With a time limit of 4 days to complete this ultra marathon event, entrants will be directed through the Egyptian Western desert and specifically the Egyptian White Desert to check-points every 15 miles where they will have access to water and their drop bags filled with food.
A race of this nature would attract (you would think) some of the most elite and naturally gifted athletes on the planet. Well a gentleman by the name of Colin Edwards (56) is changing preconceptions of what someone can achieve if they are positive and determined enough. Colin has entered The Ocean Floor Race which is due to take place at the end of May 2012. What is remarkable about this entry is that Colin has only one leg. So what is a 56 year old man with only one leg doing entering one of the toughest races on the planet. We caught up with Colin to ask him a few questions.
1a. So Colin, tell us a bit about yourself....
I live in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor with my partner Heidi, in a timber framed house I built my self, I have 2 children Tom 18 and Emily 21, Heidi has 2 children Hannah 13 and Elliot 9 the house can be quite busy sometimes! I am a farmer / contractor, hobbies, guess what, running! tag rugby swimming ( sea, any time of year ) panto, oh yes i do
1. Exactly what is The Ocean Floor Race and what attracted you to enter ?
Its a race of 160 miles through the White Desert in Egypt. I found the event on the Internet and was attracted by the amazing landscape. It sounded like a real adventure so thought I'd give it a go.
2. What even more remarkable about your entry is that you are an amputee, could you explain how this happened? I had a motor cycle accident at 18. Due to chronic problems down the years as a result of this I had an amputation in my 40's .
3. Do you anticipate any problems during the race related to your disability and how will you combat these problems? My stump does get sore and blisters if it is not conditioned. The only way to minimize this is to toughen it up with distance training
The socket that my stump sits in does create alot of sweat. I do use anti perspirant but this can cause problems as well. It will be a case of regular wiping of the socket which will be a pain but I'm sure it will be fine.
4. Are you or will you be raising money for a charity doing this event? If so how did you get involved with the charity and do you have a fundraising target and a place where people can sponsor you?I have raised money in the past for PORTER who aid mobility for amputees so may do the same again.
5. How will you train for this and will you need any specialist equipment to aid you in the event? distance training and more distance training, hopefully new C sprint with off road adaption. This is basically one of those hi tech prosthetic limbs that many sprinters in the Paralympics have.
6. What do your friends and family think to you entering the event? worried!
7. What would you say to someone who is fully able bodied who think that completing an event like this is near on impossible? think again, , every mile done is one mile less when I under took 630mile run its all about targets ...... after 100miles your a 1/6 of the way, after 200 your a 1/3 of the way, only anther 100 and your half way, and so on, easy peasy
8. We hear that you are having an operation this coming January. Could you go into more detail about the operation and how will this affect your participation / training for the event? my coastal run (S W coastal path minehead to Poole 630miles) caused a abscess and I've grown a bone spur which has to be removed, training will be broken and I will have to be very careful of scar tissue but hopefully it shouldn't affect my participation
9. Do you need any special equipment to aid your participation in the race? prosthetic limb
The race is organized by a UK company called Fat Feet (www.fat-feet.co.uk
Before the race begins, entrants will fill personal drop bags with their own personal supplies that they will need at the various check points during the race. This drop bag could contain for example; 1 freeze dried meal / boil in the bag meal, 2 energy bars (non melting), pack of nuts, pack of raisins, some boiled sweets, spare batteries for gps and head torch.
Once the race begins runners will be guided by their gps units to a check point situated 15 miles away. Once in this tented checkpoint competitors have access to hot/cold water, tea, coffee and their pre-packed drop bag. The competitor has the option (depending on ability) to either rest at the check point or to quickly refill their water, collect their drop bag and continue on the route. The clock is always ticking so each competitor must decide how to manage their time themselves.
Rest & Sleep
Entirely the entrants choice of how to manage their time with regards to rest. They can either rest along the route under the stars, in the check points or not at all.
This race is suitable for a range of abilities from the elite ultra running athletes to the experienced walker.
Race organizer Keith Gray who has run through this desert twice previously commented
"I was really amazed when I heard Colin wanted to do the race but after speaking with him and realizing that this was a man who was clearly driven and determined I thought he would be a perfect participant. The location is really amazing. It really does feel like you're running on another planet. Running at night is even more surreal with an unbelievable number of shooting stars zipping through the sky and the rock formations taking on a subtle blue glow in the moonlight. It is a very tough event but very achievable if the person has their head prepared for it. It stands to be an awe inspiring race with fantastic appeal for a range of abilities. There will be the elite runners who run the event from start to finish with very little rest who will be looking for a good time and placing but there will also be the walkers whose goal is to complete this epic challenge in the allotted time. "
See more info on the event at www.oceanfloorrace.com
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