Sir Ranulph Fiennes completes 159 mile desert Marathon des Sables at 71-year-old

Ranulph Fiennes is in my opinion one of the greatest men ever to have lived and a living legend.
The British explorer and adventurer has completed his latest challenge the Marathon des Sables which takes place across the Sahara desert and is ranked by the Discovery Channel as the toughest footrace on earth , the marathon is 159 miles over six days in which contestants face temperatures excess of 50C , a daunting challenge for anyone yet alone a 71 year old.

Known simply as the MdS, the race is a gruelling multi-stage adventure through a formidable landscape in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates - the Sahara desert. The rules require you to be self-sufficient, to carry with you on your back everything except water that you need to survive. You are given a place in a tent to sleep at night, but any other equipment and food must be carried.
www.marathondessables.co.uk...

Sir Ranulph has a long history of great adventures and never ceases to amaze me and I'm sure many others with his feats of daring do , he holds several records and I'm sure a place in the nations heart.
Amongst his achievements are....
First to reach both Poles
First to cross Antarctic and Arctic Ocean
First to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis
Achieved world record for unsupported northerly polar travel in 1990
Led the team that discovered the lost city of Ubar on the Yemeni border in 1992
Achieved world first in 1992/1993 by completing the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic Continent
In 2003, only 3½ months after a massive heart attack, 3 day coma and double bypass, Ranulph Fiennes achieved the first 7x7x7 ,Seven marathons in seven consecutive days on all seven continents
March 2005, climbed Everest
March 2007, Sir Ranulph climbed the North Face of the Eiger
Successfully summitted Everest May 2009 making him the oldest Briton ever to reach the summit

Over the years his feats have raised over £7 million for charity , after crossing the finishing line of his latest marathon he said...

"I don't feel good, my back is bad. Luckily I've had a load of pain killers. Without them it would have been even more difficult.
"I never thought I wouldn't make it but there were points where I thought the camels, who walk at the rear sweeping up those who are too slow, were getting dangerously close."
He also thanked those who had donated to his cause.
www.bbc.co.uk...

www.ranulphfiennes.co.uk...
I wish him all the best for his next adventure , I'm sure he's got something planned.

What a man.

One of my favourite quotes came out of his mouth...

“There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”

He should know!

This guy is beyond comparison and I don't think there is a superlative in existence to apply that would do him justice. I very briefly met him and he is a thoroughly sound bloke who has the gift that Nelson, who was much beloved by all who served under him, was said to possess, in that when in conversation he gives the impression that you, and what you have to say really matters to him.

I was a little overawed by the man in person and didn't take my chance to ask him the one question I planned to ask regarding "The Feather Men" because I thought it might have put him on the spot and embarrass such a great and humble man.

Great achievement.

He is also a third cousin of Ralph Fiennes, one of my fav actors, very charismatic and rather attractive in his earlier years.

en.wikipedia.org...

Thanks for the replies guys , seems like stories of true endeavour and achievement are of little interest for the majority here , perhaps next time a line of text and a youtube video will suffice.

a reply to: gortex
Thanks for putting the thread up. I don't think he's particularly well known outside the UK and of course there is no conspiracy unless you count the whole "Feather Men". It could be of course that in terms of physical endurance the UK armed forces make some nations feel a little self conscious about the low physical standards of their own military's, meaning no one in particular ahem!

I actually thought it very interesting as I am almost fifty and though raring to go myself, am watching people my age succumb to the psychology of their age (if that makes sense). I'd never heard of this man, but he's obviously in a whole different category and that is inspiring.

a reply to: igloo

Exactly

I recently turned 50 which I found quite a traumatic experience , a mid life crisis ensued and feelings of "well that's it then" set in , I've long admired Ranulph Fiennes and it is he and his refusal to let time take over him that make me realise that age is just a number and while there is still breath in your body you can still do what you want to do , he's an inspiration.