March 25, 2025
When term ends, he is heading straight to Heathrow to venture into The Marathon Des Sables: Legendary, billed as the “toughest footrace on the planet”.
He is very much looking forward to predictably high temperatures, a gruelling 252km challenge that will feel like a long year, and what is being touted as the “toughest route ever” over the Sahara dunes over 6 days. Runners carry their own food, water and kit through the desert heat. Nic’s bib number is 231 and he’ll be in bivouac EB. Although it’s not possible to contact him directly this year, his progress will be trackable both via the Des Sables website and facebook page. You’ll also be able to leave messages of encouragement or simply questioning his choice of leisure activities on the facebook page. There may also be a chance for Nic to leave us a video message en route.
This is in aid of Leukaemia Care and donations for this endeavour gratefully received on his justgiving page.
The Pause
At St James, we feel it is important to introduce our pupils to stillness and allow them to discover how to be inwardly free and deeply at ease within themselves. A short period of 5-10 minutes at the beginning and middle of every day is allocated to quietude in which pupils may meditate, contemplate or simply be still – according to their own spiritual inclinations.