Got this today from the French organizers since I don't speak French beyond "Wi" it could mean anything.
This is going to be an very interesting event to attend their are only 20 something USA entrants!


MARATHON DES SABLES to me


show details 11:50 AM (1 hour ago)





Tu veux tester ta résistance au sommeil et faire ta sortie longue du week-end dans des conditions extrêmes ? Tu veux faire découvrir à tes proches l’univers de ce qui est pour toi une des plus grandes aventures du XXI siècle ? Tu veux goûter aux saveurs du désert avant l’heure ? Tu veux vivre un moment unique en compagnie de stars internationales ?

Si le message ne s´affiche pas correctement, vous pouvez acceder a la version en ligne. If the message does not display properly, you can access the online version.
 

I hope it is not important.

Cheers Tim

Presentation

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1559157494308011771

Luxury items survey winner. Use underwear as toothbrush.

Several people suggested that I use my underwear as a tootbrush. So there you have it I will not take either a toothbrush or an extra pair of underwear thus saving several ounces of pack weight. I will cut small patches from ths side leg every morning. The quest for a lighter pack will continue and thanks for your suggestions.

Cheers Tim

60 days Underwear or toothbrush?

I am starting to get my pack and its contents sorted for the Marathon des Sables. This is all the stuff I can use for the 7 days 6 stages of the run through the Sahara Desert. You have to be self sufficent for the entire race other than water. Which is nice since it is the desert and it is phyiscally impossible to carry enough water to survive for a week.  The race officials suggest that competitors should carry 9.68 lbs of food and 8.62 lbs of pack gear which includes the pack. 9.68 lbs of food should deliver over 14,000 calories so that means a lot of yummy freeze dried stuff. The 8.62 lbs of gear includes your backpack, pad, and sleeping bag. The saying "ounces become pound and pounds become pain." With just those items alone weighing in at a little under 4 lbs there is not a lot of weight left for clothes etc. Bet you didn't know a roll of toilet paper weighs 7 ounces. I found that when getting ready for an event like this you discover these important facts of life. I was thinking about bringing a luxury/comfort items like a change of underwear or a tooth brush. Which item do you think I should take an extra pair of underwear or a toothbrush?

Cheers Tim

Nice week to Get Out There!!

The Lazer that marks the way the night of the long day in the MDS

Not a lot to report other then just putting those miles on the trail. Did about 50+ miles this week.
Would like to thank Erich Schlegel and Patrick Arindell for Getting Out There with me.
Patrick and I did 15 miles this morning after Jeff Lamb dropped us off near Doss out in
middle of nowhere early this morning. We really didn't have any other choice but to hike back to the
ranch house. I love the look of the ranchers everytime I hike, bike, or run out there. It is in the middle of nowhere and if you see a car every thirty minutes that is a lot of  traffic. It makes it nice when you have someone to talk to you while training. Just got back from playing some tennis with Timothy. Nice day.

Cheers

Get out there.

Put the pack on this morning and decided to do a half marathon. It took me exactly 3:00:00 hours but with a 20 lb pack through the hills of Lakeway I can live with that. This best part was totally pain free and felt pretty effortless. Listened to a nice lecture on Nietzsche on the ipod which was painfully at times. 6 days 6 marathons is going to be a tough challenge but I am looking forward to it.

Competitor Number

My competitor number is 682 OSBURN Timothy USA.
During the event you will be able to send me a breif email of encouragement.
They will be given to me every evening in our luxury accomandations.

75 Days till departure

The countdown clock hit 75 days today. Training is going well as I slowly add to my training program. My pack which is a Raildlight Evolution II (1150 cubic inches + 305 cubic inches front storage areas) it weighs 1.5 lbs. which is extemely light and extremely small. For perspective that is less than a cubic foot of storage space to carry 6 days of supplies and gear. I am currently carrying a little less than 20lbs while out on training run/walks. It is taking a little getting use to running with a pack but this one is designed for this type of event.
Me weight is now down below 190 lbs which is great that is nearly 15 lbs I don't have to drag across the desert!

Clip on Marathon Des Sables

Gee this does look like fun doesn't it.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4712226

Cheers Tim

Time to get serious

Ok let's get up to date all the info below was 2 months ago. But I just started this blog My first blog might I add. Now lets get up to speed we are about 80 days out from the race. It is January 09, 2010. Since when I first found out I was able to get in the race I have gone from 204.5lbs to 194lbs with a final goal of 175 to 180. I will not bore you with the vigoursous spartan training schedule of I did this many miles today at this amazing pace or I sacrificed this for that kind of thing. But I will update you on the why and how this event is playing out.  Plus seek advice on strategy and ask continually for your spirtual support. Life is not a dress rehersal but the real thing and that is how this little saga shall play out. I plan on pushing myself to the limit in this event. I wish you could be there holding my hand or whispering praise into my ear but you can't so lets enjoy the ride together through the wonderment of the internet. Every single step across the desert my thoughts will be someone. I am looking for a strong wind under my feet to lift me up and help carry me across the finish line. Share this with a freind for I am taking a big bite of life on this one and will need a little help.  Let me know your thoughts. For the next 3 months this is my mission outside of my freinds and family.


Cheers Tim

Where/What is Ouarzazate?

The Marathon des Sables is based out of Quarzazate Morroco in Northwest Africa. Apparently it is like the Hollywood of Africa without the glitz. Films such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Star Wars (1977), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000) and Martin Scorsese's Kundun (1997)  Babel, Cleopatra etc... were shot in the Ouarazate area.

Officially enrolled in MDS

Hi Tim,




We received your documents and payment; thank you for sending. You are now officially enrolled in the 2010 MDS! Please let me know if you’d like access to our MDS FORUM. In the meantime, I will forward copies of previous updates that have gone out to others in the group.



Best,



--jay b

Getting in?

A month had passed and one morning I was out hiking with a backpack. It felt great the only thing I can think of is the "Marathon Des Sables". I look up the United States website called "Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure LLC which handles the registration for MDS for US, Canada, New Zealand. I shot off an e-mail to them asking if anyone had dropped out at the payment deadline. His initial reply was "no" but he would let me know if one opened up. Spots are highly coveted and hard to get. There are only about 60 spots to the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia combined. A week went by and one Monday morning Jay Batchen had sent out an email from "Dreamchaser" A spot had opened up. I immediately talked to Melinda and we talked it over. I briefed her of the basics and the death ratio. She always wants to know those little details. She said "Sure just don't die and the summit is an option not mandatory." I told her "At least a get to sleep during this event a vague reference to the Texas Water Safari."
I downloaded the 6 page form and began to fill it out. Then I needed to make copies of my passport and provide 3 passport photos. Then get a form notorized. You get the idea I throw in a check and overnight it to Driggs Idaho.

OPS!!!!!!!!!

Wow sounds neat and doesn't it? I'm stoked as soon as I get home I look it up.
Guess what its sold out!!! Worse there is a lottery to get in and it is a 2 year waiting list!

What is the Marathon des Sables.

It is billed as "the World's toughest footrace".
Go to http://www.darbaroud.com/ hit the Marathon Des Sables tab.
Then hit "Race Presentation" button and about 1/3rd down just click one of the pdf files and the "Race Presentation" will down load. Scroll throught the first half as it is in French. The second half will explain it in good detail. The way I look at if an Event requires you have to carry a Flare Pistol and a snake bite kit count me in!