Olympian Army major gets ready for 250km ultramarathon

Two-time Olympic rowing champion and Army major Heather Stanning is ready for her next challenge.

Alongside a famous face, she is set to take on the Marathon des Sables, an extraordinary race and adventure that's been taking place in the southern Moroccan Sahara since 1986.

Forces News caught up with her in Cyprus during training.

This event is the ultimate ultra race and certainly not for the faint-hearted – which is probably why Maj Stanning said 'yes' when asked if she would take part.

The Marathon des Sables sees competitors race 250km over six days, self-sufficient and in the Sahara desert.

Maj Stanning's team is made up of three other British Army personnel and TV personality Judge Robert Rinder.

Maj Stanning said: "Why am I doing it?

"The Army Benevolent Fund approached me and said 'It's our 80th year, we want to do a big challenge, raise awareness and raise some money, will you do this challenge for us?'.

"I was like 'Oh absolutely' and then they told me, I was like 'Oh wow, that is a challenge'."

"I've been training since before Christmas, just gradually building up," Maj Stanning explained.

"For me, the biggest thing is staying in one piece and not getting injured.

"I may not be doing loads and loads of miles every week, but it's just gradually building up.

"It's time on my feet. Quite honestly, I will probably walk the majority of it. And that's probably where us in the military will do quite well.

"Let's not think we are all going to be ultra runners and break some records. It's about getting to the finish line."

posted Thursday March 21st
by Sofie Cacoyannis