Saharamarathon 2011
Last Updated on Monday, 2 August 2010 12:18 Written by The Virtual Runner Thursday, 29 July 2010 05:19
The annual Saharamarathon takes place on 28 February 2011 and is organised by a group of refugees from the camps and international volunteers. Sandblast (a London-based arts and human rights charity) has been officially facilitating UK participation since 2009.
Not to be confused with the Marathon des Sables, in Morocco, the Saharamarathon takes place in the Algerian Sahara in the Saharawi refugee camps near Tindouf. It is organized by the refugees and volunteers from around the world and helps raise the visibility of the plight of close to 200, 000 Saharawis, as well as funds for projects to improve the lives of these long term refugees, who have been stranded in harsh desert camps since 1975.
The first Saharamarathon took place in 2001 and every year has been attracting growing numbers of participants from around the globe. In 2010, 27 runners participated from the UK (the highest number yet). They raised over £20,000 for our Saharawi Artist Fund, which finances arts and cultural development projects in the refugee camps. In total, over 400 runners came from 22 different countries. The event is professionally organized and draws top athletes as well as amateur runners.
Participants can run a full marathon, a half marathon, 10km or 5km. During their week in the camps, they stay with a Saharawi refugee family and get a unique chance to learn their story and experience the legendary hospitality of this exiled desert culture.
Sandblast’s role is to take the headache out of organizing all the logistical aspects of the trip and the stay in the camps. They deal with the flights, visas, accommodation etc. They also organize a special (and optional) educational/cultural programme for those wishing to enrich their experience while in the camps. This includes an evening on the dunes listening to live music and having a traditional desert feast.
Sandblast has had glowing feedback from runners of previous years so if anyone interested would like to speak to past participants, please let them know and they will be glad to put you in contact.
For more information on Sandblast and our Running the Sahara campaign, visit the website at http://www.sandblast-arts.org/ and www.sandblast-arts.org/projects/running-the-sahara respectively.
Email address to respond to: runningthesahara@sandblast-arts.org
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Learn More2010 Bupa London 10000
Last Updated on Monday, 31 May 2010 05:39 Written by The Virtual Runner Monday, 31 May 2010 05:36
I’ve successfully completed the Bupa London 10000 again with this year’s event being just as great as last year’s. Sure, there wasn’t a personal best for me this year but I had a really great time and a great run. I ran with a friend who used this as their first (and hopefully not last) 10k so I took my time and ran with him the whole way and walked when he walked.
Overall it was a great day out and Bupa spares no expense on their events. Well worth the additional money you pay for one of their events as opposed to others. Lots of toilets (always important), loads of runners, loads of supporters, well marked, well organised with a great goody bag and a quality-feel medal (I love the medals!).
If you’ve never done the Bupa London 10000 before then I seriously recommend you register for the 2011 event because you won’t regret it. I got my personal for a 10k at the 2009 event so I’d give it a high personal best potential rating (I mean, if I can do it then so can everyone else!).
I previously mentioned that a work contact of me managed to get me last-minute entry to this event. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to run with my friend and I as he has been ill the past few days. Frankly, having not been able to complete the marathon because of illness, I can relate. We just told him to stay home and chill out; there are always other events.
My super supportive wifey also came along to cheer us on. She is such a great supporter and she was at the start line as we went by yelling and cheering us on (and even ran beside us for a few metres) and she was at the finish on the Mall to cheer us on again.
I think my friend was quite nervous about the event because the last event he took part in was the Santa Run which was 5k and over off-road terrain. He thought he would make it to about 4k before he needed to take a walking break. Nope. He made it 6.2k before he had to walk the 1st time. Overall, we only stopped to walk 3 times. For his first 10k, that is a fantastic achievement and I think he felt that too.
I tried to explain that 10k is a great distance because it’s over before you know it and you also get that fantastic feeling when you cross the finish line. Whether you’re first or last! (Note: I’ve never been either – yet.)
You can check out our route and split times here:-
Overall a great morning out and a great event. Like I said, if you haven’t done it before then give the Bupa London 10000 a go!
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