Running in the Marathon Des Sables, across the harsh Moroccan desert, had long been an ambition for Bradford man Brant Taylor. Last month he undertook the 146-mile event, raising more than £2,000 for the charity Dreams Come True. Pam Wilkinson reports.

IT WAS three years ago that Brant Taylor first thought about entering the Marathon Des Sables. He says: "I was watching it on television and although I thought the people entering must be crazy, from that day on the germ of the idea grew, until I knew I just had to run the event myself".

Now in its 15th year, the Marathon Des Sables attracts entrants from more than 30 countries. It is one of the toughest tests of stamina and fitness in the world and Brant spent the last two years in strict training.

"From the first leg of the race until you finish, you are on your own. It's very well organised, with excellent medical assistance available, but if you stop for any treatment you could be withdrawn. The race lasted over six days, with one rest day after the longest leg, which was 46 miles. The route is secret until the start, when you are provided with a map and instructions.

"Day one starts off gently with a 17-mile run, as your backpack is at its heaviest - mine was about eight kilos. Everything you need has to be carried and you have to estimate how much water you will drink each day. Competitors are monitored at each checkpoint and even after the first ten miles, some runners were coming down with blisters.''

The first part of the terrain is over rough, gravelly ground, but the worst day by far, said Brant, was the 20 kilometres over the sand dunes, where there was no help available at all if you got into difficulties. "You just had to set off your distress flare and that day over 15 people lit flares for assistance.

"Out of the three guys who shared my tent, one went three hours without water and his tongue just filled his mouth up. Another young lad of 26, who played rugby for the army, collapsed just short of the water hole and when he woke up the medics had pumped seven litres of water into his body.''

Stamina and training play a big part in how an entrant competes, said Brant. But things can still go wrong. "I thought I had prepared well and on the first day I felt great. By the second day I was feeling ill and it turned out that there was a "bug" going about camp, which gave me dreadful bout of the "desert runs" for three days.

"I couldn't eat and it was only the discipline of sucking on my water bottle every few minutes which prevented me being totally dehydrated. Looking after yourself, in that condition, when you are in the desert, is very hard. I was just unlucky to catch the bug. Without it I would have found the event so much easier, but at least I managed to finish. Some competitors were so ill they were withdrawn from the race."

Out of 680 competitors who started the race, by day five, more than 100 had dropped out. Information getting back to the UK was sketchy, as the unseasonable sandstorms affected communications, so Brant's wife and family were understandably very worried about him at the time. When he finished the race, they were overjoyed and Brant felt a great sense of achievement - and relief.

"Each competitor ran the race at his own pace, but the two Moroccan brothers who won it were absolutely outstanding. They covered 46 miles in six hours!

"I had trained hard in the gym and over the last year I ran six marathons, but nothing prepares you for the sheer stamina and determination you need to run across hot sand.

"The best advice I had was from some past British competitors who recommended wearing waterproof socks. These prevented the sand getting on to my feet and causing blisters. They were £30 a pair, but worth every penny. You could not stop sand getting in your running shoes, but at least the socks gave good protection for the skin.

"For me, the race was a personal challenge, but as I was running it anyway, I felt I should raise as much money as I could for charity. The race cost me about £3000 to take part and I am very aware that this money could have been spent on my family. It also caused them a great deal of stress and I am very grateful for their support. They know I have always had this adventurous streak. At 12 years old I rowed the Leeds/Liverpool canal with the youth club and I spent seven years in the army."

Brant was determined to finish and at two low points on the run it was the thought of letting down the charity which kept me going. When he got tunnel vision, everything went black and the world seemed to be spinning round.

"I told my mate I thought I was finished and the next time he saw me I would be on a stretcher, but fortunately, after about five minutes, I felt a bit better and carried on. The fact that I had not eaten for 48 hours, due to this bug, had left me weak.

"It was a terrific experience and I met some wonderful people, but I would not do it again. I have proved something to myself and it is time for another challenge."

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