Perth’s Phil Evans to take on gruelling Marathon Des Sables through the Sahara in charity bid

Steve ButlerThe West Australian
VideoPhil Evans is training for a grueling 250km marathon in the Sahara desert.

Amid the hallucinations Phil Evans is likely to encounter as he takes on a gruelling human endeavour, what must remain unseen is the camel’s bum.

For competitors in the annual Marathon Des Sables, which covers 250km across the Sahara Desert in just six days, the equation for success is simple — stay in front of the support-team camel or get eliminated.

“I certainly want to stay in front of that,” the 33-year-old Perth charity worker said as he trained for the world’s toughest foot race starting April 6.

Mr Evans will have to average a marathon a day, including 86km on day four, to finish.

He is allowed to carry only a 10kg pack for his week’s rations and will share water and an eight-man tent with others among the 1200 competitors. The $5000 entry fee comes with a requirement to sign waivers and a body repatriation form.

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Camera IconThe event is a gruelling 250km through the Sahara Desert in up to 50C heat. Credit: Danella Bevis

“It has got to the extent where people have had organ failure because of severe dehydration and heat stress,” Mr Evans said.

One runner even got lost in a sand storm and ended up in a neighbouring country.

“For the most part, I think you’ve got to be a little bit crazy to enter in the first place. It’s scary, but it’s that unknown which is really spurring me on.”

And it’s not just physical training required for his Saharan ordeal.

“There is going to be a lot of alone time and that devil on your shoulder certainly pops up,” he said.

“Especially when you’re feeling pretty low and you start asking yourself, ‘Why am I doing this’?” he said, adding he had been in training for more than a year with his days regularly starting at 4.30am.

Evans, who was once a sport scientist working with elite athletes in Britain, is now with Perth charity Everyday Leader and hopes to raise $45,000 to build a school in Africa with New York charity Pencils of Promise.

“The charity is a real drive and what kicks you along in those really tough times,”

“Life can be a bit of a lottery and you don’t choose where you’re born. Some people are very much born with a great set of cards and some can be at the poker table without any cards at all.”

More at fundraise.pencilsofpromise. org/fundraiser/863003

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