Ref. 30047-18RUNNING the London marathon is no mean feat but a Swindon doctor has gone one step further by running in the Sahara Desert.

Steve Rhodes, 45, who is based at the Hermitage Surgery in the Lawns, has just completed The Sahara Marathon and raised around £5,000 for charity.

Dr Rhodes ran 150 miles last week in what is billed as the toughest race on the planet, in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius, to raise the money for the Prospect Hospice, in Wroughton.

He said: "I feel great and was so pleased to have finished the race."

Dr Rhodes flew back from southern Morocco on Monday and was back at work seeing patients on Tuesday.

He said: "I have no aches or pains and the blisters aren't too bad either. Some competitors were pushed off the plane in wheelchairs, their blisters were so severe."

Deprived of the usual home comforts, Dr Rhodes shared a tent with seven other runners and survived on dried food. Entrants also had a nine-litre daily water ration.

He said: "I had to take 10 salt tablets a day and ate lots of pasta, peanuts and flapjacks. But I've still lost a stone."

Dr Rhodes was placed 430th out of the 560 people from across the world, including professional athletes, who took part. Some 30 competitors had to drop out due to heatstroke or foot problems.

Part of the week-long race, which finished on Saturday, involved running 25km across sand dunes in one day.

He said: "That bit really sapped my strength. But the tremendous camaraderie between competitors kept us going."

To prepare for the event, Dr Rhodes spent the last six months running 60 miles a week on the treadmills at Swindon Marriott gym, in Pipers Way, Old Town. To simulate the sweltering desert climate, he wore several layers while exercising and carried a 15kg rucksack on his back.

And his efforts paid off because Dr Rhodes passed the finish line feeling fine.

He said: "It was a laugh. Of course it wasn't easy in the heat."

But Dr Rhodes has no plans to repeat the experience.

He said: "I thoroughly recommend it and I was glad to get around to raise the money for charity, though I doubt I'll be back next year."

Maggie Gill, spokeswoman for the Prospect Hospice, is thrilled with his achievement.

She said: "To run the equivalent of six marathons in such uncomfortable conditions is absolutely amazing. We are very proud of him and so grateful for his support."

Victoria Tagg