Come April 10 and Michelle Kakade will make history. FYI caught up with the first Indian to participate in the most grueling foot race on the planet: the Marathon Des Sables. Find out what it takes to cover the world's largest non-arctic desert over six, unforgiving days
Come April 10 and Michelle Kakade will make history. FYI caught up with the first Indian to participate in the most grueling foot race on the planet: the Marathon Des Sables. Find out what it takes to cover the world's largest non-arctic desert over six, unforgiving days
Fate works in mysterious ways. If it weren't for the chance meeting with a German woman at the Mumbai Marathon last year, Michelle Kakade might never have heard of the Marathon des Sables, considered one of the toughest sporting events in the world.
"She was in her late sixties and was running the marathon to get accustomed to the heat in preparation for the Sultan Marathon des Sables," says Michelle.
That was the first time Michelle considered giving the ultramarathon a shot. 
However, it was not until the sudden passing away of a close friend that the 41-year-old mother felt compelled to start training for the challenge.
"I realised that time waits for no one, and that if I was going to participate, then the time for it was now," says Michelle.
Michelle's participation in the grueling race, which takes place across the Sahara desert and is the equivalent of running six regular marathons, will make her the first Indian to attempt the feat.
When asked about her motivation for putting her body through such unforgiving conditions, Michelle says, "Pure passion is what drives me. It's about trying something that has never been attempted before by anyone in the country."
Given that the prize money doesn't cover even the cost of the registration fee, which is over three lakhs, passion might be Michelle's only incentive.
Michelle, who has participated in the Pune, Mumbai and Delhi Marathons in the last few years, stresses that her primary challenge will be running on sand.
"I have planned my diet, exercise, yoga and running schedules to factor in each and every aspect of that," she says.
When it comes to awareness about the race, Michelle is disappointed. "As Indians, our idea of sports is either cricket or tennis. We are unaware of other sporting events that take place, even in our own country."
What is the Marathonu00a0 des Sables?
Started in 1986, the Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) is considered the toughest foot race on the planet. The six-day ultramarathon takes place annually in the southern Moroccan desert. It covers a distance of 254 km and is the equivalent of running six regular marathons. pic/nikhil ghorpade
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The Marathon Des Sables 2010 commenced on April 4 and will conclude on April 10.
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