Jerseyman jets to Sahara for "toughest race on Earth"

Monday 09 April 2018

With 250km of desert planes to cross carrying food, equipment and clothing under a 50°C sun, there’s a reason this gruelling race is known as the “toughest foot race on earth” – and one islander has jet set to Morocco to take it on.

Having taken off on Saturday morning, 26-year-old Evan Laframboise is now entering his third day navigating dunes in the soaring temperatures of the Sahara Desert as part of the Marathon des Sables.

Far from a standard race, this is a multi-stage challenge that will demands self-sufficiency from the former Victoria College student, who will have to haul all his own gear across the treacherous landscape. He will only be supplied with rationed water (going over the limit incurs a time penalty) and a bivouac to sleep under each night.

Video: A look a what's to come for Evan in the Marathon des Sables. (MdS/YouTube)

“You will run out of a Saharan morning into the dusk and then dark, many not finishing the 80km until well into the next day. Your feet will swell, crack and bleed under the pressure and the heat,” organisers warn. 

But if there’s one consolation for Evan, it will be the thousands raised for children’s charity, Variety. He is already more than half way to his £5,000 target, with over £3,100 raised so far.

Express caught up with him before he set off...

What inspired you to take on ‘the toughest race on earth’?

John Pirouet, a Director at my work, planted the seed a couple of years ago when he signed up to do it and asked if I fancied joining.

1000 runners for 1 desert
Welcome to the @marathonDsables #MDS #MDS2018 #marathondessables pic.twitter.com/5s9i05TrcD

— MARATHON DES SABLES (@marathonDsables) April 8, 2018

At the time, I could just about get round a 5km fun run so opted to train with him first and told him I would enter in two years time… and now this is two years later!

Why did you pick Variety as your chosen charity?

I wanted to pick a local charity that I could get involved with on the ground to see exactly where the money is going and make a change in Jersey. Once I had met with the members of Variety, the Children's Charity, it was a no-brainer decision and I couldn't wait to get started helping children and families on the island to get an equal opportunities in life despite having disabilities, financial needs, parents with serious illnesses.

Pictured: Evan at the Llubljana Marathon, Slovenia, which he completed in 3:12:27, and after completing the Jersey Marathon.

I strongly believe that none of these reasons should be reasons for children not to succeed in life, and the charity aims to provide support in any way to make this happen.

What have you done to train?

I have had to really up my mileage in training and I was running six to seven times a week with two strength sessions in the gym on top. On the weekends I would pack a rucksack with food and water and run for up to four hours each day on the north coast cliff paths, which were excellent for getting used to technical terrain and hill work.

Pictured: Evan attended a special training club in Lanzarote in January. (Ian Corless)

I attended a multi-day ultra marathon specific training camp in January at Club La Santa in Lanzarote and ran with professional ultra-runners, who gave me a huge amount of advice for MdS. I managed to clock up 200km of running in a week on the camp, which was a huge boost to the confidence!

How are you feeling in the run-up to the race?

I was reasonably calm until when I tried to pack all my food and equipment in my rucksack and it didn't fit, so I had a lot of last minute adjustments to make until it worked! 

Pictured: Evan managed to complete 200km of running in a week across volcanoes, trails, lava fields, cliff paths and sand dunes. (Ian Corless)

Is any element particularly daunting? 

I am most nervous for picking up foot blisters or cuts early doors, and having to complete extremely high mileage whilst in pain. I'm also very nervous about getting lost in the dunes and running out of food or water, but hopefully that doesn't happen!

Pictured: Still running as the sun sets... (Ian Corless)

…Or exciting?

Very excited to meet up with some amazing runners and inspirational people taking part, and, of course, reaching that finish line!

1000 runners
50 countries represented
Amazing, right?
This is the #MDS pic.twitter.com/xI8CeXQo93

— MARATHON DES SABLES (@marathonDsables) April 7, 2018

You can track Evan's progress in the gruelling Marathon des Sables here, send him a message here, and donate to his chosen charity, Variety, here.