Spencer Matthews Great Desert Challenge: 30 Marathons in 30 Days
At Kandoo Adventures we specialise in trekking holidays to
iconic destinations and Jordan is one of them. In this blog, we’ll share
everything we know about the challenge so far.
![Natural rock bridge in the desert](https://pictures.altai-travel.com/1160x0/natural-rock-bridge-in-the-desert-167.jpg)
About Spencer Matthews
Spencer Matthews, aged 35, found fame following the launch
of reality TV show, Made in Chelsea and is now a TV personality, the founder of
CleanCo non-alcoholic spirits and is married to Irish TV personality and model
Vogue Matthews, with whom he has 3 children.
Spencer was raised on the family estates of Caunton Manor, a
30-acre estate in Nottinghamshire and Eden Rock in Saint Barthélemy and studied
at Eton. He is one of three brothers: Michael Spencer whose disappearance on
Everest was documented in the Disney+ documentary Finding Michael (2023)
and James Matthews who was a racing car driver and is married to Pippa
Middleton, younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Spencer also has an
older half-sister, Nina.
Previous Achievements
- In 2021, Spencer completed the Marathon des
Sables, a gruelling six-day ultra marathon running over 250kms (156 miles) in
the Sahara Desert.
- In 2022, Spencer travelled to Nepal in search of
his brother’s body 23 years after his record climb and consequent disappearance
on Everest. Spencer’s journey was recorded in the documentary Finding
Michael (2023) which you can read more about in our blog on Finding
Michael Matthews.
- In
2023, Spencer completed a 230km self-sufficient ultra marathon through the
Amazon Rainforest that less than 60 people have ever completed.
- This
year, a new hurdle awaits as Spencer will embark on a challenge that has never
been done before. On 29th July, Spencer will be attempting the Great
Desert Challenge to set a world record running 30 marathons in 30 days (or 786
miles) across the Jordanian desert.
The Great Desert Challenge
![Trekking in Jordan](https://pictures.altai-travel.com/1160x0/trekking-in-jordan-simon-pauline-2617.jpg)
Spencer is aiming to set a world record running 30 marathons
in 30 days across the desert while fundraising for Global’s Make Some Noise, a
national charity that works with small charities to change lives across the UK
including food banks, mental health and domestic helplines, carer support,
community projects and employment programmes.
With soaring temperatures exceeding over 40 degrees Celsius
in places, Spencer will run the equivalent of 5 x The Marathon Des Sables
covering 786 miles (1,266km) in total. And oh yeh, he’ll be running the whole
distance completely on sand!
As this is an official Guiness World Record attempt for “the
most consecutive marathons run on sand”, there are a number of rules that
Spencer must follow to be successful. A dedicated adjudicator will be present
during every marathon and will monitor Spencer’s progress in order for it to
register as a successful Guiness World Record.
Firstly, the whole attempt must be made on sand or the
marathon for that day becomes void, delegitimising Spencer’s efforts to
complete 30 marathons in 30 consecutive days. He will not be able to cross
roads, grass, rivers or other terrain during the 30 marathons, making the
challenge a logistical, as well as physical and mental feat.
In line with the rules, Spencer may also choose to run
barefoot or with shoes and may alternate throughout the attempt and all
marathons must be finished within 6 hours to be eligible for the world record
title.
You can follow Spencer’s daily updates via: https://www.makesomenoise.com/spencer-matthews-challenge/ and his Instagram and YouTube channels.
Training for The Great Desert Challenge
Spencer has recently completed a ‘recce’ trip to Jordan to
map the 786 mile (1,266km) route making up the 30 marathons, tracking the route
using support vehicles, checking each path was in fact sand and creating the
GPX files the team will need come July. During his recent trip to Jordan,
Spencer was also able to complete some training runs in the exact environment
he’ll be facing during the challenge. The climate and terrain are very unforgiving,
and the route faces a lot of soft beach-like sand, rolling dunes and plenty of
elevation and Spencer’s whole strategy has had to shift.
Taking to Instagram, Spencer said: “The first day was pretty
humbling… As we drove the route for the very first marathon I was quite taken
aback. The sand was considerably softer than I had hoped it would be, it was
hilly and the heat was overwhelming at 44 degrees Celsius with no breeze. My
mind wondered whether or not this was actually achievable. I was
uncomfortable”.
Kandoo Adventures
![Deir Monastery at Petra in Jordan](https://pictures.altai-travel.com/1160x0/deir-monastery-at-petra-in-jordan-adobe-stock-2823.jpg)
Trekking through the Jordanian desert may seem a little
daunting, especially if you haven’t done anything like it before, but with
Kandoo Adventures you’re in good hands and the experience is truly one like no
other. Explore hidden desert gorges, waterfalls and fascinating rock formations
in the Rainbow Valley, sleep in the desert under starlit skies and take a dip
in the Dead Sea, Jordan is a country rich in adventure. For a memorable
experience somewhere new, check out our Jordan tours and experience landscapes
like nowhere else. What are you waiting for?