Old Salopians take on the 'toughest race on earth' for charity

Three Old Salopians have recently completed the Marathon des Sables, one of the toughest races on earth in aid of charity.

Last year’s Deputy Head of School, Ed Scott (Rt, 2018-23), Angus Hayward (Ch, 2009 – 2014) and Charlie Robinson (Rt, 2009-2014) all completed the 250km course in the Sahara desert.

Ed, who took on the challenge during his gap year, told us more about his reasoning for taking on such an incredible challenge:

"The Marathon des Sables is ranked by the Discovery Channel as the “toughest footrace on earth” with the combination of extreme heat and treacherous terrain making it inherently difficult. Physically, it is six days’ running over 250 kms (156 miles) across endless sand dunes, rocky jebels and white-hot salt plains, carrying what you need to survive solely on your back.

"On my year out, in between school and university, I decided that I wanted to challenge myself and remembered a James Cracknell documentary on the race that I watched five or six years ago. In complete naivety, I signed up as soon as I possibly could and parked the thought of doing it whilst I finished my A levels last summer.

"At the same time, I contacted the charity Walking With The Wounded asking to join their team and raise funds for them. A very special organisation, WWTW are a mental health military charity that provide support to ex-servicemen and women who struggle leaving the forces and reintegrating back into civilian life. Fundamentally, I strongly believe that if you’ve put yourself in harms way to serve your country you deserve the very best help and care available. Once joining the WWTW team, there was certainly a strong motivation to do my best to train for the Marathon des Sables.

 "Fortunately, Shrewsbury gave me some financial assistance through the Miles Clarke Scholarship which was invaluable when raising funds for the entry fee whilst working on a potato farm. In January, I was lucky to work at Pembroke Prep School in Kenya for 3 months where warmer temperatures and altitude all accumulated into a good training block pre-race.

"Finally, after flights and buses, we arrived in the Sahara Desert and waited for the event to begin. Two days of kit admin and technical checks kept us preoccupied until it was suddenly race day. Without a doubt, the first day was testing but eased all competitors in with a shorter distance while people remained fresh and adrenaline fuelled. The following days progressed in difficulty and ultimately climaxed on Stage 3 with a distance of 85 kilometres to reach the next bivouac location.   The glaring sun. The heat (up to 50°C). The sand – lots of it. Those were my constant companions, alongside 1,000 other runners from across the globe, spanning cultures and nationalities.

"I distinctly remember being 75 kilometres deep into Stage 3 and really struggling both mentally and physically. Then, a Dutch runner caught up with me and refused to leave my side until we crossed the day’s finish line together. It was an inspiring moment where the testament of human kindness prevailed. Additionally, I shared ‘Tent 87’ with seven other Walking With The Wounded teammates whose humour and camaraderie provided the necessary respite and support to keep going each and every day.

"Despite blistered feet and aching legs, I managed to complete the race coming 131^st out of 950 competitors. Since completing the Marathon des Sables, I’ve reminisced about the lessons learnt and experiences gained. One message that remains poignant is the importance of others. At the end of the race, a fellow teammate repeated a quote that really resonated with me. He said, “If you want to go fast, travel alone. But if you want to go far, travel together”. And I think that is what I’ll take from this fantastically unique adventure."

Congratulations Ed on this incredible feat. You can sponsor Ed here.

Congratulations also to Angus – who was the 5^th fastest Brit out of 200 and 33^rd in the race - and Charlie on completing the challenge.

You can sponsor them both here.