06/05/2026
Read Sam’s incredibly inspiring story about how hot yoga helped him conquer the legendary 270km Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert 🔥💙
14 years ago, then age 36, I ran the 270km (170 miles) Marathon de Sables, the week-long self-sufficiency race in the Sahara. I loved the camaraderie, suffered in the sun and sand, finished mid-pack, and promised it was one-and-done.
But...this year I was tempted back to the desert - partly for the amazing atmosphere, partly to raise money for the charity Media Trust, and partly to test if I was as fit at 50 as I had been at 36 (midlife crisis!).
This time, rather than “get fit and hope for the best”, I prepared properly: running with a weight vest to simulate the MdS heavy backpack; diligent trialling of kit and food; and most importantly 3x weekly hot yoga sessions at House of Hot Yoga to build resilience for the Sahara sun.
And it paid off! I massively surpassed my pre-race expectations, finishing 1st Brit and 27th overall (from 1500 runners). As an average, ageing runner, I’d competed on near-equal terms with the elite. I even fulfilled a 20-year dream of making it into Runner’s World.
The hot yoga sessions helped hugely - not just for the desert heat, but also improving strength and flexibility so I could recover each day and run again the next morning.
House of Hot Yoga is now part of my routine: I love the studio and instructors, and I’ll keep coming every week even without a desert run to motivate me!
