad accepted to do it with me as he had run it before trained
with me as he had run it before trained
with me as he had run it before trained by Mad Dog Mike he knew exactly what he
by Mad Dog Mike he knew exactly what he
by Mad Dog Mike he knew exactly what he was getting into but the rest of my
was getting into but the rest of my
was getting into but the rest of my family thought I was absolutely insane
family thought I was absolutely insane
family thought I was absolutely insane but I didn’t let that stop me and that’s
but I didn’t let that stop me and that’s
but I didn’t let that stop me and that’s what I’m here to tell you about my dad
what I’m here to tell you about my dad
what I’m here to tell you about my dad helped me train physically which is
helped me train physically which is
helped me train physically which is extremely important in a very short
extremely important in a very short
extremely important in a very short space of time six months compared to the
space of time six months compared to the
space of time six months compared to the two years the female winner trained for
two years the female winner trained for
two years the female winner trained for this entailed running a marathon every
this entailed running a marathon every
this entailed running a marathon every weekend for five weeks and doing some
weekend for five weeks and doing some
weekend for five weeks and doing some heat training we turned on all the
heat training we turned on all the
heat training we turned on all the heaters in the living room and did some
heaters in the living room and did some
heaters in the living room and did some ex
ex
ex sizes to strengthen our backs for the
sizes to strengthen our backs for the
sizes to strengthen our backs for the weight of the backpacks we also did what
weight of the backpacks we also did what
weight of the backpacks we also did what my dad called the other extreme we
my dad called the other extreme we
my dad called the other extreme we trained in the snow because it was like
trained in the snow because it was like
trained in the snow because it was like climbing up sand dunes and when it was
climbing up sand dunes and when it was
climbing up sand dunes and when it was stormy which happened occasionally it
stormy which happened occasionally it
stormy which happened occasionally it was like being in a sandstorm training
was like being in a sandstorm training
was like being in a sandstorm training was extremely hard for me I was only 16
was extremely hard for me I was only 16
was extremely hard for me I was only 16 I had the normal life of a teenager and
I had the normal life of a teenager and
I had the normal life of a teenager and I had still had to go to school I also
I had still had to go to school I also
I had still had to go to school I also had never run a marathon before so we
had never run a marathon before so we
had never run a marathon before so we really needed to do some mental training
really needed to do some mental training
really needed to do some mental training you might ask yourself what it means to
you might ask yourself what it means to
you might ask yourself what it means to train mentally well it means to cry for
train mentally well it means to cry for
train mentally well it means to cry for practically the whole time during your
practically the whole time during your
practically the whole time during your first marathon but still wanting to go
first marathon but still wanting to go
first marathon but still wanting to go back a week later and crying just a
back a week later and crying just a
back a week later and crying just a little bit less when you get to the
little bit less when you get to the
little bit less when you get to the marathon de sub you suddenly realize
marathon de sub you suddenly realize
marathon de sub you suddenly realize that any amount of physical preparation
that any amount of physical preparation
that any amount of physical preparation just isn’t enough even though I was
just isn’t enough even though I was
just isn’t enough even though I was extremely grateful my dad forced me to
extremely grateful my dad forced me to
extremely grateful my dad forced me to Train we really needed that mental
Train we really needed that mental
Train we really needed that mental strength which is what got us through
strength which is what got us through
strength which is what got us through the dark moments this run is just a
the dark moments this run is just a
the dark moments this run is just a little further than the drive from
little further than the drive from
little further than the drive from Monaco to Marseille 20 kilometers more
Monaco to Marseille 20 kilometers more
Monaco to Marseille 20 kilometers more and it’s in the desert
and it’s in the desert
and it’s in the desert it’s 250 kilometres over in stages over
it’s 250 kilometres over in stages over
it’s 250 kilometres over in stages over six days you have one long day over days
six days you have one long day over days
six days you have one long day over days four and five where you have to complete
four and five where you have to complete
four and five where you have to complete between 80 and 100 kilometres in 35
between 80 and 100 kilometres in 35
between 80 and 100 kilometres in 35 hours after that you still have another
hours after that you still have another
hours after that you still have another marathon of 42.2 kilometres to run and
marathon of 42.2 kilometres to run and
marathon of 42.2 kilometres to run and then another 10k when you get to the
then another 10k when you get to the
then another 10k when you get to the desert you’re given this hand-drawn map
desert you’re given this hand-drawn map
desert you’re given this hand-drawn map that’s supposed to guide you through all
that’s supposed to guide you through all
that’s supposed to guide you through all the descendants and JE balls which are
the descendants and JE balls which are
the descendants and JE balls which are the mountains in Merkin and you’re told
the mountains in Merkin and you’re told
the mountains in Merkin and you’re told you should probably follow these bright
you should probably follow these bright
you should probably follow these bright pink spray-painted bushes through the
pink spray-painted bushes through the
pink spray-painted bushes through the desert to get to the finish line every
desert to get to the finish line every
desert to get to the finish line every night every night we would cross the
night every night we would cross the
night every night we would cross the finish line we would get to our tent
finish line we would get to our tent
finish line we would get to our tent which we now called home and we would
which we now called home and we would
which we now called home and we would try and
try and
try and are disgusting freeze-dried food in the
are disgusting freeze-dried food in the
are disgusting freeze-dried food in the heat of the sand in the desert it’s not
heat of the sand in the desert it’s not
heat of the sand in the desert it’s not just flat sand and rocks as you may
just flat sand and rocks as you may
just flat sand and rocks as you may imagine it to be it’s also mountains
imagine it to be it’s also mountains
imagine it to be it’s also mountains sand dunes rope climbs and sometimes the
sand dunes rope climbs and sometimes the
sand dunes rope climbs and sometimes the sand dunes can be the size of
sand dunes can be the size of
sand dunes can be the size of three-story buildings after about three
three-story buildings after about three
three-story buildings after about three days my legs kind of started to feel a
days my legs kind of started to feel a
days my legs kind of started to feel a bit tired when we’ve done around 90
bit tired when we’ve done around 90
bit tired when we’ve done around 90 kilometers and I ended up with a blister
kilometers and I ended up with a blister
kilometers and I ended up with a blister on my left foot the size of a golf ball
on my left foot the size of a golf ball
on my left foot the size of a golf ball which my dad had told me I had to pop
which my dad had told me I had to pop
which my dad had told me I had to pop myself in order to avoid infection I
myself in order to avoid infection I
myself in order to avoid infection I couldn’t do it because the skin over my
couldn’t do it because the skin over my
couldn’t do it because the skin over my blister was so thick so I had to go and
blister was so thick so I had to go and
blister was so thick so I had to go and see what they called doc trotters who
see what they called doc trotters who
see what they called doc trotters who are the doctors who follow us throughout
are the doctors who follow us throughout
are the doctors who follow us throughout the race but he turned out to be a
the race but he turned out to be a
the race but he turned out to be a dentist got out a scalpel and sliced my
dentist got out a scalpel and sliced my
dentist got out a scalpel and sliced my blister open it was hideous
blister open it was hideous
blister open it was hideous the long day took us 27 hours to
the long day took us 27 hours to
the long day took us 27 hours to complete 90 kilometres and it was the
complete 90 kilometres and it was the
complete 90 kilometres and it was the longest day of my life I had my dad next
longest day of my life I had my dad next
longest day of my life I had my dad next to me all the time telling me his stupid
to me all the time telling me his stupid
to me all the time telling me his stupid jokes over and over again I was trying
jokes over and over again I was trying
jokes over and over again I was trying to search for these bright pink
to search for these bright pink
to search for these bright pink spray-painted bushes and then when it
spray-painted bushes and then when it
spray-painted bushes and then when it got dark these glow sticks that they
got dark these glow sticks that they
got dark these glow sticks that they placed on the bushes that local children
placed on the bushes that local children
placed on the bushes that local children moved around anyway it got so bad at one
moved around anyway it got so bad at one
moved around anyway it got so bad at one point that I sort of planned the
point that I sort of planned the
point that I sort of planned the assassination of the organizers with my
assassination of the organizers with my
assassination of the organizers with my spork which is a spoon with the spikes
spork which is a spoon with the spikes
spork which is a spoon with the spikes of a fork because I thought it might
of a fork because I thought it might
of a fork because I thought it might make them suffer like we had the
make them suffer like we had the
make them suffer like we had the helicopters also kept blowing sand in
helicopters also kept blowing sand in
helicopters also kept blowing sand in our mouths all the time and they kind of
our mouths all the time and they kind of
our mouths all the time and they kind of got on my nerves so I decided I might
got on my nerves so I decided I might
got on my nerves so I decided I might just go and sneak out in the night to
just go and sneak out in the night to
just go and sneak out in the night to mess with their electrics there were
mess with their electrics there were
mess with their electrics there were good parts though during the marathon
good parts though during the marathon
good parts though during the marathon ders up there were people who we met and
ders up there were people who we met and
ders up there were people who we met and crossed paths with who I don’t think I
crossed paths with who I don’t think I
crossed paths with who I don’t think I would have ever met otherwise
would have ever met otherwise
would have ever met otherwise they helped make the distances shorter
they helped make the distances shorter
they helped make the distances shorter with
with
with jokes and the chat and just meeting
jokes and the chat and just meeting
jokes and the chat and just meeting these people was amazing my dad and his
these people was amazing my dad and his
these people was amazing my dad and his stupid jokes his singing competitions of
stupid jokes his singing competitions of
stupid jokes his singing competitions of the same two songs highway to hell and
the same two songs highway to hell and
the same two songs highway to hell and Hotel California which I now can’t bear
Hotel California which I now can’t bear
Hotel California which I now can’t bear to listen to it helped me through the
to listen to it helped me through the
to listen to it helped me through the desert and created an extremely strong
desert and created an extremely strong
desert and created an extremely strong bond between us
bond between us
bond between us I also took one piece of technology with
I also took one piece of technology with
I also took one piece of technology with me to the desert my iPod
me to the desert my iPod
me to the desert my iPod I saved the battery of my iPod for the
I saved the battery of my iPod for the
I saved the battery of my iPod for the long day so that my two favorite bands
long day so that my two favorite bands
long day so that my two favorite bands modern baseball and the 1975 could help
modern baseball and the 1975 could help
modern baseball and the 1975 could help me get through the darkest moments of
me get through the darkest moments of
me get through the darkest moments of the long day
the long day
the long day there was also beauty in the challenge
there was also beauty in the challenge
there was also beauty in the challenge like the moment we got to checkpoint
like the moment we got to checkpoint
like the moment we got to checkpoint five of the long day and there were
five of the long day and there were
five of the long day and there were these deck chairs a bonfire as if we
these deck chairs a bonfire as if we
these deck chairs a bonfire as if we needed a bonfire and mint tea waiting
needed a bonfire and mint tea waiting
needed a bonfire and mint tea waiting for us there was also the moment during
for us there was also the moment during
for us there was also the moment during the long day when I got really tired I
the long day when I got really tired I
the long day when I got really tired I was crying my feet were hurting so much
was crying my feet were hurting so much
was crying my feet were hurting so much and all of a sudden my dad freezes he
and all of a sudden my dad freezes he
and all of a sudden my dad freezes he just stops points at something says
just stops points at something says
just stops points at something says Emily look over there I stop and look
Emily look over there I stop and look
Emily look over there I stop and look but I can’t see anything because I’m
but I can’t see anything because I’m
but I can’t see anything because I’m crying so much and my eye my vision went
crying so much and my eye my vision went
crying so much and my eye my vision went blurry and then I’ve kind of make out
blurry and then I’ve kind of make out
blurry and then I’ve kind of make out this huge incredible 2 meter long snake
this huge incredible 2 meter long snake
this huge incredible 2 meter long snake in front of us that just appeared out of
in front of us that just appeared out of
in front of us that just appeared out of nowhere and this Danish guy walks past
nowhere and this Danish guy walks past
nowhere and this Danish guy walks past us and points at it and goes a snake and
us and points at it and goes a snake and
us and points at it and goes a snake and walked straight into its path these
walked straight into its path these
walked straight into its path these incredible moments are really what kept
incredible moments are really what kept
incredible moments are really what kept me going during the marathon der sub we
me going during the marathon der sub we
me going during the marathon der sub we also raise money for charity a charity
also raise money for charity a charity
also raise money for charity a charity called Diabetes UK which we’ve been
called Diabetes UK which we’ve been
called Diabetes UK which we’ve been involved with since my sister was
involved with since my sister was
involved with since my sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes we raised twenty three thousand five
we raised twenty three thousand five
we raised twenty three thousand five hundred pounds for a new microscope that
hundred pounds for a new microscope that
hundred pounds for a new microscope that researchers needed to diagnose kidney
researchers needed to diagnose kidney
researchers needed to diagnose kidney disease I really didn’t want to let the
disease I really didn’t want to let the
disease I really didn’t want to let the people who donated so much money down so
people who donated so much money down so
people who donated so much money down so that really kept me going there was
that really kept me going there was
that really kept me going there was there were also people who
there were also people who
there were also people who told me I couldn’t finish before I left
told me I couldn’t finish before I left
told me I couldn’t finish before I left who told me that who even bet on me not
who told me that who even bet on me not
who told me that who even bet on me not finishing so I really wanted to prove to
finishing so I really wanted to prove to
finishing so I really wanted to prove to them that I could finish I even started
them that I could finish I even started
them that I could finish I even started doubting myself after these people told
doubting myself after these people told
doubting myself after these people told me I couldn’t finish and so I really
me I couldn’t finish and so I really
me I couldn’t finish and so I really learned during the marathon job that I
learned during the marathon job that I
learned during the marathon job that I could achieve anything and I proved to
could achieve anything and I proved to
could achieve anything and I proved to myself that I could finish this race I’m
myself that I could finish this race I’m
myself that I could finish this race I’m not the first to tell you that life’s a
not the first to tell you that life’s a
not the first to tell you that life’s a marathon and you can do anything
marathon and you can do anything
marathon and you can do anything it is about challenging yourself and
it is about challenging yourself and
it is about challenging yourself and leaving your comfort or your safety zone
leaving your comfort or your safety zone
leaving your comfort or your safety zone but I also came here to tell you that I
but I also came here to tell you that I
but I also came here to tell you that I had the best holiday ever
had the best holiday ever
had the best holiday ever and the best experience I’ve had so far
and the best experience I’ve had so far
and the best experience I’ve had so far I’m not the youngest female competitor
I’m not the youngest female competitor
I’m not the youngest female competitor I’m the second and people told me I
I’m the second and people told me I
I’m the second and people told me I couldn’t finish but if you really set
couldn’t finish but if you really set
couldn’t finish but if you really set your mind on something and you have the
your mind on something and you have the
your mind on something and you have the determination to do it you can finish I
determination to do it you can finish I
determination to do it you can finish I know I’ve changed and I’ve learned
know I’ve changed and I’ve learned
know I’ve changed and I’ve learned something I’m not really sure what it is
something I’m not really sure what it is
something I’m not really sure what it is yet because it still feels completely
yet because it still feels completely
yet because it still feels completely surreal but I had the best experience my
surreal but I had the best experience my
surreal but I had the best experience my dad said to me on the long day when we
dad said to me on the long day when we
dad said to me on the long day when we were both crying and yes he was crying
were both crying and yes he was crying
were both crying and yes he was crying that he would never wish so much pain on
that he would never wish so much pain on
that he would never wish so much pain on his daughters but since it was my idea
his daughters but since it was my idea
his daughters but since it was my idea and I showed the determination to do it
and I showed the determination to do it
and I showed the determination to do it he was okay with it
he was okay with it
he was okay with it so if one day your kids come up to you
so if one day your kids come up to you
so if one day your kids come up to you with a crazy idea like mine I think you
with a crazy idea like mine I think you
with a crazy idea like mine I think you should encourage them thank you
”
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