April 20, 2026

Running the Impossible: An Amputee Vows to Take on Marathon des Sables

Six marathons. Six days. The Sahara Desert. One prosthetic leg.

Marathon des Sables (MDS) is widely regarded as the toughest footrace on Earth. Competitors run six self‑supported marathons across the Sahara Desert in searing heat, carrying everything they need to survive - food, medical supplies and sleeping equipment - across shifting sand dunes and rocky terrain.

This year, one of our customers Richard Potter (@Amputee_rich) has set his sights on doing exactly that: a former British Army athlete, public speaker and below‑knee amputee who is no stranger to redefining what’s possible.

Why Marathon des Sables?

Richard has never been motivated by easy wins. Before becoming an amputee, he represented the UK in athletics and won gold in the 100 metres - a moment made even more meaningful by the fact he’d been told for years that he would never run again. That achievement proved something to him, but it didn’t quiet the internal drive that kept pushing him towards bigger challenges.

In 2024, that drive took him to Bhutan as part of the Limbitless Expedition, where he aimed to become the first disabled person to complete one of the world’s most difficult treks. After his teammate was forced to retire, Richard continued alone, finishing after 28 gruelling days and earning a place in the history books. When he returned home, newly a father, with an adopted son and an “as good as it gets” family life, he thought the chapter on extreme challenges might finally be closed.

It wasn’t. As he began searching for a challenge that few amputees had attempted, Marathon des Sables kept appearing at the top of the list. After fighting hard to secure a place, he’s now training hard for Marathon Des Sables legendary which is due to be held in April 2027.

Training as an Amputee

Training for Marathon des Sables while balancing work and family life is relentless, but highly intentional. Alongside his work delivering fitness sessions and motivational talks in schools, Richard’s days are built around a combination of strength work, interval training and long walk‑runs designed to replicate fatigue rather than speed alone. His current goal is to cover around 15 kilometres every day, gradually increasing volume as the race approaches.

For Richard, training isn’t simply about cardiovascular fitness. It’s about protecting his residual limb, managing pressure through his prosthetic, and safeguarding his remaining foot and ankle - knowing that one small injury could end the race before it truly begins.

Fear, Pain and the Long Day

While the Sahara’s snakes, scorpions and extreme heat are well‑documented, Richard’s biggest concern is the long stage - days four and five, where competitors must cover over 100 kilometres with little to no sleep.

“Walking through the Sahara at two in the morning while a sandstorm whips up and your leg is screaming at you to stop,” he says, “that’s where you really find out who you are.” He knows those moments will be brutal, but also believes they’ll be deeply revealing.

Becoming an Amputee

Richard’s life changed after a football injury while serving in the British Army led to routine surgery, and then to sepsis. Rushed into hospital in the early hours of the morning, his wife was told he might not survive the night. After weeks in intensive care and a long battle with infection and osteomyelitis, Richard ultimately underwent a below‑knee amputation of his left leg.

Now, six and a half years on, the biggest shift has been mental rather than physical. Where fear once dominated his thinking, it no longer does. “There’s no such thing as normal,” he says. “And there’s no guarantee of tomorrow, so you may as well embrace who you are and live today properly.”

With access to different prosthetic legs designed for different activities and terrain, Richard believes very little should be considered off‑limits.

Prosthetics, Crutches and Life at Camp

For Marathon des Sables, Richard will rotate between different prosthetic feet and blades depending on terrain, balancing weight, stability and energy return as conditions change from compact sand to crumbling dunes. There is no perfect prosthetic solution, only constant adaptation.

Once each day’s marathon is complete, however, his prosthetic comes off. After six to eight hours in extreme heat, his residual limb will be battered by friction, sweat and pressure. Blisters, sores and skin breakdown are not possibilities, they’re inevitabilities.

That’s where Cool Crutches with Extreme High Performance Ferrules play a vital role. They allow Richard to fully offload his stump while still moving independently around camp, from tent to medical area to toilets preserving dignity, independence and precious energy between stages.

Why This Matters

A documentary crew will follow Richard’s Marathon des Sables attempt, not to create a superhero narrative, but to challenge outdated perceptions of disability. His message is simple: disabled people don’t need sympathy - they need opportunity, belief and support.

Alongside the race, Richard is raising awareness for BLESMA, a UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of limbless veterans and their families. And when things get dark in the desert, one thought will keep him moving forward.

“My wife,” he says. “She’s saved my life twice. And my son Theo. Everything I do comes back to them.”

More Than a Finish Line

For Richard, simply reaching the start line already represents success. Earning a place, justifying the belief of sponsors and supporters and standing on that line in the sand is the real achievement. The race itself is the bonus and finishing, the final reward.

Follow Richard’s journey at @Amputee_rich and support BLESMA via JustGiving. This isn’t just a race, it’s a powerful reminder that disability does not define potential.