Nigel Armstrong is one of three runners from the Isle of Man taking part in the Marathon de Sables which starts today. You can send messages to the runners by going to the website, changing the language to British (flag at top right), click "Write to a Competitor" and then use the drop down list of competitors to select Nigel Armstrong (557), Neil Birchall (773) or Paul Mayson (830). Each competitor is only allowed 10 minutes per day on a computer and just one email address for communication. I'm in a privileged position to be Nigel's contact so after forwarding his daily news to his family, visitors to this website will be the first to hear his daily reports.

First report (Saturday)

on an arabic keyboard so this is taking time: the a is a q and you need to have been in the special intelligence services to zork it all out:
 
well; initial hotel grand; then yesterday a 7hr coach journey brought us to the bivouac start area: unfortunately the first rain at an mds in twelve yrs has turned the desert into an absolute quagmire:we were one of only 4 coaches to make it thro; the rest got stuck in the mountains as flash floods closed roads: typical brits battened down; cannibalised other tents....well sacks with bits of wood ;as the heavens opened: the yanks complained that they were cold and a couple of hours later we were on military trucks being evacuated to warm hotel:
 
the problem is that dry wadi riverbed crossings are now dangerous torrents and even walking on the desert ground; your feet disappear: the first day stage has been definately cancelled and we are awaiting further info: apparantly the forecast isnt good for the next two days:
 
thunder and lightning of biblical proportions continues outside so it is proving impossible to get any kit dry as all was drenched last night:
 
it looks as if all the training in the horizontal rain along douglas prom over the winter may come in useful afterall:
 
other than that; having a great time; making many new friends but still some work to do on arabic punctuation;
 
bet its sunny back on the island:
 
nige::::::::::::::

Second report (Sunday)

Hi all,
this keyboard is missing all letters!
 
def start 2mrw but only a loop as still flooded
apparantly distances will remain tho they are 2 make up the days courses as we go along. just have to get on with it.
 
at least not 1 of 7 who got stuck out a the 1st biv, the trucks couldnt get back to them and they had to stand up all night in a tent, with no sleep or elec, as ground turned into a lake.
 
not seen others from island.
 
can i run the flm instead please. well, will keep going,
 
best,
 
nige..................

Third report (Monday)

Best keyboard so far!!!!!

After the stir craziness of thje last few days, it was somewhat a relief top actually start today.

We actually ran what was the second stage ,just entering the large sand dunes at a different spot. You could tell what was going to happen.....everyone shot off for a flat mile before the dunes then whallop. I tried to take it easy and spent what was one of the best days running. 6miles of dunes were followed by 6 of flat rough then rolling gravel hills and dunes for the last 7.

My time..3.46 for 19.56 miles

Blister score....left foot 0 - 2 right foot  ( iodene hurts rather ) I've met Paul and Neil, both are well and in good spirits after the day in the dunes. Classification is out in 2 hrs or so.

Tomorrow is apparantly to be a loop if the ground doesn't improve...there was some XC muddy terrain today.

hope everyone is well back on the island, I have the 3 legs flying from our tent and hopefully we 3 are doing the homeland proud

Nige...

Fourth report (Tuesday)

Hi All,

Premier league blister score:

left foot 1-2 right foot 

After shovelling down a mass of food,the 13kg sack weight didn't feel any lighter this morning-Joy.2 snorers in the tent put paid to much sleep and so off on a 33km.10km of sand dunes woke us all up and 5km at the end killed us all off.4hr32 for the fun. 

My left foot blister is a whopper beneath the big toe nail, fortunately a fellow dentist was working at the clinic so I received decent treatment.Roll on the long stage tomorrow. 

We haven't received any correspondance from home as yet.

Paul is in and safe. Not seen Neil as yet. 

I'm off to find some masking tape to apply to a couple of faces tonight. 

Best, nige..............

Fifth report (Thursday)

Hi All,Thanks so much for all the e-mail,the abuse is wonderful. Please send my congrats to Keith-brilliant performance.

The dutch are always singing,in orange and pushing a trolley!The americans keep loudly talking of how wonderful they are-a touch of friendly fire reqiured,and it's amazing how a german flag in front brings out one's competitive nature.

After a bad day at the office Tues,dropped from 90 to 121,they added the day1 distance to the long stage to make the longest run in MDS history at 92km yest.This suited me and after 12hr57 am now 50.Paul well,Neil groin injury but smiling.

Our tent is a comedy of horrors re feet.I won't even start, needless to say that we are all just laughing at each others pain and hanging bits of flesh.Spitits are strong,until someone mentioned a box-saw.

Three legs flying,

Best,Nige.....

Sixth report (Friday - by text)

Hi, sub 4.20relentless mountain n bigsanddune marathon aced.passed1st lady in last 800.hopefully improved 57place last 10k procession off 2mrw ?4logisics.shame as I’ve felt stronger by the day.scrorcher 2day.the French organisers had better have some of the red stuff 4my throat  2night.hi 2all.nige

Seventh report (also Friday)

Hi All,Thanks for more e-mail,I've really felt humbled by the interest and well wishes. 

Unfortunately,for logistical reasons,the last short 10k procession has been cancelled so it was eyeballs out for a final marathon stage today.V hot and again thro dunes and mountains.Paul, Neil and I are all across the line safe and fit n healthy. 

Don't yet know others results tho I was 51st today in 4.16,finishing overall 50th.I'm still jigging. 

The campsite is like one of those zombie films with everyone slowly staggering about and there are alot of very ill people.Again,we are well n in great spirits.Tonight( in the middle of the desert )there is going to be a full orchestral operatic party-more importantly,there is to be wine. 

Apparantly it is on Eurosport2News-look for black-shirted bloke outkicking the first lady today in the final400m.Not big I know but I thought she might be German. 

Nige..