Louise Thompson praised partner Ryan Libby on Instagram on Monday as he completed the gruelling Marathon des Sables.
The former Made In Chelsea star said she was Ryan’s biggest ‘cheerleader’ as he took on the seven-day, 257km ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert, Morocco.
The influencer gushed she is proud but has been ‘worried’ and also ‘mad’ at Ryan for ‘putting himself through the ridiculous torture’.
Sharing sweet family snaps of the couple reunited at the airport alongside their son Leo, Louise held up a ‘Welcome home daddy sign’ and treated Ryan to a box of doughnuts.
She wrote: ‘I’ve been so worried about this guy. I’m so in love with him but also so mad at him for putting himself through such a ridiculous amount of torture…. And by choice.
‘He’s not a cryer, so when he said he’d been getting really emotional I was genuinely worried.
Louise Thompson has praised partner Ryan Libby on Instagram on Monday as he completed the gruelling Marathon des Sables
The former Made In Chelsea star said she was Ryan’s biggest ‘cheerleader’ as he took on the seven-day, 257km ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert, Morocco
‘He didn’t think he’d finish the 3rd day (otherwise known as stage 3) where they had to run 85k through the desert. I was tracking him and was worried when the thing froze at the half way point. There was nothing we could do.
‘The whole thing is just bonkers to me. I thought I was sporty and resilient but I collapsed after doing a 10k run around Battersea park once a few years ago. I can’t bare the monotony of running… and the idea of not being able to get somewhere quickly enough.
‘The thought of running through rain and sandstorms with no sleep and carrying all your supplies is frankly unthinkable.’
She continued: ‘Not to mention the blisters. And the rations of food and water. I wish I was as cool as you. I wish I could just pull on my big girl pants and do this.
‘Very few people will get around to doing a challenge like this in their lifetime. Other challenges, yes. Lots of challenges. I bet it takes your head to some funny places. The toughest foot race on earth.
‘Love that I get to be your cheerleader though. Next time I’m coming in some sort of dune buggy plz. More to say, but just happy to have you back and tucked up in bed.’
She concluded: ‘Leo is so proud of you. We’ve been creating a memory album in a beautiful leather bound book I bought from Aspinal.
‘Krispy Kreme’s and five guys on tap. Ps. Ryan just turned to me and said ‘no one will ever know how hard it is’. I believe him. Because I often feel the same way. X’
The influencer gushed she is proud but has been ‘worried’ and also ‘mad’ at Ryan for ‘putting himself through the ridiculous torture’
Sharing sweet family snaps of the couple reunited at the airport alongside their son Leo, Louise held up a ‘Welcome home daddy sign’ and treated Ryan to a box of doughnuts
She wrote: ‘I’ve been so worried about this guy. I’m so in love with him but also so mad at him for putting himself through such a ridiculous amount of torture…. And by choice’
She added: ‘Love that I get to be your cheerleader though. Next time I’m coming in some sort of dune buggy plz. Leo is so proud of you’
Ryan has followed in his fellow Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews’ footsteps, who took on the intense challenge in 2021.
Taking to social media through out the challenge, Ryan revealed he struggled with blisters from day one as he shared an update.
He penned: ‘Stage 1: 32km, 30 degrees, elevation 316m. This experience is already quite different to the race we did earlier this year in Morocco.
‘The terrain is different, it’s more rocky, there’s more shrubbery and trees, there’s a 1000+ people here racing and it’s much much hotter.
‘Today we took it slow. Trying to acclimatise to the conditions. It started off well, but the last 10k I could feel the blisters on my feet starting to reappear. Same hot spots as last time. Less than ideal, and if I’m honest it’s a bit of a worry. My feet seem to be so susceptible to blisters, I can’t seem to get on top of it.
‘Blisters aside, I feel okay. Today was a challenge, tomorrow it steps up a gear, with 40km, 620m elevation waiting ahead of us. Weather forecasts suggests the same temperatures, 28-30.
‘I’ve FaceTimed home a couple times already which has been really nice. I didn’t do that last time, as I thought it would be easier on everyone if I didn’t. But this time, more contact the better. There’s actually an emotion box here on camp where you can record a video message and send it back home to loved ones. So I’ll do that when the time feels right.
‘For now it’s time to eat some food, tend to my feet, get in my sleeping bag and pray my body can do some serious healing over night.’
Towards the end of the challenge, Ryan gave another update on social media revealing he has been ‘tested to his limits’.
He explained: ‘Today started at 5am, my feet were ballooned, blistered and bleeding. If I was going to make it to the start line, I had to do something.
Ryan held up his medal and pictures of Louise and Leo as he crossed the finish line
Louise shared a conversation with Ryan where he let her know he was nearly back and she poked fun at a photo of him
Ryan has followed in his fellow Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews’ footsteps, who took on the intense challenge in 2021 in memory of his late brother who died whilst descending Mount Everest in 1999
‘So I turned my running shoes into crocs with my penknife and we set out for stage 6 of the @marathondessables which was a 42km race.
‘We got just beyond half way, climbed the highest elevation we had mapped for the day, and we just sat there for a few minutes to soak it up. This week has been incredibly challenging and I have absolutely been tested to my limits.
‘I’m so grateful to @currutigoity for being here with me. It’s hard to articulate just what we’ve been through. But this is something I’ll never forget. He’s the most incredible friend and I categorically couldn’t have done this without him.
‘Tomorrow we got 20km to do, let’s finish this thing, have a cold beer and get home to our families.’
It comes after Ryan admitted he struggles with being a ‘modern-age dad’ who earns less than Louise.
Ryan also revealed his fears over one day becoming a stay-at-home-father as work dries up.
The former TV star, who also works as a personal trainer, expressed his concerns on the latest episode of the couple’s podcast, He Said, She Said.
‘I’m down in the weeds and not feeling particularly grateful for who I am or what I’m doing,’ he explained. ‘There are days when it’s like, I’m really not getting this right. It’s not moving and it’s not progressing how I would want it to.
‘It’s been a very quiet start to 2025 on the work front for Ryan – and it’s panicked me.’
It comes after Ryan admitted he struggles with being a ‘modern-age dad’ who earns less than Louise (pictured: the couple in December)
Ryan, who lives in London with Louise and their son Leo claimed part of the problem is not knowing what career choices to make
Ryan, who lives in London with Louise and their son Leo claimed part of the problem is not knowing what career choices to make.
He currently describes himself as a digital marketer and podcaster who ‘works with brands’.
Speaking to Louise he added: ‘I don’t wrestle with the fact that you’re the breadwinner – I think it’s wonderful and I’ll support you – but if I can be as relaxed about that situation… me being a slightly modern-age dad… I think that’s the bracket I’m falling into.
‘There have been days over the past few weeks where I’m like, I might just fold! I might just be the stay-at-home dad and I might just do the cooking and the food shopping and the guy who pretends he can do DIY and hammers things all day.
‘Because Louise is actually earning more than I ever will, and she’s pretty bloody good at the whole business side of things, so why don’t I let her do that and I’ll do the other stuff.
‘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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