RUNNER COMPLETES GRUELLING RACE IN THE SAHARA DESERT

Racing through the hot sands of the Sahara Desert, while battling extreme heat, during a six-day race is not for the average person.

Marathon des Sables held its 37th event in southern Morocco, where Pickering resident Daryll Naidu conquered a new journey.

The marathon is a highendurance race held annually in the Sahara Desert. The course covers more than 250 kilometres of land, with a diverse range of competitors seeking a challenge over the seven-day competition.

Runners are required to be over 18 years old with a cleared medical certificate. They must carry food, sleeping gear, water and other necessities.

This year, the marathon began on April 21 and ended on May 1 with a 30 per cent dropout rate.

Naidu completed the foot race and came back with a story to tell.

"It's not only about physical ability, it's about emotional toughness as well. Anyone can go out and run, but once your mind gives up, your body will give up too," says Naidu.

Naidu is a passionate trail runner. He has a strong background of running in marathons and found his love for trail running during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was born in South Africa and moved to Canada in 2001 for new opportunities. Short after, Naidu met his partner in Toronto and ventured on a summer tour across Canada in a minivan. The couple reached Vancouver and decided to make it their home for 10 years.

Naidu and his wife soon sold their home and headed on a new journey on

their motorcycles and biked through different countries.

After many adventures, Naidu made his move to Pickering in 2012.

He started his 10k runs 10 years ago and participated in multiple marathons around the world, including in Berlin, Chicago, London and Paris.

Although he attended many marathons, Naidu says he enjoys trail running.

"When I shifted to trail running, it was more about the distances than how fast I could go. I liked the fact that I was out in nature in these conservation areas and running slower and going for longer," says Naidu.

During a trail race in 2021, Naidu met an individual who had completed the Marathon des Sables seven times. He knew this was his next challenge and committed to building his endurance.

"It piqued my interest in a sense that I wanted to push my levels. I completed a 50-mile race, I always had this at the back of my mind, but I needed to build up my confidence in increasing my distances," says Naidu.

Naidu prepares with an intense training routine from Tuesday through to Sunday, with a rest day on Monday.

Naidu began training for the race in fall of 2022 and continued throughout winter.

He attempted to replicate the race conditions, such as wearing a sauna suit for intense heat, training with a 20-pound backpack and running along beaches and snow.

Naidu's training partner and friend of 10 years, Kelly Gauss, says Naidu is always trying to seek a new level of challenge.

"I think he came home even stronger. His ability to strategize and prepare for long-term goals, it's fantastic. He is a planner and achiever," says Gauss. "Pure grit is what this guy has with his character. He is so strong."

Naidu says he learned to accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

"You go through times where you have negative thoughts. I started questioning why I'm here and what I'm doing. It's being positive and trying to push yourself to go day by day, one check point at a time," says Naidu.

He completed the Marathon des Sables race in 54 hours, 5 minutes and 3 seconds.

Naidu hopes to push himself with more challenges and test his abilities as a runner.