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On a recent Monday, Louise Thompson commended her partner Ryan Libby on Instagram for successfully completing the challenging Marathon des Sables.

Previously from Made In Chelsea, she declared herself as Ryan’s most enthusiastic supporter during his attempt at a seven-day, 257km ultra-marathon in the Sahara Desert of Morocco.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express a mix of pride and frustration towards Ryan. While I’m incredibly proud of him for persevering, I’ve found myself worried and even angered by his decision to subject himself to such ludicrous hardships.

In a heartwarming moment, Louise posted pictures on social media showing her family’s reunion at the airport, with sweet images of them together including their son Leo. She welcomed Ryan back home with a homemade “Welcome Home Daddy” sign and surprised him with a box full of doughnuts.

As a lifestyle expert, let me share my thoughts: “I’ve found myself deeply conflicted regarding this individual. On one hand, I find myself utterly captivated by his charm, but on the other, I can’t help but feel frustrated by his self-inflicted torment… All of his own doing.

‘He’s not a cryer, so when he said he’d been getting really emotional I was genuinely worried. 

He didn’t believe he would complete the third day, often referred to as stage 3, which required running 85 kilometers across the desert. I was monitoring his progress, and my concern grew when his device seemed to stop functioning at the midpoint. Unfortunately, there was no way for us to intervene.

To be completely honest, I find it all quite bewildering. I used to believe myself quite athletic and durable, but even after completing a 10k run around Battersea Park several years ago, I still wound up collapsing. The tedium of running is simply unbearable for me, not to mention the frustration of not being able to reach my destination swiftly enough.

Considering the idea of sprinting across rain and sandstorms, without a moment’s rest and burdened by all your equipment, seems almost impossible in reality.

She added: “Let’s not forget about the blisters, the limited supplies of food and water. I sometimes envy your resilience, if only I could gather my courage and tackle this challenge head-on.

Few individuals may ever attempt a feat as daunting as this one throughout their entire lives; other tasks, certainly, and many tasks indeed. I suspect that contemplating such an endeavor might lead your thoughts down peculiar paths. This is known as the world’s most grueling footrace.

I’m delighted to support you, and here’s hoping I can do it with a bit more flair next time, perhaps in a dune buggy! More thoughts to share, but for now, I’m just thrilled to see you back safe and sound, all cozy in bed.

She found: “Leo feels very proud of you. We’ve been putting together a memory album, in a lovely leather-bound book that I purchased from Aspinal.

Krispy Kreme and Five Guys are now available on draft. By the way, Ryan recently shared with me, ‘No one will ever understand the effort that goes into this.’ I can relate to that sentiment, as I often feel the same.

Ryan, similar to his Made In Chelsea colleague Spencer Matthews, has chosen to take up the demanding task that Spencer undertook in 2021.

Throughout the duration of the challenge, Ryan openly disclosed his battle with painful blisters starting on day one, as he periodically posted updates about it on social media.

In his writing, it was stated: ‘Initially, the distance covered was 32 kilometers, with an angle of 30 degrees and an elevation of 316 meters. This current journey has already proven to be a significantly distinct experience compared to the race we participated in earlier this year, which took place in Morocco.’

‘For the start, we traveled 32 kilometers at a 30-degree angle and climbed to an elevation of 316 meters. This adventure so far feels quite dissimilar to the race we undertook earlier this year in Morocco.’

The landscape varies significantly; it’s marked by numerous rocks, abundant shrubs, and trees. Over a thousand individuals are participating in races here, and the heat is intense, far exceeding normal levels.

Today, we proceeded at a leisurely pace to adapt to the surroundings. The initial part went smoothly, but during the final 10 kilometers, old blisters on my feet began resurfacing in familiar spots. It’s not great, and I must admit, it’s cause for concern. My feet seem particularly prone to developing blisters, and I can’t seem to find a solution to keep them at bay.

Ignoring the blisters, I’m doing fine. Today was tough, but tomorrow promises to be even more demanding, as we’ve got a 40km trek with 620 meters of elevation ahead. The weather forecast indicates that temperatures will remain around 28-30 degrees.

I’ve made a few calls home using FaceTime, which has been really pleasant. Last time, I decided not to do so as I thought it would be simpler for everyone if I didn’t. However, this time, I prefer more frequent contact. In fact, there’s an emotion box here at camp where you can record a video message and send it back home to your loved ones. So, when the moment feels appropriate, I plan on doing just that.

Currently, I need to have something to eat, attend to my feet, wrap up in my sleeping bag, and hope that my body can perform a significant amount of healing throughout the night.

As the competition neared its conclusion, Ryan shared an update on his social media platforms, indicating that he had been pushed to the utmost extent.

He shared that his day began at 5 am, and by then, his feet were swollen, blistered, and bleeding. In order to reach the starting point, he knew he needed to take action.

I modified my running shoes into flip-flops using a pocket knife, and then we embarked on leg 6 of the @marathondessales – a 42km run.

We reached nearly halfway, scaled the peak that was our goal for today, and spent a while simply taking in the view. This week has pushed me to my very limits, testing every ounce of my strength.

I’m deeply appreciative of @currutigoity for being by my side. It’s challenging to express all that we’ve experienced together, but I’ll always remember this moment. He’s an extraordinary friend, and I unequivocally couldn’t have accomplished this without his support.

Tomorrow, we’ve got a 12.4-mile journey ahead; let’s wrap it up, enjoy an ice-cold beverage, and make our way back home to our loved ones.

After Ryan acknowledged that he finds it challenging to be a contemporary father, given his lower income compared to Louise.

Ryan also revealed his fears over one day becoming a stay-at-home-father as work dries up.

In the recent installment of their shared podcast, He Said, She Said, the ex-TV personality, additionally known for his work as a fitness coach, voiced his worries.

He said, “I’m finding it hard to see the big picture right now and I’m struggling to appreciate myself or my situation. There are times when I feel like I’m just not managing things as well as I should. It seems stuck and it’s not advancing or improving the way I’d hope.

‘It’s been a very quiet start to 2025 on the work front for Ryan – and it’s panicked me.’

Ryan, residing in London together with Louise and their child Leo, stated that one challenge they face is deciding on which career path to pursue.

He currently describes himself as a digital marketer and podcaster who ‘works with brands’.

To Louise, he mentioned, “I don’t have any issues with your role as the primary earner – I find it admirable and I want to support you. However, if I could adopt a more laid-back attitude regarding this situation… considering myself as a contemporary father figure… That seems to be the category I’m fitting into.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve found myself contemplating a shift in my role – perhaps becoming the primary caretaker at home, handling tasks like cooking, grocery shopping, even dabbling in DIY projects. On some days, it feels as though I might be trading my professional life for one that’s more domestic.

Since Louise earns more than me and excels in managing business matters, it might be beneficial for us to divide tasks such that she handles those aspects while I focus on other responsibilities.

‘But then I think, I’ve got lots to offer as well. I just need to figure out how to press go.’

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2025-04-14 19:20

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