James cracknell will be updating this page regularly with his progress from the brutal marathon des sables in the sahara desert. James cracknells running life mens running the uks. The marathon des sables has been something ive long wanted to do having met running friends early in my running career who had, and were about to run it. In april 2010 cracknell became the highest placed briton ever in the 25year history of the marathon des sables, finishing 12th.
After james cracknell s boat race victory, his wife beverley gives a raw insight into how he put his ambitions before his family, his alpha male obsessions and the snapping. Documentary following british adventurer and olympic gold medal rower james cracknell as he competes in the marathon des sables in morocco. This multiday race is held every year in southern morocco, in the sahara desert. Book james cracknell olympian and adventurer gordon. How strictlys james cracknell overcame brain damage with.
He was married to tv and radio presenter beverley turner, he and his wife have three children. James cracknells wife beverley turner reveals why their. James cracknell is a world record holder and double. James cracknell is a man with many sporting achievements to his name. That may be so, but hes a double olympic gold medalist, a member of a winning boat race team, has competed in the marathon des sables, becoming the highest ever british finisher, rowed the atlantic, ran the london marathon, took part in a south pole race and for good measure was still is married to the goddess that is beverley turner. The james cracknell triology three films about one mans endurance. In 1984 patrick bauer a french concert promoter decided to set out for an epic walk.
If so, are there any questions youd like to be covered in a book about it. In april 2010 cracknell became the highest placed briton ever in the 25year history of the marathon des sables. He cowrote the bestseller the crossing, together with james cracknell. James cracknell runs for the wire in the marathon des sables this article is more than 10 years old former olympic rower competes in 156mile race through desert strapped up for scientific tests. Cracknell crossed the line 12th in 2010 after numerous health scares throughout the event. I was a relative latecomer to running, starting in my mid thirties but was quickly drawn to the longer stuff. In 2010 he completed the marathon des sables, which consists of the completing the. James edward cracknell, obe born 5 may 1972 is a british athlete, rowing champion and. James cracknell s first success came as a member of the british coxless fours that won the world junior championships in 1990. From 27 february 2008 james cracknell covered over 1,400 miles from britain to africa in 10 days, rowing. At one point was the highest british finisher ever in the marathon des sables and has a history of endurance challenges and achievements to rival almost anyone. In this remarkable book, steve backshall offers an unflinching account of his adventures into these uncharted territories around the globe, in search of world firsts.
James cracknell runs for the wire in the marathon des sables this article is more than 10 years old former olympic rower competes in 156mile race. Hes won two olympic golds, run a subthreehour marathon and is now looking to become an mp. This book is about cracknell, fogle and the third mans race to the south pole. Rowing race, the london and new york marathons, the amundsen race to the south pole and the sahara desert based marathon des sables the socalled worlds toughest race as well as completing marathon cycling and canoeing events. James cracknell, 46, rows himself into the boat race record books. As usual, many newcomers made waves in the sandy dunes of the sahara, but not all of the experienced racers would be left in the dust. James cracknell james cracknell will be updating this page regularly with his progress from the brutal marathon des sables in the sahara desert. James cracknell achieved a staggering 12th place finish over a longer and some would argue, harder course and that was with a broken bone in his foot. James cracknell, 46, rows himself into the boat race.
James edward cracknell, obe born 5 may 1972 is a british athlete, rowing champion and double olympic gold medalist. Cracknell became the then highestplaced briton in the 25year history of the marathon des sables ultra marathon. Marathon des sables, or mds, french for marathon of the sands, also known as sahara marathon is a sixday, 251 km 156 mi ultramarathon, which is approximately the distance of six regular marathons. Discovery ch toughest race on earth with james cracknell. Former olympic rower competes in 156mile race through desert strapped up for scientific tests on how the body fares in extreme conditions. Written by james cracknell, ben fogle, narrated by james cracknell, ben fogle. Bens sporting achievements include completing the gruelling 160mile marathon des sables through the sahara, and rowing across the atlantic with double olympic gold medallist james cracknell, obe. Hes won two olympic gold medals, hes rowed the atlantic, he was the highest ever placed british man at the time at the marathon des sables, hes completed the yukon arctic ultra, hes walked to the south pole and hes a sub3 hour marathon runner. The 25th marathons des sables is now in the history books and it was our pleasure to cover it. I had a nice barbecue that evening, went to bed, woke up in the morning and, i went on a run then came back in and everyone was watching the james cracknell marathon des sables documentary. James cracknell is an inspirational speaker of the highest order. James cracknell bio, stats, and results olympics at. Did james cracknell run the perfect marathon analysis. Im alan thornburrow, i have been running ultra marathons for the last 5 years or so.
After graduating with a degree in geography from reading universty cracknell became a regular member of the british squad but his first olympics was ruined by a bout of tonsillitis which made him pull out of the atlanta games. Documentaries about marathon des sables toughest race on earth with james cracknell double olympic gold medalist james cracknell pushes his body to an extreme level in pursuit of an mds top 50 place. Book motivational speaker and olympian james cracknell obe for your event, keynote and conference. James cracknell hits back at wife beverley as he denies. James cracknell is running the marathon des sables, dubbed the toughest footrace on earth, covering approximately 150 miles of the sahara desert in. Toughest race on earth with james cracknell discovery uk. I especially liked the fact he put his name down for the marathon des sables. I first met james at the bivouac on the marathon des sables, also known as the mds. James cracknell on running the london marathon again.
In october 2011 james cracknell, twotime olympic goldmedal rower and one of the greatest endurance athletes the world has ever known. He then went on to complete the yukon arctic ultra, cycling. In 2010 he completed the marathon des sables, which. A former olympic gold medallist who formed a key part of the rowing dream team alongside the likes of sir steve redgrave and matthew pinsent cbe, he has also journeyed around the world, testing himself in some of the harshest conditions and with some of the most challenging feats, including a televised 2008 south pole expedition. James cracknell runs for the wire in the marathon des sables. James cracknell explains what the marathon des sables is and what conditions you have to endure in order to succeed. Barkley 100 worlds most difficult and bizarre sporting event. What times did the celebrities in the london marathon 2017.
In october 2011 james cracknell, twotime olympic goldmedal rower and one of the. Now in its 30th year, the marathon des sables mds sees competitors run the equivalent of five and a half marathons in five or six days. This is a race ive trained several people to successfully complete, including backofthepackers through to danny kendall who got the highest placing ever by a brit at the 20 race 10th while training in london. Channel cameras follow olympic rowing champion james cracknell as he prepares for and endures the gruelling marathon des sables a. In 2010 he completed the marathon des sables, which consists of completing the.
In 2010 he completed the marathon des sables, which consists of the completing the equivalent of six marathons in six days. Twotime olympic champion james cracknell says it will be his proudest moment in rowing when he competes in the 2019 boat race. Back in 2010 you finished the marathon des sables in 12th place, taking the trophy of the highest placed briton in the races 25yearhistory. James cracknell proud to have made cambridge team for. The 2000 and 2004 olympic coxless four gold medallist has also achieved one of the highest finishing positions by a british runner at the gruelling sixday, 156 mile marathon des sables ultra marathon desert race in south africa. In 2010 he completed the marathon des sables, which consists of the. James cracknell obe motivational olympic speaker raise.
James cracknell obe is a british rower and double olympic gold medalist, as well as a tv presenter, charity fundraiser and even a former conservative party candidate for south west england and. James cracknell is a cofounder of threshold sports, the company behind the race to the stones a new 100km fully supported route along the ridgeway, britains oldest path. Would you consider running the marathon des sables. Again, james wrote about this experience in his book, race to the pole. His fourth book, race to the south pole was published in 2009. Working with a team of expert performance scientists, james cracknell prepares to run 250km across the moroccan sahara desert. But first the marathon des sables or the mds for short. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In 2010 he completed the marathon des sables, which consists of completing the equivalent of six marathons in six days. James cracknell was running in the marathon des sables to show his support for the royal british. Ben fogle has published three books, the teatime islands, journeys to britains faraway outposts and offshore in search of an island of my own. Buy touching distance by turner, beverley, cracknell, james isbn. One of my commissions was to supply images for discovery tv as they were filming james during this years race for a scientific programme analysing how the body reacts under such pressure in the.
Not long ago i stumbled across a terrific documentary about cracknells experiences at the marathon des sables, a brutal multistage footrace across the. Its a journey ive been on since october last year when my place in the 27th marathon des sables was confirmed. All other competitors must go to the event organisers own site. The famous people you could see running bath half marathon. But will he complete the deadly marathon des sables.
James cracknell got two olympic gold medals in rowing and has won the rowing world championships six times. Conquering the atlantic in the worlds toughest rowing race, about their trip. It has been regarded as the toughest foot race on earth. James cracknell runs for the wire in the marathon des sables sport. Fresh from finishing the marathon des sables, ranulph fiennes has become the oldest briton. Sophie is an avid marathon runner so this isnt her first attempt. Hes trekked to the south pole, rowed across the atlantic and completed the marathon des sables. Touching distance james cracknell, beverley turner on. James wrote about this experience in his book, race to the pole. James cracknell is running the marathon des sables, dubbed the toughest footrace on earth, covering approximately 150 miles of the sahara desert in morocco over six days to raise money for mencap.