Moray’s Olympic rower Heather Stanning takes on Marathon des Sables challenge
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Former Olympic rower Heather Stanning is taking on a new challenge next month – to run 160 miles through the Sahara Desert.
Heather, who grew up and went to school in Moray, is set to take part in the infamous Marathon des Sables.
The 39-year-old mum-of-two, is undertaking the fearsome challenge for the Army Benevolent Fund, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
It means running the equivalent of six marathons in just six days, on sand and through temperatures of 30C.
And if all that wasn't difficult enough, all the competitors will have to carry their own food, water and tents.
Heather reckons it will be the hardest thing she's done since retiring from rowing following the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where she won the second of her two gold medals.
She said: "The Marathon des Stables had always been on my bucket list but I thought I'd missed my chance.
"But then the Army Benevolent Fund got in contact with me in November.
"I thought about it for about two seconds, before saying yes.
"It's an Olympic year and I was looking for a challenge and to get back into shape after having had my children."
Heather went to school at Gordonstoun and her parents still live in Lossiemouth.
She has been in the Army since 2008 and holds the rank of Major.
Alongside her rowing partner Helen Glover, she won gold medals at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Heather said: "I took part in all sorts of sports when I was at Gordonstoun, but I don't think I'm a natural runner.
"My first marathon was the London Marathon in 2017, the year after I retired, and it was absolutely horrendous.
"Although I had the cardio-vascular fitness, it was agony for my legs and my hips.
"My body was used to sitting down in a boat rather than bearing its own weight."
Heather is flying out to Morocco in the middle of April, where she'll meet the rest of the team who are all running for the Army Benevolent Fund.
The team is being led by Rob Rinder, the barrister and broadcaster, who’s known from programmes such as Judge Rinder, Good Morning Britain and Strictly Come Dancing.
Its other members are Colonel Mark Nooney, Corporal Natalya Platonova and Britain’s most senior soldier – Army Sergeant Major Paul Carney.
Heather said: “I’m used to battles of the body and mind when training and competing. But I respect this race – it doesn’t get the reputation as the toughest on earth for no reason.
“I’m looking forward to taking on all it’s got to throw at us.
“The Army Benevolent Fund is a fantastic cause and it’s such a huge challenge, so I’m both excited and nervous in equal measure.”
For the past 80 years The Army Benevolent Fund has being giving a lifetime of support to serving soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families.
To sponsor Heather, Rob RI and the rest of the team, visit their Justgiving page.
