Africa

20 NOVEMBER 2002 - GALWAYMAN, RICHARD DONOVAN, FOLLOWED HIS RECENT WIN IN THE HIMALAYAN 100-MILE STAGE RACE WITH A VERY CREDIBLE TWELFTH PLACE FINISH IN THE TRANS 333 IN THE SAHARA DESERT IN SOUTHERN TUNISIA.

The Trans 333, the longest desert race in the world, was held this week in the dry and uninviting sands of the Sahara Desert in Southern Tunisia. Richard Donovan, who is just one feat away from becoming the first person to run an ultra marathon on each of the seven continents in one calendar year, used this 333 km race to fulfil the African leg of this extraordinary odyssey. This year will also see Donovan complete the first ever marathon grand slam as he finishes at least a marathon distance of 26.2 miles on each of the seven continents plus the North and South Poles.

The Trans 333 race was delayed by one day due to severe sand storms but eventually the field was permitted to start on Sunday 17 November after observing a minute's silence for two athletes who died in a recent endurance race.

The field was considered one of the strongest ever and consisted of three previous Trans 333 winners and Donovan, the South Pole Marathon, Inca Trail Marathon, and Everest Challenge Marathon winner. Donovan ran among the leading group of five athletes through the first 100 km but began to experience some foot blistering. A ninety-minute stop to tend his wounds and change shoes found him detached from the leaders but ahead of the main pack. Donovan said, "Considering that I had only finished the Himalayan 100 miler two weeks previously I was feeling pretty good for the first 100 km. In a desert race you always expect to get foot problems so it was no surprise when I started to develop blisters. All you can do is treat them as best you can, try to ignore the pain, and keep moving".

It was shortly after his stop that Donovan found himself off-course and nearing the Algerian border. Course markings that were difficult to see at times led other athletes to experience similar difficulties. A couple of the lost athletes at night were forced to retire due to symptoms of hypothermia.

As Donovan reached the second night at around the 195 km mark the temperature plummeted. Donovan, wearing just a t-shirt and shorts, reached his designated drop point to discover that his sleeping bag and other equipment was not there. "What could I do?" said Donovan, "I found a black plastic bag and covered my legs, attempting to keep warm as best I could. I later obtained a blanket from a departing competitor and lay under it for some nine hours in an attempt to recover." The next morning brought soaring temperatures as Donovan continued towards the final third of the race. By this time his feet were bloodied from the grating sand granules in his shoes attacking his already badly blistered feet. The heat accentuated any weakness and Donovan also found his ankle and feet swelling to the point that he was reduced to a hobble at times. "I had developed acute tendonitis just above my right ankle and was in agony."

The most traumatic time of the race was reserved for the 270 km mark. "Prior to going into this event you have visions of the vultures circling over your pain-racked and weakened body ready to peck the eyeballs out of your head. I never anticipated being almost encircled by a pack of over twenty wild dogs. I thought to myself that this would be an ironic way to go since I'm supporting the animal sanctuary in Galway. I kept them at bay and circled back in the hope of finding another competitor. Luckily, I found someone else and we progressed together to the next checkpoint", said Donovan.

Donovan reached the finish line in twelfth place after three scorching days and freezing nights. The race was won by Claude Hardel, winner of Trans 333 2000. He finished the 333-kilometre course in an incredible 48 hours and 36 minutes, taking the non-stop aspect of the race literally by not sleeping a single minute while out on the course.

Africa (November 17th - 22nd, 2002)

Trans 333: Welcome to hell on Earth! This amazingly arduous race covers 208 miles (333km) in one stage through the Sahara Desert of Tunisia - the equivalent of eight back-to-back marathons. As a non-stop race, the event breaks new ground in testing the limits of human endurance and suffering. Competitors must cope with numerous physical ailments including dehydration, sleep deprivation, blistering, missing toenails and stomach problems en route to completing the vast distance.