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About Le Marathon des Sables

Runners at base camp. We took part in what has come to be referred to as "the toughest footrace on the earth" in April 2006. Le Marathon des Sables, which literally means the Marathon of the Sands was in its 21st year and 731 competitors took part from 32 countries.

Le Marathon des Sables takes place in the Sahara Desert in Southern Morocco where competitors cover roughly 150 miles, broken down into 6 stages over 7 days, the equivalent of nearly 6 marathons.

Participants are entirely self sufficient throughout the race and must carry all they need in backpacks. The race organisers provide water at checkpoints, basic shelter at night and a road book detailing the route - the rest will be up to the runners.

"Those who finish the course can announce it with due pride and emotion. The Marathon des Sable is a race in a league of its own and must remain the way history has shaped it. We often hear about the myth. It's founded as much on the sheer feats of the winners as the experiences of thousands of anonymous runners. Each participant comes to take up a personal challenge in which he/she will have invested considerable energy. This is most probably why pulling out is genuinely heart-rending. Everyone pushes their limits to the full to reach the finish line in the shortest time. There is a before and after the Marathon des Sables" - Patrick Bauer (Founder of the MdS)

The kind of distance covered in the MdS would be difficult under any circumstances, let alone in the extreme temperatures of the Sahara faced with a high likelihood of brutal sandstorms.
The terrain covered varies widely - ranging from uneven rocky plains to shifting sand and hard compacted desert.

Runners in the desert. The 3rd stage of the race is the much feared dune stage. Competitors take on approx 20 miles through energy-sapping dunes, at times sinking up to their knees in burning sand. Dune day is followed by the non-stop stage, which covers around 50 miles and pushes competitors to the very limit of their mental and physical endurance.

Keeping your body healthy, in particular your feet under these stresses, is extremely tough. Simply trying to cook and eat in such an exhausted state can be a real test.

For more information about the Marathon des Sables and the next marathon you should visit the Darbaroud web site (Darbaroud are the organisers of the Marathon des Sables).

Alternatively you can visit the Official UK MdS representative: http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk