Posts Tagged ‘ultra-marathons’

Stub Your Toes

You’d think nothing would surprise me when it comes to the strange deeds of runners, but this one has me stumped. Apparently, some ultra-marathoners are so tired of the pain and inconvenience of black toenails that they’re having their toenails surgically removed – after being loosened with acid. And of course, one of them was kind enough to post a series of photos of the procedure (not suitable for lunch).

“A lot of them look at their toenails as useless appendages,” said sports podiatrist Dr. Robert M. Conenello, “remnants of claws from evolutionary times long ago. I’ve heard them say, ‘Toenails are dead weight.’ ”

Well, that huge noggin you’re sporting is causing a lot of wind drag, why not lop it off?

Even iconoclasts like “Born to Run” author Christopher McDougall thinks this is a bit much. “You know any sport has gone off the rails when you have to remove body parts to do it,” he said.

The Sporting Blog finds the practice par for the course for an “insane person who runs 100 miles at a time for fun.”

Madonna’s Short-Lived 151-Mile Race

It’s on the Internet, so you know it’s true!

It’s amazing what you come across while researching running stories, but this one took the proverbial cake. Several celebrity news sites reported that Madonna was in training to run the 151-mile Marathon des Sables next April.

Dubbed “the toughest footrace on Earth,” here’s the description from the race web site:

It covers 243km/151 miles (in sections similar to 25, 34, 38, 82, 42, 22 km) run over 6 days (7 for some) – equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons. That’s a speed of between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78). In addition to that, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint.

You will have to prepare all your own food throughout the race and I warn you that there is not a chain of Tesco stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. You will experience mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F, of running or walking on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15 – 20% of the distance being in sand dunes.

The heat, distance and rubbing will trash your feet and may cause severe trauma if incorrect shoes and equipment are used. Mental stamina probably constitutes at least 50% of whether you will complete the distance or not. Physical fitness is important but don’t underestimate the mental stress that you will need to endure. Even if you have run dozens of 26 mile marathons, this does not mean that you will automatically find the MdS easy – either way you will be planning to do lots of training prior to the MdS.

On the 4th day, you will set off across the barren wilderness to complete a 45 – 50 mile stage. Few people complete this before dark that evening and some will not come in till after dark the next night. This is followed by the 42km Marathon stage!! Its tough, so don’t say that nobody warned you in the strongest terms.

Yep, when I read that, I immediately think: “That would be perfect for Madonna!”

Alas, in an unusual and immediate debunking, Madonna’s publicist says “It’s not true,” and called the story another false piece of gossip.

In other news, Paris Hilton is equipping for an Everest expedition, and Mariah Carey plans to pitch in the opening game of the 2009 World Series.