A Marathon Each Day
Last updated: 13/09/2006 - 11:38
A Police constable from Northumbria is headed to the Sahara for a gruelling multi-marathon, in aid of a childrens charity.
Haltwhistle Police constable Dave Hutchinson will be swapping Hadrian's Wall for the Sahara desert this Easter as he takes part in what has been branded the 'Toughest Foot Race on Earth'.
The Northumbria Police officer will be flying to Africa in April for the gruelling Marathon des Sables taking him more than 140 miles over the Southern Moroccan Sahara in just seven days.
PC Hutchinson, who has been with the force for 20 years and is currently based at Haltwhistle in South West Northumberland Area Command having also served as a Permanent Beat Officer in Sunderland for 12 years, will join around 600 other competitors from around the world. He decided to take on the challenge to celebrate his 50th birthday.
Temperatures
Pictured (right): Northumbria PC Dave Hutchinson, with Springer Spaniel Molly, in training for his endurance feat.
Temperatures are expected to soar to 40C and competitors will have to travel the distance of a marathon each day - one day alone involves the runners tackling some of the world's highest sand dunes. Each competitor has to carry everything they need for the week including food, clothing, first aid equipment and anti-venom pumps!
PC Hutchinson, who has been training for the race for the past 18 months, said: "I decided to do this as a 50th birthday present to myself! I first read about it about five years ago and it just looked phenomenal. It also looks horrific, but all I could think was: 'I wonder if I could do that?' "I really am expecting the worst but at the same time I'm really looking forward to it. Running through those landscapes will be tremendous."
His training has involved running miles each week carrying 8kg packs filled with water. One of his routes takes him along Hadrian's Wall.
PC Hutchinson took up running in his 40s and already has several marathons and races under his belt.
Reasonably Fit
He said: "I have been running with my wife's Springer Spaniel Molly who will not be coming with me. I will miss her as she is a great running companion. I have always been reasonably fit and was in the army for 12 years before I started with Northumbria Police."
PC Hutchinson has personally paid his £2,075 entry fees and £1,000 for specialised equipment but has secured some help towards training and travelling.
Now he is aiming to raise as much money as he can for the Rainbow Trust, a national charity helping chronically and terminally ill children and their families, which has a home in Hexham.