2. Cycled from John O'Groats to Lands End
Completed 3 times La Marmotte cyclosportive,
176km and 5,000 vertical metres of cycling in one
day
Climbed Kilimanjaro
Cycled from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Cusco,
Peru, via Chile and Bolivia (≈4,000km), passing
through the Atacama desert and over the Altiplano
(≈3,800m.a.s.l.)
Completed the infamous Marathon des Sables
5. The MDS, dubbed “the toughest footrace on
Earth”, is a six-day, ≈250km ultramarathon
through the Moroccan Sahara
That makes an average of almost a marathon a
day for six days
The longest stage is ≈90km
Daytime temperatures can reach over 50C
The terrain consists of sharp rocks and sand
Competitors carry all their equipment with them
(with the exception of a tent and water)
Water is rationed
8. ● Just as with any problem in the business world,
try to break it down
● As Stu Mittleman, the American ultra-distance
runner said,
“I never ran 1000 miles. I could never have
done that. I ran one mile 1000 times.”
9. ● Train yourself to drink small sips of liquid
frequently (water is rationed)
● Heat acclimatisation training
● Running with a weighted backpack
● Running long distances
● Back to back long runs
● Time on your feet
● Strength training
● Running on sand like surfaces e.g. snow, trail
● Mental strength training
12. ● I ran the MDS for charity and raised £9,800
(£3,000 I paid myself, to show my commitment)
● As in the business world you need to learn to
sell yourself
● I wrote letters
● I told everyone I knew (and some I didn't know)
what I was doing
● I started a blog
● I met with businesses to discuss how they
could help me in return for some promotion
13. ● I was not always successful, but I persevered
● I persuaded 8 companies to help me, either
through donating goods that I could auction or
through direct donations
● My greatest success was persuading Holmes
Place to donate a 1 year membership to their
Zurich gym and spa that I was allowed to
auction (worth several thousand CHF)
● They also allowed me to use their premises to
train for free
16. ● I wanted a shot at top 50 – the MDS elite
● Top 50 was not likely, as it was my first
ultamarathon, but I wanted to try
● I was in the top 50 for the first 3 days and was
in the elite start at the beginning of the long
stage
● I realised that I was starting to burn out, so I
decided to manage the risk, and focus on
finishing rather than my top 50 “dream”
● Risk management applies just as much in a
professional context as it did to me in the race
19. ● Endurance running may not bring to mind
teamwork, but the MDS is different
● Competitors sleep in tents of 8
● Those 8 people go through many ups and
downs together for one whole week
● When people feel down and ready to give up,
their team mates help them through it
● Everyone in my tent finished – we succeeded
both individually and as as team!
22. ● Nothing can prepare your mind for how hard
the MDS is, until you have done it
● Mental strength is probably even more
important than physical strength
● The limits you thought existed in terms of what
you can endure mentally and physically were
imagined limits
● If you are determined to finish it, you will finish
it!
23. ● Once you finish the MDS you realise just what
you are capable of
● This can be applied to both your personal and
professional life
● I have already set myself new personal
challenges
● As a professional challenge, an MBA is my next
step
26. ● The MDS was just one step in a journey of
personal growth
● From the moment I signed up till the moment I
completed it, I also did the following:
● Visited Rwanda
● Saw the mountain gorillas in DR Congo
● Climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
● Cycled through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru (from
Buenos Aires to Cusco)
● Visited Peru and walked the Inca Route
27.
28. LIFELONG LESSONS TO TAKE
AWAY FROM THE MDS
Improved long-term planning skills
Increased self-confidence and self-awareness
Better appreciation of real vs perceived limits
Appreciation of the importance of stress
management in leading a healthy life and having
a healthy and productive career
Better understanding of the advantages of being
part of a strong team
