Jake Meyer Takes on the Marathon des Sables: A sandblasted stroll for a greater Purpose

From Everest to the Sahara: Jake’s Latest Wild Idea

If you know our Jake, you know he’s far more at home crunching through ice on frozen mountains than slogging through scorching desert dunes. But true to form, our Global Accounts Director and Senior Consultant has decided to swap crampons for sand-gaiters (whatever those are?) and take on the Marathon des Sables—a casual 250km race through the Sahara Desert. Six days of blistering heat, relentless dunes, sand getting in his nooks and crannies, and carrying everything on his back—because apparently, just doing a normal ultra-marathon wasn’t hard enough already.

What Is the Marathon des Sables?

Before we dive deeper into Jake’s questionable life choices, here’s a quick look at what he’s signed up for…

Training? What Training?

Now, we could tell you that Jake has meticulously prepared for this challenge, but that would be wildly optimistic. Let’s just say his training regime has been more “aspirational” than actual—because why plan ahead when you can just dive in headfirst and figure it out along the way? You’d think a guy who’s conquered Everest and the icy extremes of K2 would have this nailed, but running in sand? Not quite his natural habitat.

In His Own Words…

Ever the inspiration, Jake had the following to say about his upcoming adventure:

“I signed up in a moment of foolish bravado… I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

Running for a Reason

But it’s not just about ticking another crazy challenge off his list. Jake is running to raise funds for Walking With the Wounded, a charity close to his heart that supports veterans transitioning to civilian life. For some veterans, their toughest battles can be after their service has come to an end, as they look to find purpose, fulfilment and a career outside of the forces. This isn’t always easy, and WWTW works tirelessly offering personalised employment support,
mental health and well-being support, and support care coordination to help veterans who are struggling after military service. It’s a cause he’s championed and supported for years, and this time he’s trading in his ice axe for a desert pack to make a difference.

Cheering You On (From the Shade)

As always, Jake’s proving that development and resilience mean pushing yourself beyond the comfortable—even if it means sweating it out under a relentless sun instead of conquering icy summits. We’ll be cheering him on (from the comfort of our air-conditioned offices) and sharing updates on his progress—sand-filled shoes and all.

If you’d like to support Jake and this fantastic cause, check out his fundraising page here:
👉 https://gofund.me/40372db4

Good luck, Jake—don’t forget the sunscreen and Vaseline, and watch out for those lonely amorous camels…

If you, too, would like to find out how Jake got on, click the link below to learn the leadership lessons from the toughest footrace on Earth… 

Footsteps in the Sand: Leadership Lessons from the Toughest Footrace on Earth