A Nantwich man is tackling one of the most gruelling races on the globe – and is the second oldest Brit competing!
Richard Balukiewicz, 63, is testing his body in the ultimate in human endurance – the Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara Desert.
The “ultra marathon” is run in six days over a course of about 255 kilometres – and is considered the toughest foot race on earth.
Competitors have to be self-sufficient, carrying everything they need on their backs, but water is rationed.
Stages have to be completed in strict time periods or the competitor is disqualified.
Richard’s daughter Kim, who is helping raise sponsorship for him, revealed how her dad wanted to keep his participation a secret.
She said: “It is the equivalent of running from London to Dover, deciding not to go to France after all and running back again through sand dunes in 50+ degree heat with a backpack carrying all your food!
“Dad began training 10 months ago, building up to longer and more strenuous walks carrying a heavy rucksack.
“In the last two weeks, he has been training in a heat chamber to acclimatise to the sahara desert conditions.
“Preparation has included trimming off every gram possible which started with him losing five stone of his own body weight and finished with substituting one plastic bag for another to save a whole gram.
“He even waited until the night before his flight to get his hair cut!
“He has road tested every energy bar, gel, and powder possible and even mum is now an expert on ultra marathon nutrition and the protein to calorie ratio of peanut oil.”
At 63, Richard he is the second oldest Brit doing the race, beaten only by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, aged 71.
“Before he left for Morocco, dad told us not to tell anyone what he was doing in case he couldn’t finish the race and then he wouldn’t let anyone down,” Kim added.
“Having taken time to consider this, we have made an executive decision that he is crazy and that if he isn’t going to, someone needs to shout about it!
“We are overcome with pride for what our dad has taken on and what he has achieved so far.
“This won’t change whether he completes the race or not, although we truly believe he will make it.
“Not a stranger to challenges, this will be the most gruelling and incredible adventure of his life.”
You can support Richard’s fundraising effort in aid of charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
You can also track him by satellite on the MdS website using his race number 0164.
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