Running with a wet sack on your head

Sandes?s latest victory came in the Jungle Marathon, a gruelling four-day race through the Amazon Jungle. It may not be a desert, but Sandes has no doubt about which race throws out the harshest conditions.

?The conditions in the Amazon are tougher,? reveals Sandes.

?You?re often running under the jungle canopy, it?s a humid heat and you start to feel claustrophobic ? it?s like a wet sack has been pulled over your head and it becomes a mission just to breathe!

?In the desert you can get into a nice rhythm, but the Amazon run is very stop-start. You?re running through swamps, jumping over fallen trees, dodging hornets... your feet are also always wet, which can cause major problems.?

Blisters are common in endurance races, but beyond the obvious, there are a multitude of concerns for participant. So what exactly did Sandes have to deal with?

?I actually didn?t have any issues with my feet, but some guys feet were hideous!? he laughs.

?There were three English guys who were booted off the plane on the way home because their feet were so rank... ?

Sandes did, however, have concerns of his own.

?On day one I turned over on my ankle, and on day two I did it to the other one so that was always playing on my mind. I knew if I went over on either one again I would be in trouble.

?On days three and five I pushed off hard on my own, knowing that if I pushed too hard I ran the risk of bonking. I ran out of water the one day, but came across a river crossing...

?Obviously there was a risk in drinking the water, but I decided to take the chance and in the end it tasted pretty fresh, although I think at that stage anything would have!?

Having completed two of the races in the 4Desert Series, Sandes has already qualified for the final race in Antartica, but he shows no signs of slowing down. He may be taking a break for a couple of weeks, but he will be back in the desert soon enough.

?My main focus is now the Atacama in March. And then the final desert in Antartica ? that last one will obviously be a cold race, so it should be interesting.?

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