The heat is on for Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes had his first taste of what’s to come from the ‘toughest foot race on earth’ this week, by running in a 40°C heat chamber. The explorer, who turned 71 earlier this month, is attempting to become the oldest Brit to complete the Marathon des Sables. He is enduring the punishing six day ‘ultra-marathon’ in the Sahara desert, all in the hope of raising £2.5m for UK charity Marie Curie, who care for people living with a terminal illness.

Due to his age, Sir Ranulph is at increased risk of the boiling temperatures causing major problems during the challenge with the worst case scenarios including unconsciousness, multiple organ failure and death.

What’s more, runners normally have five or six training sessions in the heat chamber based at Kingston University’s School of Life Sciences, but due to a busy schedule Sir Ranulph has only had one session to see if his body and mind are up to this gruelling challenge.

Rory Coleman, who is training Sir Ranulph for the Marathon des Sables, said: “When the body’s heat regulating mechanisms are overwhelmed, it can result in death. The race will see temperatures get to over 50°C so it’s vital Ranulph keeps his core temperature down and stays hydrated. I certainly don’t want to be responsible for a national treasure like Sir Ranulph falling foul of the Moroccan heat.”

Despite suffering two heart attacks, undergoing a double heart bypass, a cancer operation and an on-going fight with diabetes, Fiennes is relatively relaxed about the challenge: “People say I must be mad, especially as I don’t like the heat, but it’s what you’ve got to do to raise money for amazing charities like Marie Curie. If I raise the £2.5m it will help people with a terminal illness get the care they and their family desperately need.”

Dr Hannah Moir, Senior Lecturer in Health & Exercise Prescription at Kingston University’s School of Life Sciences, who tested Sir Ranulph, and said: “We tested Sir Ranulph’s core temperature, heart rate, sweat and weight loss during the heat training. Despite being the oldest competitor we’ve had in the chamber, he managed to keep everything on an even keel, but running on a treadmill for an hour in a controlled environment is very different to being in the desert. He’ll be running on sand, from eight to a gruelling 24 hours a day, facing sand storms, and will have to pace himself carefully.” 
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has already raised £6.3million for Marie Curie. In 2007, despite suffering from vertigo, Sir Ranulph climbed the Eiger by its north face for the charity.  In May 2009, at the age of 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest, again for Marie Curie, making him the oldest British person to achieve this.

Follow Sir Ranulph’s challenge. 

To donate to Sir Ranulph’s challenge visit www.justgiving.com/ranulph  or text RUN to 70007 to donate £5 plus a message of support to Sir Ranulph.

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