2. John OGroats to Lands End by bicycleLa Marmotte
cyclosportive, 176km and 5,000vertical metres in one day (3 times)
Marathon des Sables
3. ANALYSIS OFTHE MARATHON DES SABLES
4. The MDS, dubbed the toughest footrace onEarth, is a six-day,
250km ultramarathonthrough the Moroccan Sahara Thats an average of
almost a marathon a dayfor 6 days The longest stage is 90km Daytime
temperatures can reach over 50C The terrain consists of sharp rocks
and sand Competitors carry all their equipment with them(with the
exception of a tent and water) Water is rationed
5. BREAKING DOWN A PROBLEM
6. Just as with any problem in the business world,try to break
it down As Stu Mittleman, the American ultra-distancerunner said,I
never ran 1000 miles. I could never havedone that. I ran one mile
1000 times.
7. Train yourself to drink small sips of liquidfrequently
(water is rationed) Heat acclimation training Running with a
weighted backpack Running long distances Back to back long runs
Time on your feet Strength training Running on sand like surfaces
e.g. snow, trail Mental strength training
8. SELF MARKETING
9. I ran the MDS for charity and raised 9,800(3,000 I paid
myself, to show my commitment) As in the business world you need to
learn tosell yourself I wrote letters I told everyone I knew (and
some I didnt know)what I was doing I started a blog I met with
businesses to discuss how theycould help me in return for some
promotion
10. I was not always successful, but I persevered I persuaded 8
companies to help me, eitherthrough donating goods that I could
auction orthrough direct donations The greatest success was
persuading HolmesPlace to donate a 1 year membership to theirZurich
gym and spa that I was allowed toauction (worth several thousand
CHF) They also allowed me to use their premises totrain for
free
11. MANAGING RISK
12. I wanted a shot at top 50 the MDS elite Top 50 was not
likely as it was my firstultamarathon, but I wanted to try I was in
the top 50 for the first 3 days and wasin the elite start at the
beginning of the longstage I realised that I was starting to burn
out, so Idecided to manage the risk, and focus onfinishing rather
than my top 50 dream Risk management applies just as much in
aprofessional context as it did to me in the race
13. TEAMWORK
14. Endurance running may not bring to mindteamwork, but the
MDS is different Competitors sleep in tents of 8 Those 8 people go
through many ups anddowns together for one whole week When people
feel down and ready to give up,their team mates help them through
it Everyone in my tent finished we succeededboth individually and
as as team!
15. SURPASSING YOUR LIMITS
16. Nothing can prepare your mind for how hardthe MDS is, until
you have done it Mental strength is probably even moreimportant
than physical strength The limits you thought existed in terms of
whatyou can endure mentally and physically wereimagined limits If
you are determined to finish it, you will finish it
17. Once you finish the MDS you realise just whatyou are
capable of This can also be applied to both your personaland
professional life I have already set myself new personalchallenges
As a professional challenge, an MBA is my nextstep
18. THE JOURNEY
19. The MDS was just one step in the journey From the moment I
signed up till the moment Icompleted it, I did the following:
Visited Rwanda Saw the mountain gorillas in DR Congo Climbed
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Cycled through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia,
Peru (fromBuenos Aires to Cusco) Toured Peru and walked the Inca
Route
20. The journey has energised me The journey has made me more
self aware The journey has encouraged me to continuestepping
outside my comfort zone All of the above can be applied both
personallyand professionally
