Dad has ultra desert marathon run in the bag

A DAD has told how he completed a 156-mile ultra desert marathon on a strict diet of crisps and porridge.

Mark Snodgrass, 42, survived on his favourite McCoy’s snack and oats during the gruelling seven-day race across the Sahara Desert.

The dad-of-two, who runs for Penicuik Harriers, and two friends raised more than £27,000 for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) after completing the challenge.

They ran six marathons in seven days in baking temperatures of up to 130 degrees last month.

Mark, an IT sales manager, said: “I had never ran in conditions like that before and it was very tough.

“But if they had banned crisps I don’t think I could have completed it.”