Marathon des Sables

MdS logo

The Marathon des Sables (MdS, Marathon of the Sands, or Sahara Marathon)^[1] is a six-day, 251 km (156 mi)^[2] ultramarathon, which is approximately the distance of six regular marathons. The longest single stage (2009) is 91 km (57 mi) long.

This multiday race is held every year in southern Morocco, in the Sahara Desert. It is considered the toughest foot race on Earth.^[1][3] The first event of the Marathon started in 1986.

Racers winding their way up a large ridge.

A competitor at Marathon des Sables, Morocco

The camp in which competitors sleep at night.

Photo of the first British Runners to complete the Marathon des Sables (Dr Mike Stroud OBE, Rene Nevola, Richard Cooper and Prof Mike Lean).

History

The marathon was the brainchild of French concert promoter Patrick Bauer^[4] who in 1984 traversed the Sahara desert on foot and alone. He covered the 350 km (214 mi) in 12 days without encountering a single oasis or desert community along the way. Two years later in 1986 the first Marathon des Sables was run. 23 runners participated in the race with Bernard Gaudin and Christiane Plumere (both of France) finishing as the winning man and lady. By 2009 over 1000 runners participate in the event and the Solidarité Marathon des Sables association is created. The aim is to develop projects to assist children and disadvantaged populations in the domains of health, education and sustainable development in Morocco.^[5]

Winners

Notable participants

• Moroccan brothers Lahcen and Mohamad Ahansal, who won 10 and 6 editions respectively.^[6]
• Marco Olmo, Italian ultratrail specialist, ran all editions since 1996, with best placement 3rd (achieved three times). At the 2013 edition, Olmo was 64 years old, and he was 47 when he ran his first.^[7]
• Dima and Lama Hattab, Jordanian twins who were the first female Middle Eastern participants in the race.
• James Cracknell, British rower and adventurer, competed in the 2010 race and became the highest placing Briton to ever compete in the race, finishing 12th until fellow Briton Danny Kendall placed 5th in 2014.^[8]
• In 1994 René Nevola, Mike Stroud, Mike Lean and Richard Cooper became the first British runners to complete the Marathon des Sables. René Nevola was the first Briton to complete the race and finished in 22nd place.
• Mauro Prosperi, former Olympian from Sicily, entered the race in 1994 but was set 299 km off route by a harsh sand storm. He was lost for ~11 days before being found in Algeria, following a well-publicized search of the desert.
• In 1999 Carlos Sposito was the first Brazilian to complete the Marathon des Sables.^[9]
• Sir Ranulph Fiennes became the oldest Briton to complete the Marathon des Sables in 2015.^[10] In doing so he raised over £1million for Marie Curie.
• James Matthews, engaged to Pippa Middleton, competed in the marathon in 2008.^[11]

Bibliography

• Ted Archer: Carved by god, cursed by the devil – a true story of running the Sahara Desert. Redwood City CA, University of Dreams Foundation 2009. ISBN 978-0-9770735-3-5 (see: http://www.tedarcher.com/)
• Patrick Bauer ... [et al.]: Le Marathon des Sables. Paris, SPE (Société de production éditoriale) 2000. ISBN 978-2-912838-08-7 (English version by David Waldron).
• John Bonallak: The desert run. Wellington, New Zealand, Learning Media Ltd. 1999. ISBN 978-0-478-22948-6.
• Steve Cushing: 24th Marathon des Sables – a competitor's tale. Leicester UK, Matador 2010, ISBN 978-1-84876-286-2.
• Guy Giaoui; Foued Berahou: Ultramarathon stage racing - from our experiences of the Marathon des Sables, the Trans Aq', and other races - a practical guide. St-Genest-Malifaux, Raidlight 2008. ISBN 978-2-9530683-1-3.
• Mark Hines: The Marathon des Sables - seven days in the Sahara - enduring the toughest footrace on earth. London, Health Body Publishing 2007. ISBN 978-0-9553800-1-3 (hbk.). ISBN 978-0-9553800-5-1 (pbk. 2010).
• Monika Nicolle: Histoire d'un Marathon des Sables – 245 kilomètres dans le désert... Paris, Éditions de l'Onde 2010. ISBN 978-2-916929-30-9.
• Eddy Poirier: Vaincre soi-même : Marathon des Sables! Toute une histoire. [S.l.], Glob 2009. ISBN 978-2-918257-03-5.
• Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin: Regard sur le Marathon des Sables : 2004/06. Biarritz, SAI 2007. ISBN 978-2-7588-0037-8.
• Herbert Meneweger: Marathon des Sables - die Grenze ist, wo die Vorstellungskraft endet - der härteste Marathonlauf der Welt, 243 Kilometer durch die Sahara. Anthering AUT, Meneweger 2003. ISBN 978-3-200-00037-7.
• Mike Stroud OBE. (re-issued 2004). Survival Of The Fittest: Understanding Health and Peak Physical Performance. (ISBN 978-0224075077) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Survival-The-Fittest-Understanding-Performance/dp/0224075071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399385596&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+mike+stroud
• Dr Dan Tunstall Pedoe: Marathon Medicine. 2001. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marathon-Medicine-Dan-Tunstall-Pedoe/dp/1853154601 (ISBN 978-1853154607). or see page 186: https://books.google.com/books?id=Mr79AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=%22Marathon+medicine%22+sahara&source=bl&ots=fQ6_uz2wQx&sig=D8r7osWl7NjWYbLBGFYvvXa6m8s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SWadU8WwCYW-PM2jgdAG&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Marathon%20medicine%22%20sahara&f=false).

Notes

External links

• Official website of the Marathon des Sables
• Official website for UK Entrants
• Pictures of the Marathon des Sables from Rob Plijnaar, competitor in 2008
• Documentary on the 14th Marathon des Sables by Les Guthman