Round-world cyclist to run Sahara mega-marathon

From the archive, first published Monday 5th Mar 2007.

A man who completed a mind-boggling round-the-world bike ride in four years is to take on another epic challenge.

Alastair Humphreys, 30, who comes from Airton, near Skipton, is to take on one of the toughest tests of endurance on the planet.

But this time he will be on his feet in the infamous Marathon Des Sables, a five-day, 140-mile slog across the Sahara Desert.

And he has coaxed his 27-year-old brother Duncan to join him in the challenge, which is in aid of Hope and Homes for Children, the same charity which benefited by more than £13,000 from Alastair's global cycle.

Such is the demand for places in the des Sables that the brothers will have to wait until 2008 to take part.

"I applied almost as soon as I got back home from the round-the-world trip in November 2005, but we could only get a place in 2008," said Alastair, who has just got engaged to his girlfriend accountant Sarah Beslee.

He said: "The cycle round the world was very hard and one of the best things I will do in my life. But I enjoy physical and mental challenges and I was excited by this event. Stretching yourself and enduring pain and discomfort make you appreciate life much more - you become more grateful for the ordinary things in life, like a warm comfortable bed."

Alastair is now working on "Blue Mountains", the second volume of his book about the marathon bike ride.

He has completed a number of long distance runs in preparation and is now in training for this year's London Marathon. The brothers are already planning their joint training regime, including dates when they can get together as Duncan teaches in the New Forest.

They aim to complete a 50-mile night-time challenge running between Reading and London along the Thames later this year and a marathon through the New Forest in September.

"Duncan is a good sportsman, he plays cricket and football, but he is not into the endurance stuff I enjoy," Alastair added.

"But we are really looking forward to the run - there should be some good bonding.

"It's a brutal race - rather like doing six marathons one after the other. One of the stages is overnight, so it will be extremely tough.

"It will be extremely hot and we will have to carry all our food. But we won't have to carry water - that's provided along the way.

"On top of that the whole event will cost about £3,000 each for six days of misery. So I have to raise more than that to justify my entry. But I thought that in 50 years from now I will remember the challenge more than the £3,000."

e-mail: clive.white

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk