The Marathon des Sables was my first expedition. Seven of us shared a tent in the desert for over a week. Each day we ran roughly a marathon to the next camp, where we were given a tent and water. Everything else, food, clothing and sleeping kit, we carried on our backs.
Over the week we got to know each other well. One of my tent mates talked about his dream of climbing Everest. What a goal, I thought. Eight months later, I messaged him.