Emily Moore: Conquering the Marathon des Sables

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In the second episdoe of the Running Tales podcast, in collaboration with Run Tri Bike, we spoke to endurance athlete, Emily Moore.

Known as Tiny Training Shark on Instagram, Emily is no stranger to overcoming monumental challenges. At just 19 years old, she faced a severe knee injury that doctors believed would leave her unable to walk unaided. 

But Emily’s spirit was unbreakable. She defied medical odds by not only walking again but also running the London Marathon, with her knee surgeon cheering her on at the finish line.

Since that pivotal moment, Emily has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible, completing numerous marathons and triathlons, teaching herself to swim along the way.

In October 2022, she became an ultra runner by finishing the gruelling Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra. Emily’s endurance feats did not stop there; she then took on Go Beyond Challenge's Capital to Country Multi-Day Ultra, a five-day, 123-mile race through the foothills of Nepal.

That event was only her starting point though, with the end goal being to tackle the Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 250km (155-mile) race through the scorching Sahara Desert in Morocco. It’s known as the toughest footrace on Earth, pushing competitors to their limits with extreme temperatures, treacherous sand dunes, and endless stretches of desert. 

Many participants describe it as a battle of mental fortitude as much as physical endurance.

In this episode, Emily shares her raw and honest experiences from MDS. Her journey through the Sahara was nothing short of extraordinary. When asked back in February about her thoughts on the race, Emily's response was a nonchalant, “It’ll be alright, won’t it?” 

This seemingly casual remark reflects a mindset which has driven her to achieve incredible feats - and helped her take on the heat and hazards of the desert.