What is it like to run a desert marathon?

Today I ran my first desert marathon which took place in the beautiful Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park situated 30km outside of Coober Pedy — Opal Capital of the World. The park is perhaps best known for featuring in films such as Mad Max 3, Pitch Black and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The awe-inspiring landscape and inhospitable terrain made for a truly unique and interesting running experience. Although the terrain is relatively flat, the vast endlessly stretching land brings with it, its own mental torture. The Marathon takes place in the middle of winter so while the weather is not as hot as it could be it is still a test for my delicate Irish skin!

The marathon was definitely the most unusual and enjoyable I have run to date. The day began with participants being picked up outside information center in gigantic heavy vehicles. It felt like we were shipping out and going to war. Perhaps we were. All two of us.

The drive into the desert was very picturesque. A never-ending series of multi-colored mounds dotted the landscape. Which I have learned is synonymous with opal mining. I was filled with excitement at the prospect of running amidst the moon plains and arid desolate desert terrain that had once upon a time been completely submerged undersea.

I feel a deep affinity with the desert. Which is truly bizarre as it is in complete contrast to the landscape I grew up within the green isle of Ireland. One cannot but be humbled by the unique beauty, unfathomable vastness, and merciless red dust that reigns supreme under the hot desert sky. Although the persistent flies, I could do without.

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