Surviving the Sahara – Inside the Marathon des Sables, the World’s Toughest Footrace

Dubbed the toughest footrace on Earth, the Marathon des Sables (MdS) is a grueling multi-day ultramarathon that challenges participants to traverse approximately 250 kilometers across the unforgiving terrain of the Moroccan Sahara Desert. This annual event tests the limits of human endurance, self-sufficiency, and resilience.

A Brief History of a Brutal Race

The Marathon des Sables was conceived by Frenchman Patrick Bauer, who in 1984 embarked on a solo trek of 350 kilometers across the Sahara Desert. Inspired to share this transformative experience, Bauer organized the inaugural race in 1986 with just 23 participants. Since then, the MdS has grown exponentially, attracting over a thousand competitors annually from around the globe.

The Race Format – Six Days of Pain and Perseverance

The MdS spans six stages over seven days, covering diverse and challenging terrains:

• Stages 1–3: Medium-distance runs of 30–40 km each.

• Stage 4 (The Long Day): An arduous 80+ km stretch, often extending into the night.

• Stage 5: A standard marathon distance of 42.2 km.

• Stage 6: A non-competitive charity stage, approximately 10 km, fostering camaraderie among participants.

Competitors must be self-sufficient, carrying their own food, equipment, and personal belongings throughout the race. Water is rationed and provided at checkpoints, and communal Berber tents are set up at designated bivouac sites for overnight stays.

Training and Preparation – Building the Body and the Mind

Preparation for the MdS requires a comprehensive approach:

• Endurance Training: Incorporating high-mileage runs, often back-to-back, to simulate race conditions.

• Strength Conditioning: Focusing on core and lower-body strength to handle the added weight of the backpack.

• Heat Acclimatization: Training in heated environments or during peak temperatures to adapt to desert conditions.

• Mental Fortitude: Developing strategies to cope with isolation, fatigue, and the psychological demands of the race.

Many participants also engage in simulated self-sufficiency exercises, practicing with their race gear and nutrition plans to ensure efficiency and comfort during the event.

Gear and Packing Essentials – Living Out of a Backpack

Competitors are required to carry mandatory equipment, including:

• Sleeping bag

• Headlamp and spare batteries

• Compass and roadbook

• Emergency whistle and signaling mirror

• Minimum of 2,000 calories per day

• First-aid supplies, cooking equipment, and survival gear

Optional items often include gaiters to prevent sand ingress, specialized desert footwear, and comprehensive blister care kits. Balancing pack weight (typically between 6.5 to 15 kg) with essential supplies is crucial for performance and comfort.

The Daily Grind – Life in the Desert

Each day begins before dawn, with participants breaking camp and preparing for the day’s stage. The course presents a variety of challenges, from towering sand dunes to rocky jebels (mountains), under the relentless desert sun. Checkpoints provide rationed water and medical support, but the journey between them is a true test of endurance.

Evenings are spent at bivouac sites, where runners tend to injuries, share experiences, and rest under the starlit Sahara sky, fostering a unique sense of community and mutual support.

Famous Runners and Legendary Stories

The MdS has seen remarkable athletes:

• Rachid El Morabity: A Moroccan runner with multiple victories, renowned for his dominance in desert ultramarathons.

• Laurence Klein: A French athlete with several MdS wins, exemplifying endurance and resilience.

Inspirational tales abound, such as that of Mauro Prosperi, an Italian competitor who in 1994 survived nine days lost in the desert after a sandstorm veered him off course—drinking bat urine and eating lizards before eventually being rescued.

Why They Keep Coming Back

For many, one MdS is enough. For others, it becomes an annual pilgrimage. The appeal goes beyond running—it’s about testing your limits and discovering who you really are when stripped of all comfort.

The camaraderie, the solitude, the intensity, and the transformation draw people back. In a world filled with convenience, the MdS offers a rare crucible: a space where pain becomes purpose and exhaustion becomes transcendence.

posted Friday April 4th
by Boris Baron