Maltese CEO Benji Tabone Grech completed an impressive 250 kilometre marathon in parts of the Sahara desert going through Morocco.

“The 85km race following a full marathon the day before frightened me beyond belief,” he said while detailing the third stage of the Marathon Des Sables to Lovin Malta.

“My shoes were too tight, I had terrible blisters and I already disappointed with my performance.” 

The event was held over 11 days between 12th to 22nd April and it was split into six stages that could’ve been done while walking or running. Nine of the 11 days were spent crossing the southern Moroccan Sahara desert.

One of Benji’s biggest battles throughout the marathon was his shoes, telling the newsroom that he thought he “wouldn’t make it” until he finally cut off the front of them during the second check-point of stage five.

“I wouldn’t accept not finishing, but I was doubtful that I could beat the pain and continue.”

Benji explained that this specific challenge taught him something very important – never to say “we’ll see” again. 

“I knew my shoes were a ‘little’ small but I thought they’d be fine.”

He stated that while there were medics on site, they were only helping participants suffering from heatstroke, so he had to figure it out himself. At one point, while he was resting and trying to figure out how he would continue into the night, he encountered another athlete struggling with “super bad blisters” and asking for foot care.

“Again, no medic would help him… so, I told him I would,” he proudly recounted.

“I opened my medical bag and sorted his blisters. We then ran the end of the stage together finishing after midnight. I was over the moon.”

When he eventually completed the race, Benji described feeling “proud yet pensive”.

“After completing a few long races (not of this difficulty) over the past years I’ve learned to be conscious of handling my post-race blues. Into the roll-up of the finish line, I kept focussing on what I have truly learned.”

Besides learning that he will not leave too many things up to fate next time, he also realised that joy for him doesn’t come from being the greatest, rather, it comes from working with what he has and making a difficult situation into the best it can be.