If you have run, hope to run or are intrigued by the Marathon des Sables footrace (150+ miles through the Moroccan Sahara), you should consider reading this recently released book: Carved by God, Cursed by the Devil by Ted Archer, a coaching student of Lisa’s.

Ted, the author, is someone Lisa met two years ago when he attended one of our running camps.  He was a naturally gifted runner with a great sense of humor.  A relative newcomer to the sport of running, he knew little about pacing, nutrition and gear. He went from a relative rookie to finishing 16th (the top American!) in a field of 802 runners at one of the world’s toughest footraces, the Marathon des Sables.   One of the great things about this book is that it’s a story, not a journal.  It’s a fun read, and it’s inspiring to learn about someone else’s journey.  You’ll also get to know many other runners (of varying abilities) who struggled along with Ted through 125-degree heat, sand dunes, salt flats, and rock gardens.

Please visit www.tedarcher.com to download an excerpt from the book, see photos of the event and watch a short video aired by ABC News, who followed the 2008 race.  –and you’ll need to find out how it ends.

You will quickly see that it’s an amazing story and you will most likely wish to find out how it ends.

Also, look for an interview with Ted Archer on Endurance Planet during the week of March 23: www.enduranceplanet.com.