UPDATE - 10/6/14

So its over. The 29th Marathon des Sables was a success and most of you now know my story. Before I hang up my running trainers for a while I have decided to push my endurance training to the limit.

This weekend 14/66/14 I will be attempting to run the South Downs Way 100. 100 miles of off road running from Winchester to Eastbourne as quick as I can in one go.

The race is organised by Centurian Running and Tom Parry my running buddy from the MDS will be pacing me the second half. If you can spare a few pennies to sponsor me in this my final epic push, both myself and the Chestnut Tree House would be very grateful.  Thank you :-)

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Described by The Discovery Channel as 'The Toughest Footrace on Earth', The Marathon des Sables(Marathon of the Sands)156 mile ultramarathon across the Sahara desert in Morocco. The event is run over 6 days with the longest day being around 56 miles long.

With temperatures up to 50 degrees competitors must run or walk with everything they need to survive the week. Food, clothing, bedding and clothes etc. The only assistance is a tent to sleep in and a regular supply of water at checkpoints. Everything must be carried in a rucksack so every gram of weight counts. Believe me I now know the best calorie to weight ratio of most foods out there.

The event is capped at 1100 competitors who come from all over the world. Having entered the 2014 MdS in May 2012, it sold out in 11 minutes. The cost of this trip is being funded entirely by myself, approximately £3600 for the event but my personal costs have well exceeded 5k due to testing of kit, entry to preparation events to name a few. I have been training for this event for well over two years and my progress in events can be tracked on my blog scottisrunning.blogspot.co.uk

The Marathon des Sables is partnered with UNICEF to promote solidarity for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. My daughter Poppy is 6 and she is very well, she has love, affection, attention and everything that a child could want. However if things were ever to change I know that here in the UK, only a few miles down the road, the Chestnut Tree House Childrens Hospice would be there to help.

Chestnut Tree House is the only childrens hospice in Sussex,  it cares for over 280 children and young adults with progressive life limiting conditions. Their goal is to provide the best quality of life for children and families with practical, social and spiritual support however short their life may be.

In order to gain funding Chestnut Tree Houses organises a yearly 10k road race in Chichester which I have completed. It was a great fun event and I hope to complete it again. Please help me help the Chestnut Tree House by Sponsoring me. Any thing you can give would really be appreciated.

From Poppy and I, thank you x

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.