HADDENHAM man Mark Howlett returned home to the UK this week having competed in the toughest foot race in the world. Mr Howlett lined up against some of the planet s finest marathon runners in the Marathon Des Sables, a gruelling 151-mile race across the

HADDENHAM man Mark Howlett returned home to the UK this week having competed in the toughest foot race in the world.

Mr Howlett lined up against some of the planet's finest marathon runners in the Marathon Des Sables, a gruelling 151-mile race across the scorching sands of the Sahara Desert, in aid of the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust.

The Haddenham man managed to complete the lung-busting course in an impressive 45 hours 44 minutes, raising more than �2000 for the hospital in the process, and collecting more than a few blisters.

He told the Ely Standard: "Completing the course was my main aim and I am delighted to have done it. On the whole I don't feel too bad, but my feet are suffering a bit as most of them are blistered, and one of them has cracked.

"I did a lot of reading and research in preparation for the race but there is nothing like actually doing the race itself, at one point I even had to leapfrog a horned viper which I didn't hang around to have a look at."

Though the race is the equivalent of doing seven marathons in as many days Mark is determined to have another go next year and is almost ready to start training again. "I think I will skip going for a run tonight but in a few days I might be ready to go for a little stretch.