Thanet Roadrunner Pam Phillpot has completed the world’s toughest race.
Pam, who is a 57 year old retired midwife from Ramsgate, has just successfully completed the Marathon Des Sables, which is one of the toughest running endurance events across the globe.
The 32nd edition of the Marathon Des Sables is a 250km extreme terrain race through the Sahara desert in Morocco. Competitors have just seven days to complete the race, where they run the equivalent of a marathon a day in sweltering temperatures which reached 54 degrees Celsius this year.
Runners tackle a variety of terrains from rugged mountain climbs, as well as the picture postcard high sand dunes that swallow runner’s legs up to their calves in every step. The runners have to carry everything they will need for the race with them, including all their bedding and food. Water is supplied, but is very limited.
Pam has completed a few ultra marathons before, but has never attempted anything as tough as this, so was absolutely elated to have completed this gruelling event, which tests every athlete both physically and mentally.
She ran as part of ‘Team on Fire’, and surpassed all expectations, finishing 1,003rd in the race overall, 180th Woman, and 39th in her age category.