MdS - Day 1 (8 April), the Race Starts, 33km

Another amazing sunrise, but it was even colder last night. Down sleeping bag, liner and down fleece. Woken by the calls of the Berbers as they prepare to disassemble the camp. The noise level rises as people wake, trucks start, fires are lit and breakfasts consumed; an army prepares to march! Today is the first real day of the race, 30 or so km through varied terrain including soft sand dunes.

The Berbers pack up the bivouac (photo: Paul Colledge)

The tent disappears before runners are ready (photo: Paul Colledge)

Too late for nerves, Chris and I are here, we're dressed and those there are running shoes strapped to our feet!

A few minutes to go and we're all gathered at the start. There's a Roman gladiator, a Japanese guy in a traditional yukata, straw hat and wooden geta flip-flops, a man in a velour coverall costume, a women dressed as a strawberry and aubergine, and a chicken (that would be Arthur). I've already been found by a group that aims to "find the chicken" every day. 33km ahead.

Patrick Bauer introduces himself and says a few words of encouragement. The start gun fires and AC/DC's “Highway to Hell” blares out on the PA system as we cross across the start line - no doubt a taste of what to expect.  Responding to the crack of the start gun, the front-runners shoot off and the stream of runners disappears into the distance.  Overhead, the media helicopter whizzes-by, like something out of Apocalypse Now, filming us at key points and acting as a command relay, and if needed as a medi-vac.

Actually a picture from day 2, but the helicopter buzz was the same

It wasn't quite hell, but it was a tough intro day. But it is just an 'intro' and worse is to be expected. Some dunes, some flats, some mild hills.

I manage to run half of the time. Unless you're an elite runner, Marathon des Sables sees you walking way more than you expect; some walk all the way, but that's not easy either. Chris walks almost all of it and he's only 20 minutes slower than me! Makes you realise the run/walk difference is not so big.