Back in April 2001 I went for my first training run of 5K in preparation for the Dublin Marathon and struggled to run the distance without stopping and walking. I stuck with it and went on to complete the Dublin Marathon 6 months later and used that race as a stepping stone to a race that had first put the idea of running into my head. This race was the Marathon des Sables, a 150 mile self sufficient foot race across the Sahara Desert and making the decision to run this race was to become my Defining Moment.
A fascinating case of one person against the elements. What are the ingredients that make an ultra runner go through such grueling mental and physical pain? How is an ultra runner different from a marathon runner? This intriguing documentary reveals what makes him tick using the background story of his participation in the 2010 “Spartathlon”. Four hundred and fifty of the world’s top ultra runners passed the stringent entry criteria for the 246km non-stop race, but just 128 crossed the finish line within the 36 hour limit.
