SpoonVolunteers
of every bit helps.” So where does it stop? After
BECAUSE IT’S THERE:
While Michael will be thrown conquering the Marathon Des
about on the high seas, dreaming Sables which I have no doubt she
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
of dry land, in 2008 Jackie Morton will, what will be next for her?
will be running through the desert “I don’t know, some people go
no doubt dreaming of water. back time and time again, while
JULIAN CRABTREE TRACKS DOWN TWO WOODEN SPOON MEMBERS
The Marathon Des Sables is others hang their shoes up and
WHO ARE PREPARING FOR THE CHALLENGE OF THE LIFETIME IN AN
tagged as the toughest footrace swear that they will never run
EFFORT TO RAISE MONEY FOR SPOON
on earth, and while that is again. I have spoken to people
debatable, there is no doubt that who say that it is life changing,
running 150 miles in five days in you come back with a different
something like this, you might as temperatures of 140 °F is certainly view on life. Whatever happens I
well do the most difficult leg,” not for the faint hearted. think I will carry on running, but I
said Michael who still finds time to Carrying everything she will need can’t bear the cold so I can’t see
plays his rugby at Grangemouth. to eat and drink, Jackie will also myself doing anything in the
“I couldn’t really see myself have to deal with freezing Arctic!”
sailing through the Caribbean and temperatures at night, dust
I really wanted to challenge myself storms, serious blisters and snakes. The question that Mallory may or
so I signed up for the Pacific which What makes Jackie’s story even may not have been asked about
is also the longest leg.” more incredible is that she only Everest is answered pretty much as
started running four years ago. I expected by both Michael and
Michael’s training included three “I started by running for a Jackie.
weeks of intensive sailing where minute and walking for a minute Physical and mental challenges,
History will always show that he had to deal with seasickness, because I was so unfit,” said the getting out of your comfort zone,
when George Mallory was Force 9 gale winds and no wind at 41-year-old Mum of two. testing limits and to figure out just
repeatedly asked why he wanted all. And while the civil servant is Before she knew it Jackie had how far they can push themselves
to climb Mount Everest, he looking forward to the physical run a 5k race then a 10k race. seems to be the stock answer.
famously replied “Because it is aspect of the sail, life on a boat That soon progressed to a half This is not about going to the
there.” throws up a whole different marathon and then the London edge and peering over, this is
The fact that Mallory denied ever challenge. Marathon. about strapping a rocket to your
making that remark is neither here “You are all thrown together in a After a few marathons she back and shooting yourself deep
nor there as this quip has given very confined space and you are wanted to do something a bit into the unknown. Yes it is scary
adventurers the perfect response deprived of sleep and really have more challenging. and you may just fail, but the
to those who dare to ask why. to work together with people you “There was a seminar run by this journey and the rewards are worth
This almost instant approval to don’t really know. chap who had done the Marathon every white-knuckled minute.
stretch your limits and test just You get people from all walks of Des Sables five or six times, I went The truth is they are not sure
how far you can go has been well life too, so being able to gel and along to that and came away from why. And that is the exactly why
embraced by Wooden Spoon work as a team is definitely one of it saying I was definitely going to they do it. The uncertainty and the
members who continue to go the challenges.” give it a go. fear of the unknown is what
above and beyond to raise money My family and friends thought I drives them on.
for the charity. Taking to the high seas does not was bonkers and the training has Where that drive comes from is
While most people are happy come cheaply and it is a credit to dominated my life as I cannot fit hidden away deep in the
rising to the challenge of a Michael that not only is he trying anything into my life except subconsciousness , not yet ready
marathon, a growing number to raise the money to compete in training. to come under the scrutiny of this
have moved on from that the race, but he is also raising I have had a bit of a blip over the so called ordered world.
challenge and are seeking extreme money for Wooden Spoon. summer as I had a dodgy hip, but But life is not as ordered as we
adventures all over the globe. “The hardest bit so far has been I am building back up to 50 miles pretend it is, if we took a step
Michael Dodd is preparing for raising the dosh,” admits Michael. a week and am hoping by back and saw the truth we would
the challenge of a lifetime as he “But this is going to be an Christmas I will be up to the 100 be frightened silly, but there is
will soon be taking on one of the experience of a lifetime, so it is mile mark. freedom to be found in that fright,
toughest legs of the Clipper worth facing short term “I am not setting myself any freedom to not conform to the
Round the World Yacht Race. bankruptcy for. What I am trying targets other than to finish, but image that we have created for
The Clipper Race is unique in to do is get local companies to you have to be as prepared as you ourselves.
that it is the only round the world help cover some of my costs. I am can be and fitness is the key to the For Jackie Morton and Michael
yacht race for non-professional not a wealthy person so it is a case whole thing.” Dodd conforming is not an option
crews. At over 35,000 miles, it is and there is no need to try and
officially the world’s longest race explain it. They have accepted that
as well as being one of the they do what they must do and
toughest. for that they deserve our
Michael will be doing the Pacific admiration, our support and yes,
leg which races across the Pacific even our envy.
Ocean from China to North
America via Korea and Hawaii.
This is the most demanding leg of
Above: Jackie Morton training for
the race both physically and
the Marathon Des Sables in 2008
mentally with extreme weather
Left: Clipper Boat Glasgow during
and seas to deal with.
its training on the south coast
before embarking on its race
“Well if you are going to do around the world
34 Spoonews Autumn 2007
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