Chorley Harrier Graham Schofield was looking for a new challenge after compl-eting 12 marathons, including eight Londons', and so to celebrate his 55th birthday, he signed up for the 2008 Marathon des Sables.
The competitors were housed in eight man tents, but for the first day there were only seven in his. Then, only just in time for the compulsory pre-race medical checks, the eighth person arrived after a delayed flight.
Imagine his surprise to discover that she was from Blackburn.
Carien Viljoen is a one-time member of Blackburn Road Runners, with several ultra-distance events to her credit, including appearances in the famous Comrades Marathon in her native South Africa.
The Marathon des Sables, or Marathon of the Sands, is not really a marathon - it is more like six, as competitors must cover 153 miles in a week with only one rest day.
That would be testing anywhere, but the race crosses the Sahara Desert in Southern Morocco, where daytime temperatures this year peaked at 48 degrees Centigrade.
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Competitors must carry all their food and equipment for the trek except their tents, which are provided by the organisers, and their water, which is replenished along the way. It started in 1986 and is now more popular than ever, with entrants having to book places two years in advance for what is regarded by many as the world's toughest foot race.
The route is slightly different each year, and the first stage was an eye-opener for the athletes as eight of the 20 miles was over sand dunes - and that was when the backpacks were at their heaviest.
Graham and Carien discovered that they were evenly matched, so when they reached the very daunting long stage of 45-miles, which included running in the dark, and with it the very real prospect of getting lost, they stuck together.
Graham completed his journey in 55 hours 22 minutes to finish 584th out of 802, while Carien was 592nd in around 56 hours.
Afterwards, she said it was a case of mind over matter, and described it as: "an amazing experience, with the scenery and the friendship between competitors overcoming the tiredness and pain."
Both athletes raised several thousand pounds for the recommended charity Facing Africa, while Graham also supported Cancer Research. They would like to thank all those who supported them through training and during the race, and donated to the charity. You can still donate via the website www.facingafrica.org.
l Facing Africa works to carry out facial reconstruction work for sufferers of NOMA, a deadly gangrene that eats away flesh around the mouth. It is found almost exclusively in malnourished children under six in the poorest countries.
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