The Marathon des Sables

Hui Ling McCarthy

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A Brief Bio

A 23-year old Mathematics graduate from Durham University, after a short spell investment banking in the City, I am currently studying to become a barrister and hope to be called in summer 2005.

I would probably fall into the category of the relatively sporty, although I don’t make a habit of this sort of challenge. Whilst at Durham, I spent my three years in the TA Officer Training Corps (dashing around cold, hilly locations in North England at weekends).

I enjoy tennis and am a very keen skier, having spent 6 months in St. Anton, Austria. Willing to give most things a go, I have tried telemarking, competed in a canoe race down the Rideau Canal in Canada and would like to get my NPPL one day, money, time and the British weather permitting.

But that’s as far as it goes. I have never run in an official marathon and cannot even name the components of an ‘Iron Man’ (an endurance challenge I gather many MDS competitors have taken part in).

Why I’m Taking Part

About 6 or 7 years ago, I read an article in the Sunday papers about a race through the Sahara and thinking “Wow, that would be something…” My parents acknowledged this with a perfunctory nod and a “yes dear”, no doubt imagining this was something I would grow out of. But a few years later, here we are.

Other than that, I suppose I’m also curious – what will it actually be like (psychologically rather than physically, as I’m guessing it’s gonna hurt) to cover such a great distance in that heat? Certainly it will be a challenge, certainly it will be tough, guaranteed there will be tears, but what an adventure.

Finally, I blame the fact that you can sign up to almost anything on-line these days during an idle lunchtime web-surfing session.