Holly Zimmermann

A year can seem like an eternity if you are a kid waiting for Christmas or your 8 th birthday to arrive. But a year to build up to a 250km desert race is a close call, at least for me. It’s not that I am starting from zero, my physical condition is actually rather good (despite my physical therapist consistently referring to me as a “ whole-body construction site ”), and I have a couple of ultras, a few marathons and a number of other non-insignificant endeavors under my belt. But ultra running has a very dominant mental aspect to it that should not be underestimated. Many who are physically capable of running one may never finish due to mental impasses, whereas anyone with their mind set to something can conquer all odds, which we’ve all seen proven time and time again. That said, if I feel my training has been adequate, then I mentally know that I am physically capable of achieving my goals. Basically I am a follower of Arthur Lydiard, the New Zealand runner and coach, wh...

For those of you who don’t know what the “Marathon des Sables” is, here is a quick run-down: A 250-km ultramarathon Run over 7 days In the Sahara desert Fully self-sufficient What does that mean? Well, the race takes place in south-eastern Morocco, near the Algerian border, and covers a distance of approximately 250km over a week. There are six day-stages and one day of rest after the 80-km (or longer) fourth day. At the end of each day there is a Berber-style tent camp set up whereby eight runners share an open tent. Daytime temperatures can reach 50 ° C and drop to about 5 ° C at night. Everything the participants require for the week has to be carried on their backs, except for water, which is provided at camp and at check-points--this means clothing, sleeping bag and mattress, food, as well as cooking and eating utensils, medicine, sanitary items, sun screen(!) and of course safety gear, some of which is required by the race organizers including a venom pump if you hap...