The Marathon des Sables - a grueling seven-day foot race that takes place in the Sahara Desert of Morocco, is possibly the greatest test of endurance I have ever seen. Sitting in a hotel in Ouazazarte last year, I watched the survivors limp in and (surprisingly) most of them reached for cigarettes and beer! Some of them could hardly walk and one of them was a blind man. Amazing.
Why this IS the toughest footrace on Earth
It covers 243km/151 miles (made up of legs of 25, 34, 38, 82, 42, 22 km) run over 6 days (7 for some) - equivalent to 5 1/2 regular marathons. That's a speed of between 3 and 14 km an hour for competitors aged between 16 and 78). In addition to that, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (apart from a tent) on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc). Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint.
You will have to prepare all your own food throughout the race and I warn you that there is not a chain of Tesco stores or corner grocery shops dotted around the Sahara. You will experience mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F, of running or walking on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15 - 20% of the distance being in sand dunes.
The heat, distance and rubbing will trash your feet and may cause severe trauma if incorrect shoes and equipment are not used. Mental stamina probably constitutes at least 50% of whether you will complete the distance or not. Physical fitness is important but don't underestimate the mental stress that you will need to endure. Even if you have run dozens of 26 mile marathons, this does not mean that you will automatically find the MdS easy.
On the 4th day, you will set off across the barren wilderness to complete a 45 - 50 mile stage. Few people complete this before dark that evening and some will not come in till after dark the next night. This is followed by the 42km Marathon stage!! Its tough, so don't say that nobody warned you in the strongest terms.
The Marathon des Sables (or "Marathon of the Sands") was founded in 1986 by a Frenchman, Patrick Bauer. This year's race takes place between 6 -12 April 2003, somewhere in the vicinity of Ouarzazate, Morocco. The exact location of the event changes each year, and the details are kept secret until a few days before the race.
According to the official website, the rules state, "Competitors must carry all their own food and personal gear for the entire race.
The Event Organization only provides a ration of water each day (about 9 liters, depending on the length of the stage) and an open-sided tent. Competitors are required to carry a minimum kit including 2000 calories/day of food, a sleeping bag, an anti-venom pump and a survival kit." Facing temperatures of up to 120-degrees Fahrenheit, the event describes itself as "the world's toughest footrace", and includes a 'corpse repatriation fee' to the price of entry.
But 'failure is not an option' in this race and harder to stand than the blisters, swelling, chaffing and heat is to have your name ignominiously slapped on the 'quitters' board. This might explain why last year only 40 runners drop out from a field of 600. Clearly sun damage isn't the only hurdle to be faced in this race. Heat exhaustion, severe dehydration, and a Saharan specialty, personal psychodrama, are all on the menu (indeed, that vulture circling overhead may or may not be part of the hallucination.) Under these severe conditions, the competitor doesn't have to debate whether to bother with sunblock or not - it is part of survival.
In addition to the immediate threat of sunstroke, there are the long-term effects of skin damage to consider. Almost one million cases of skin cancer are now identified in the U.S. alone each year, and with the depletion in the ozone layer, this is an issue we can no longer afford to ignore. Modern hi-tech sports clothing for this kind of event will probably already be UV protective, but SPF cream should also be applied and a hat that covers the forehead, ears and neck is a given.
Another potential health risk is retinal degeneration and cataract formation. Sand reflects 17-percent of light and some form of eye protection should always be worn.
The 21st Maraton takes place in 2006 from the 7th to 17th of April. And you will find the official website here: MARATHON DES SABLES
Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, news
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