A big congratulations to Craig for completing his five charity challenges ending in the most testing of all, the Marathon des Sables, the toughest foot race on earth…

Below is a summary of the five amazing challenges:


Craig’s target was to raise £30,000, the final figure raised will be announced shortly.

The challenges started last July

CHALLENGE 1 - By Mountain - COMPLETED
National Three Peaks Challenge on 10th July – a mighty challenge that involves climbing the three highest peaks, respectively, in England, Wales and Scotland and all within 24 hours.

The Peaks are:
• Snowdon (Wales – 1085 metres high)
• Scafell Pike (England – 978 metres high)
• Ben Nevis (Scotland – 1344 metres high)

In a team of eight, timing is everything and we only have a few hours for each mountain - target times are suggested as around 4 hours for Snowdon and 5 hours each for Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike.

With a designated driver to travel between mountains enabling me to sleep on route. The weather was terrible and the rest of Craig’s team decided to turn back half way up, however Craig was determined to complete his very first challenge and continued with another team, what Craig didn’t know was that the other team would not be accompanying him back down (he descended alone in the middle of the night…).

CHALLENGE 2 - By Road - COMPLETED
10k Run
The very next day after the three peaks challenge (Sunday 12th July) Craig ran the Official ASICS British 10K London run, raising money for the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. It is a popular event that $takes runners past many of central London’s famous historic landmarks, they are expecting over 26,000 runners. It was unfortunate that Craig’s Three Peak’s team members also left with his trainers, he had to run the entire 10k in his wet and soggy walking boots!

CHALLENGE 3 - By Turf - COMPLETED
Newmarket Town Plate
On 29th August Craig raced in the Newmarket Town Plate horse race. He had to lose over two stone in weight. The race is for amateur jockeys; it is over 3 miles 6 furlongs in length and was founded back in 1665 by King Charles II. Craig managed to lose the right amount of weight and competed in this famous event.

CHALLENGE 4 - By Trail – Feb 2010 - COMPLETED
With a team of 12 people, Craig set off heading for the start of a 2,000 mile off-road trail motorbike ride that went through some of the most remote parts of Cambodia, a country that has one of the highest infant mortality rates, giving Craig a chance to locate new projects for the Ravenwood Children’s Trust to support. Craig endured high temperatures, rode through some testing terrain and visited remote villages, he is also hopefully that he has found a new beneficiary for some of this funds.

CHALLENGE 5 - By Sand - April 2010 - COMPLETED
Marathon Des Sable 2010
Known as the toughest race on earth this is the ultimate endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco and pushes contestants to their absolute limits. Nicknamed the Sand Marathon it covers 151 miles over just 7 days (the equivalent to running nearly 6 marathons back-to-back). In addition, competitors have to carry everything they will need to survive - it really is survival of the fittest. Craig endured the most testing conditions ever, running in 51 degree heat in the day and 2 degree chill at night, over dunes, open plane and rocky mountains. Having to carry and cook all own food along the way, having to consume 13 litres of water a day to survive and with incredible sore feet. Body management, foot care and mental strength was the key to completing this amazing race, where he finished in 685th place out of well over 1,000 competitors - British Olympian James Cracknell came in at 12th position.

Here is Craig’s day-to-day account of the gruelling challenge:

Day 3
40k day 5.30am - day tents striped down by Berbers while we are still sleeping in them. There were 4 stages - dunes, open plain, mountain and dunes. It took 1.5 hours to travel 1 km up the rocky mountain in 50 degree sun. Many distress flares sent up. Finished at 5.30pm just before dark minus 3 toe nails. To tired to drink, but do drink krug :-). Can't find matches to light cigar...

Day 4
The big 82 km day in the dunes (and I forgot my bucket and spade!!) Caught a stomach bug so desperately trying to stay hydrated and keep calories inside. Hope to finish in under 22 hours otherwise it will roll into the next 42 stage. James Cracknell the British Olympian is leading the Brits.

Day 5
Finished in 22 hours, 10 minutes, virtually non-stop running. Running through dunes at night was very eerie and I came 680 ish out of 1262 competitors. Feel absolutely knackered. I swapped a bottle of krug with Berber for an extra 10 minutes lie in :-)

Day 6
42km, dunes, open plain. Lots of walking wounded, you would not think that the remaining competitors hobbling around the camp could walk to the shops let alone run a marathon. Had a good day, ran a fast race, came in at 604 position - wish I had kept that bottle of krug...! :-)

Day 7
THE FINAL DAY - Incredible atmosphere. Helicopters and TV crews everywhere. Once runner is still lost in the desert from yesterday. Biggest dunes of the race. Had real problems with my feet, or what's left of them! All the runners are on a real high and it has very emotional crossing the finishing line... Completed in good time, race position of 685 out of 1,262 competitors. Not washed for 8 days and in desperate need of a cold beer, even the vultures were not interested in me... Berber man last seen weaving through the desert in camel smoking montecristo singing were all going on a summer holiday...

Would do it again!!! The French are justifiably proud that the MdS is the most extreme and toughest race in the world and will do anything to maintain that title, completely testing you physically and mentally...

Many thanks to all that have sponsored me and helped me complete the 5 challenges.


If you would like to donate to Craig’s worthy causes (St Nicholas Hospice Care and The Ravenwood Children’s Trust) please see www.justgiving.com/craigjarvis