MDS on TV in the U.S.

For our week in the desert an ABC News crew followed our group of U.S., Canadian, and Australian athletes through the highs, lows, and overall adventure. The cameras were around so much that it started to feel like a reality show -- and you just knew that when you were feeling your worst, you'd see a camera nearby to capture the moment! We saw so much of the news crew during the race (including out on the race course) that they started to feel like part of our team.

Today (Thursday, April 17th) ABC will air MDS segments on Good Morning America, ABC World News, and Nightline. If you're in the U.S. and want to catch this, please check ABC's website for viewing times. Don't count on seeing me featured, but some of my very good friends from the race will be, plus they shot a lot of video of our champ and top U.S. finisher Ted Archer from the tent we shared. They filmed some great stories and race course footage throughout the week, so I'm anxious to see what made the final cut. Please post a comment if you happen to catch any of the footage today. For friends outside the U.S., if I can get a hold of any video segments of the broadcast, I'll post it on the blog.

Best,
Jeff

R.I.C.E.

Believe it or not, I'm really itching to start running again -- actually, it's driving me nuts that my injuries aren't healing fast enough to allow me to return to the trail -- right now! I tried some very light running (as in about 10 steps!) this afternoon and my knee and ankle quickly protested, announcing their intention to stay on vacation a bit longer. Ok, fine -- I'll surrender and allow them to rest a bit longer. Actually, I recalled the R.I.C.E. method of dealing with injuries today while visiting friends in Lausanne, so I made sure to Rest while eating Ice Cream and enjoying the Elevation of the nearby mountains that tower over Lake Geneva. Hopefully this will do the trick and I'll be able to return to running very soon!

Meanwhile, I've uploaded lots of photos to my MDS photo gallery. Please feel free to have a look. I've also included a couple interesting photos below, as well as a video clip from the evening of the post-long day, marathon stage.

Our first taste of steep dunes on Day 1.

Fortunately, this guy never camped out in my shoes or sleeping bag overnight.

I have more audio clips for the first few stages that I'll share over the next week or two. I can't close without thanking you again for your great support before, during, and after the race!

Cheers,
Jeff

Recovery Time!

I'm safely back home in Zürich, working on my next challenge: recovering from the MDS! I've got a nice collection of blisters and overuse injuries to heal, plus I need to work through the all-common post-race blues that always seems to greet the end to a big event that is such a huge focus for months and months, yet has suddenly come and gone. What thrills me to no end (and shakes off "da bluz") is the awesome support offered by so many people around the world to my charity initiative. I'm also touched by the wonderful emails of support and congratulations I've received (during and after the race). I didn't run this thing alone -- I ran it with hundreds of you at my side and I sincerely thank you for this. That said, I'm sure that we're all glad that only one of us has to deal with the battered feet and legs picked up along the way! In the coming days and weeks I'll be sharing lots about the race with writing, photos, and audio clips. To give you a bit of a teaser, I've included in this message an audio clip that I recorded from the bivouac after the epic long day. Just make sure your speakers are on and click the play button below to hear the description and emotion of an unexpected high placement finish after a nearly 50-mile run through the desert.

By the way, major thanks to Becky, who did a marvelous job updating the blog during the race!!

More great stories coming soon ...

All the best from Zuri,
Jeff

What a finish!

Jeff has completed the Marathon des Sables, placing in the Top 50 at #48!!! And second American!!!! Yahooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We are so excited. Still celebrating here, more details to come...

Stage 5 in the Desert

After a marathon-day (literally) with scorching heat, it looks like Jeff is still in the Top 50!

Here's an update directly from Jeff...


Rest day was great, although my knee hurts more at rest than in motion! A great thrill to cheer on the people finishing the long day in 30 hours -- brave people!

I went into the marathon today in awe at what the body can handle. I hobbled to the start line but my legs came alive and I was stunned to run just under a 4:30 in these conditions after the week and my epic run on the long day.

I dedicated my run today to my grandmothers and wife's grandmother and my family -- I certainly felt their strength push me through the long distance and extreme heat - it topped 46C!

Toward the end of the stage I saw my best friend Sean, Becky, and other friends and family beside and in front of me pulling me through the most grueling part. My Atl cycling friends then pace-lined me through the headwind during the final two miles... A bit crazy, but I felt this and it really helped.

One stage to go... The Paris opera will perform a concert in the desert for us tonite - no kidding!

My sincere thanks to all!!!
Jeff

Stage 4 results are in!

Unbelievable! The Stage 4 results are finally in, and Jeff placed 24th!!
That brings him up to 45th overall, wow.

He didn't just survive the longest-distance day, he led it! Here's the account from Jeff himself:

I am writing you tonight in utter amazement with the MdS, the severity of the challenge of the course and conditions, and the perseverance of those who tackle this epic event.

I approached today's stage (the long one - 47 miles) with the special dedication that I mentioned last night -- to my supporters, and with the mindset that I would race the stage hard (based on my coach's advice -- advice that I thought was crazy when I first heard it two weeks ago).

With the elite 50 males and 5 females starting (later) at noon, I found myself alone at the front of a pack of the 750 non-elite runners within minutes of the start, with the helicopter making passes overhead. I've never led a race of any distance, much less at the MdS. I held on within half a mile (one km) of the top five runners and finished a stunning second place.

The course was brutal, with three climbs that would nearly qualify as mountain climbing, dunes, very rocky sections, off-pitch sand, and scorching salt flats. It was very lonely at the front -- something I have never ever experienced in a race. It made route finding much more challenging and added a new level of mental challenge. In one particularly hallucinogenic moment I saw all of you running with me in one wide line, pushing me forward... A bit crazy, but that's how strongly I felt your support.

I passed the second place runner with 12k to go and pushed myself harder than I ever had to finish a strong second (of the main field). I beat the elite runners in so I had the true experience of being very early to cross the line (at just over 9 hours of a stage with a 32 hour cutoff).

I'm very sore, but healthy and immensely happy at how today went. This should help me move up a bit in the overall standings; moreover, it was a joyous day in a spectacular setting and a small way for me to thank you for your awesome support! And now I get a rest day!

To Coach Lisa: Thanks for pushing me!

Jeff

Stage 4... still going...

...and going and going and going...

This stage is the 47-miler, and they have two days to complete it, so there are no (full) results available yet, and no personal message from Jeff...

But we do have a picture!:

You can view the larger version on the Darbaroud site - It's the 13th picture (at least right now).

He must have something caught in his eye - Why else would he need to pour water on his face like that??! Maybe he just missed his mouth ;-)

More updates to be posted as soon as I get 'em... Run, Jeff, Run!!!

Stage 3 in the Desert

Another day completed! So that's 68 miles down, "only" 84 to go...

I've received some questions about the daily distances so here they are listed for the whole week:

Day 1 (Sunday): 31.6k (19.6 miles)
Day 2 (Monday): 38k (23.6 miles)
Day 3 (Tuesday): 40.5k (25.2 miles)
Day 4 (Wednesday & into Thursday): 75.5k (46.9 miles)
Day 5 (Thursday) - rest day or completion of Day 4 distance
Day 6 (Friday): 42.2k (26.2 miles)
Day 7 (Saturday): 17.5k (10.9 miles)

Total distance = 245.3k (152.4 miles)

The 46.9-miler they start today can be completed over two days. Luckily the strategy of avoiding placing in the top 50 as of today worked - he is now 74th overall - so Jeff will not be forced to start later in the heat of the day today.

Photo from 2006, borrowed from here

Here's the latest update from Jeff himself!:

Great run today, despite some intense heat! Battled knee pain for the first two hours and then came alive and had a fantastic closing three hours.

I picked up so much speed that I got really concerned about moving into the top 50 so I walked most of the last 5k to sacrifice time today for the cooler start time on the long day tomorrow. Hoping to make up the difference then.

My feet are a bit blistered, but otherwise everything is going great and exactly on plan, although still way ahead of my expectations overall position-wise.

Speaking of, I'm dedicating my run tomorrow to all who have supported the ING CfC/UNICEF charity initiative -- You are all running with me on Wednesday and I thank you immensely for the support you've offered.

Thanks also for the great messages sent to the bivouac, this helps more than you can imagine. My best to you all.

Jeff

Stage 2 in the Desert

Another update from Becky... It seems that Jeff is getting stronger with each day so far! He moved up from 81st place to 63rd from Day 1 to Day 2 - You can see the results page with his name here. Wow, and that's after a day of 120-degree heat? Hard to believe. I really didn't expect him to be racing and placing so well like this (and I don't think he did either!)

www.mencap.org.uk

I received an email message from him on Monday, which I will share here (the non-personal parts :)) ...

Doing great! Two very tough days have left me in awe of this race! Beautiful dunes yesterday, but one of the hardest opening stages of MdS ever. Today was even tougher and with brutal heat -- over 40C/110F. Huge mental challenge across rocky and undulating terrain, salt flats, and mini dunes. I've followed Lisa's plan exactly and I am shocked at how high I am ranked, vastly exceeding my expectations.

Don't want top 50 by tomorrow else I have to start mid-day on the long day. Will take it easy tomorrow and plan to push the long day.

Thanks so much for your donations and emails to the bivouac; this is highly appreciated and it warmed my heart and powered me through a tough day today.

Feeling fine except for a little knee pain. Taking care of myself though. Again thanks so much for your support!

Jeff