Claire finishes world’s toughest marathon

Claire finishes world’s toughest marathon

27 April 2016

A FORMER Crossgar woman recently completed one of the most gruelling running events in the world.

Claire Withers completed the Marathon Des Sables — the world’s toughest marathon in the Morocco/Sahara desert — running in searing temperatures reaching 47 degrees at times in aid of the Belfast Samaritans.

Now living in Dundonald, 40 year-old Claire who runs a personal training studio at Malone Rugby Club, competed alongside people from 57 different nations from across the globe. She described her experience as “beautiful, but brutal” and admitted she was glad to get back to the cold of Northern Ireland.

Her desert experience was every bit as tough as Claire had expected the 270 kilometre event to be, but admitted she always knew she would finish and was delighted and relived when it was over after six gruelling days which not only tested her physical fitness, but mental toughness as well.

A keen fell runner and someone who spends a lot of time running in the Mournes and Belfast’s Cavehill and Divis Mountain, Claire recalls watching a television programme about the Marathon Des Sables over 12 years ago when she committed herself to participating one day.

A former hockey player with Saintfield, Claire has always been very fit and after being informed in April last year that her application had been accepted for the 2016  Marathon Des Sables, she began her preparations in earnest last autumn, with the intensity of her training regime stepped up after Christmas.

“I trained hard all winter and was looking forward to the challenge of competing in the event,” she continued. “I ran four miles to work and four miles home again as part of my routine but the one thing I was unable to do was train for the searing desert heat”

Claire had hoped to prepare for the blazing dessert sun in a special heat chamber at the Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus but it was unavailable. Undeterred, she did Bikram Yoga in a room heated to 40 degrees with a high humidity as part of her preparations. But the first day in the dessert was really tough.

“The heat really got to a lot of people on the first day, having a major impact on those from Ireland, Scotland and northern England in particular who suffered really badly in the heat. No matter what preparation you do, nothing can prepare you for that dessert heat.

“The conditions were harsh and to compound the difficulty we faced, a sandstorm blew up and there were high winds. I was sick on the first day but was determined to keep going. I hung in there on day two and three and began to feel a little better as my preparation work and training kept me going.”

Claire explained the runners completed between 23 and 25 miles each day for the first three days, with a 52 mile challenge facing the competitors on day four, with an allotted time of 36 hours to complete the course.

“The fifth stage on day six was a full marathon with the final stage a 17km event. I was sponsored by the Belfast office of Herbert Smith Freehills and as their chosen charity this year is the Samaritans I ran to raise money for it,” she continued, explaining she had raised £3,200 to date.

Claire arrived home on Monday of last week and was delighted she had accomplished what she set out to achieve.

“I am still recovering from what was an unforgettable experience. It was as tough as I knew it would be and the heat really made it brutal. I am glad that I recovered after getting sick on the first day and was bale to pull myself back. This is an event you only do once and I am glad to say that I finished it.

“I was glad to get home to the cold of Northern Ireland but what an experience. One night it was amazing to look up at a clear sky to see stunning bright stars. To sum up the event it was beautiful, but brutal,” she said.

Claire admits she has no plans to compete in the Marathon Des Sables again and her thoughts are already turning to her next challenge in 2018.

Anyone who would like to make a contribution to Claire’s fundraising efforts can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Withers