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Running Through Sand: An Ageing Comedian’s Ill-Thought-Out Ultra in the Sahara
NOMINATED FOR THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE 2027
'I loved every page' TIM VINE
'Hilarious and occasionally heartbreaking' TOBY JONES
'Moving, inspiring and laugh-out-loud funny' LISA JACKSON
250KM IN THE SAHARA DESERT. 2 MONTHS TRAINING. CAN AGEING RUNNER AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR PAUL TONKINSON CONQUER THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST FOOT RACE?
Ageing as a runner is no joke. Paul Tonkinson discovers that in running, as in life, you are gradually overtaken by a stream of young people wearing clothes you couldn't get in to and in shoes you don't recognise. He observes that your relationship with running changes – you no longer run as fast as you can, you run as fast as your body can handle, which is slow. So, embrace it.
Why not the toughest footrace on earth? The Marathon Des Sables, a week long, 250km self-sufficient sweat fest across the Sahara Desert. What could possibly go wrong?
Turns out… lots. While training for the event, calves explode, tendons pop, knees disintegrate. Years come and go, time seems to be running out as the race seems an impossible dream and then, in 2024 when fitness is finally achieved, a freak accident. Paul is run over by dogs, hospitalised, all hope is lost…
Spring 2025, the planets align. Tonkinson snags entry to MDS, two months till race time. It's on – the last hurrah. Get the gear down from the attic, apply the toe jelly and find that mandatory whistle.
With such little time to train, he can't compete any more that's for sure. So the question is more can he possibly finish?
'I loved every page' TIM VINE
'Hilarious and occasionally heartbreaking' TOBY JONES
'Moving, inspiring and laugh-out-loud funny' LISA JACKSON
250KM IN THE SAHARA DESERT. 2 MONTHS TRAINING. CAN AGEING RUNNER AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR PAUL TONKINSON CONQUER THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST FOOT RACE?
Ageing as a runner is no joke. Paul Tonkinson discovers that in running, as in life, you are gradually overtaken by a stream of young people wearing clothes you couldn't get in to and in shoes you don't recognise. He observes that your relationship with running changes – you no longer run as fast as you can, you run as fast as your body can handle, which is slow. So, embrace it.
Why not the toughest footrace on earth? The Marathon Des Sables, a week long, 250km self-sufficient sweat fest across the Sahara Desert. What could possibly go wrong?
Turns out… lots. While training for the event, calves explode, tendons pop, knees disintegrate. Years come and go, time seems to be running out as the race seems an impossible dream and then, in 2024 when fitness is finally achieved, a freak accident. Paul is run over by dogs, hospitalised, all hope is lost…
Spring 2025, the planets align. Tonkinson snags entry to MDS, two months till race time. It's on – the last hurrah. Get the gear down from the attic, apply the toe jelly and find that mandatory whistle.
With such little time to train, he can't compete any more that's for sure. So the question is more can he possibly finish?
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 24, 2026
Want to run marathon de sables. Now
May 18, 2026
I was expecting a really funny story about running through the desert in your fifties. And it is funny, but what surprised me most was what a thoughtful and philosophical book it is, about how we runners feel as we age and inevitably slow down, the self-doubt we face, the guilt at the selfishness of endeavours we take on, and why we challenge ourselves.
This is one of the most relatable running books I’ve read in a long time. In a similar life stage to Paul, I’m taking on my own endurance challenge soon and I’d recommend this to any midlife runners wondering if they can still do hard things.
It also paints a really vivid picture of what it’s really like to spend 7 days moving through the Sahara - fascinating stuff!
This is one of the most relatable running books I’ve read in a long time. In a similar life stage to Paul, I’m taking on my own endurance challenge soon and I’d recommend this to any midlife runners wondering if they can still do hard things.
It also paints a really vivid picture of what it’s really like to spend 7 days moving through the Sahara - fascinating stuff!
October 13, 2026
I thoroughly enjoy an adventure and a challenge, and find it ever inspiring to read of people pushing themselves past the limits of what we imagine we can do.
Some quotes I loved:
“The future is the easiest place to live in; the past is full of regret and longing, things that went wrong and right, inherently selective. The present is fleeting, ephemeral, spiritual algorithm that is constantly evading us. An arena of anxiety, victories and defeats, a dance of advance and retreat. It’s the future that seduces us, brimming, as it does with infinite possibilities- the main possibility being that you magically become someone else.”
“We have these ideas of life and how to live. But they require will. The will to resist our impulses. Put down the phone. Pass the chocolate aisle. Resist the infernal biscuitry temptation of life.”
“The architecture of my life we concluded, was quite claustrophobic. It was safe, but perhaps limiting. As you get older you develop routines. Part of this is useful, good even. You know what works for you and you do it. This guarantees a level of pleasure, but it becomes a safety net, hinders growth. You can never go back in life but we constantly do - to favourite restaurants, holiday destinations - and it’s never the same because we aren’t; you’ve locked yourself into an ever-so-slightly diminishing spiral, a narrowing lane.”
Some quotes I loved:
“The future is the easiest place to live in; the past is full of regret and longing, things that went wrong and right, inherently selective. The present is fleeting, ephemeral, spiritual algorithm that is constantly evading us. An arena of anxiety, victories and defeats, a dance of advance and retreat. It’s the future that seduces us, brimming, as it does with infinite possibilities- the main possibility being that you magically become someone else.”
“We have these ideas of life and how to live. But they require will. The will to resist our impulses. Put down the phone. Pass the chocolate aisle. Resist the infernal biscuitry temptation of life.”
“The architecture of my life we concluded, was quite claustrophobic. It was safe, but perhaps limiting. As you get older you develop routines. Part of this is useful, good even. You know what works for you and you do it. This guarantees a level of pleasure, but it becomes a safety net, hinders growth. You can never go back in life but we constantly do - to favourite restaurants, holiday destinations - and it’s never the same because we aren’t; you’ve locked yourself into an ever-so-slightly diminishing spiral, a narrowing lane.”
September 16, 2026
Audiobook. This was a disappointment because I was expecting to really like it. A comedian who takes up ultra running is right up my alley. I just couldn’t get into it. TBH possibly was related to the accent of the narrator as I had a hard time understanding him at times. I had to concentrate deeply to really understand what was happening and that’s just not the way I consume audiobooks. It might be very good for others but I just couldn’t get into it. Unfortunately
Review of advance copy
I rarely read books about running any more. I wrote one after all. But this was just fabulous. It was so good I read the majority of it in one day. It’s so entertaining you feel like Tonk has dragged you along for the ride, so insightful you feel like you’ve been there with him. A funny, witty, deep and insightful book. I adored it.
June 9, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyable read. And coming at the right time for me as I’m also about to take on another ultramarathon and entered the final year of my forties 🫣
I’ve followed Paul’s journey via the podcast he does, and social media so was good to get my hands on the actual book he’s talked about!
Not only a story but also gives meaning as to why people do these adventures and escapades
I’ve followed Paul’s journey via the podcast he does, and social media so was good to get my hands on the actual book he’s talked about!
Not only a story but also gives meaning as to why people do these adventures and escapades
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August 31, 2026I hadn’t heard of Paul before reading the book, which might of made it a different reading experience🤣
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was easy to read and was structured well.
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was easy to read and was structured well.
September 2, 2026
Full sables hilarious 👌🏻
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews