Legendary race in the Sahara
The Marathon des Sables: From Patrick Bauer’s Vision to a Global Phenomenon
The Marathon des Sables (MDS) is a multi-stage footrace held in the Moroccan Sahara. The event originated in 1984 when Patrick Bauer traveled across the desert, covering 350km in twelve days while carrying his supplies. In 1986, the first official race was organized with twenty-three participants.
The event attracts nearly 1,200 competitors annually from over fifty countries. Participants cover approximately 250km over six stages in food autonomy. The organization provides water and Berber tents at night; all other equipment, including food and sleeping gear, must be carried by the runner. The MDS has been won fifteen times by Moroccan runners Lahcen and Mohamad Ahansal.
The Sahara: A Symphony of Ergs and Endless Dunes
The race takes place in the Moroccan Sahara, primarily in the province of Errachidia. The landscape features stony plateaus known as regs and dry riverbeds called oueds. A major part of the course involves ergs, or sand dune fields. These dunes, such as Erg Chebbi, can be hundreds of meters high, requiring effort against the fine sand.
Navigating these dunes requires a managed pace due to high heat, which regularly reaches 45°C. Sand is present in shoes and equipment, often leading to blisters. In this environment, sandstorms can affect visibility. To traverse these dunes is to navigate the Sahara.
Marathon des Sables
April 9, stage 1: Ait Sâadane – Rich Merzoug
The first stage covered 28km with two checkpoints. The temperature reached 41°C with 14% humidity, and 731 runners started the race. I began with a 7.7kg pack (dry weight), which included clothing, a sleeping bag, safety equipment, and 4.5kg of food (21,000 calories).
Although this stage was intended for acclimatization, the pace was fast from the start. I walked between the first and second checkpoints during a steep climb. The views from the summit were clear, though the finish line was distant.
I finished in 3h 34. A windstorm had blown away many of the tents; the staff was busy, and I lacked the energy to rebuild the tent immediately. It was too windy to cook, so I ate my rations with cold water. By 5:00 pm, the wind subsided, allowing for a quiet evening.
The winner finished in 2h 03, while the final participant took 11h 30.
April 10, stage 2: Rich Merzoug – Ma’der El Kebir
The second stage covered 35km with two checkpoints, reaching temperatures of 42°C. 719 runners began the day, while twelve had retired after the first stage. The morning briefing noted that conditions were among the most difficult in the history of the MDS due to the rare combination of high humidity and heat. I maintained a moderate pace, running the first 7km before transitioning to a fast walk.
A sandstorm began during the 4km dune section after the second checkpoint, reducing visibility and cooling the air. Following the dunes, the course crossed a 7km dried-out lake where visibility was limited to 300m. I managed three blisters and focused on navigation to avoid getting lost in the haze.
I finished in 5h 17, as the stage was particularly demanding. For the second night, the tents had been blown away by the wind, and I ate cold rations in the sand. The winner finished in 3h 03, while the final participant completed the course in 10h 16.
April 11, stage 3: Ma’der El Kebir – Maharc
Stage 3 covered 38km with three checkpoints. The temperature reached 39.4°C with 18% humidity. 663 runners started the day, while sixty-eight had already retired from the race. Having saved energy the previous day, I felt capable. The weather was clear with no wind, and the terrain offered a variety of landscapes and colors.
Cliffs provided contrast against the sand, helping to mark the progression. The second checkpoint was located at the top of a hill, offering views over the surroundings. A 3km stretch of dried-out lake before the third checkpoint was the most demanding part of the stage, as the white ground reflected the sun. Later, I passed a solar-powered pump; while some runners drank the water, I used it to cool down, despite its strong odor.
I finished in 6h 01. The tents remained standing, providing time for recovery and medical attention for blisters. I discarded a pair of thin socks and cleaned my gear for the following days. In the evening, we received an additional bottle of water and I began receiving messages from friends. The winner finished in 3h 10, while the final participant took 11h 30.
April 12, stage 4: Maharch – Jebel El Mraïer
The fourth stage was shortened by 15km to 57km due to severe weather conditions. Water rations were doubled at the first three checkpoints, and the start was delayed until 10:00 am. I maintained a moderate pace, alternating between fast walking and running, as many participants required long breaks at checkpoints to recover.
The terrain featured numerous sand dunes. A sandstorm occurred during the day with the wind coming from behind, occasionally reducing visibility as dust filled the air. I reached the fifth checkpoint without significant fatigue and ran through the final section, finishing in 9h 13 before nightfall.
During the stage, I consumed 13 liters of water and 3,000 calories to manage the effort. The winner completed the stage in 4h 53, while the final participant arrived after 25h 14.
April 13, rest day
The rest day was for the 374 runners who finished the 57km stage the previous day. The remaining 233 participants crossed the finish line throughout the day, with the final runner arriving at 11:14 am after 25h 14 of effort.
I spent the day resting and walking through the camp, which housed approximately 750 runners and 450 staff. The infrastructure, including three trucks and a helicopter, had been set up quickly. In the evening, some participants played football despite having covered 158km over the preceding days.
April 14, stage 5: Jebel el Mraïer – Kourci Dial Zaïd
The fifth stage was a marathon distance of 42.2km with four checkpoints. The temperature reached 28.1°C with 20% humidity. Of the 585 runners who started the stage, 146 had retired previously.
I had eaten most of my food, so my pack weight had decreased to 5.5kg. I started quickly and attempted to follow the pace of several runners, using others as a windbreak against the strong headwind. I passed the first checkpoint (10.5km) in 1h 05 and the second (22.5km) in 2h 15.
I reached the dunes of Erg Znaïgui (30km) in 3h 10 but began to feel unwell, experiencing chills often associated with hyperthermia. I stopped running, cooled my head with water, and prioritized photography over my ranking. After crossing the dunes and reaching the third checkpoint, I continued walking toward the fourth.
I partially recovered by the time I reached the fourth checkpoint and resumed running, crossing the finish line in 5h 40. In the evening, there was a classical music concert performed by musicians from Paris. The stage was won in 3h 16, while the final participant completed the course in 11h 45.
April 15, stage 6: Kourci Dial Zaïd – Merzouga
The pace for the final 11.8km stage was fast, despite crossing some of the highest dunes in Morocco, reaching 300m. I completed the first 7.5km in 28 minutes, maintaining a speed of 16km/h, and continued running through the dunes. I finished the stage in 1h 03.
I was satisfied with the effort, although my ranking for the stage was 113th. The level of competition and motivation among the participants was high, and the race was characterized by a quality atmosphere and friendships developed throughout the week.
Overall
Lahcen Ahansel won in 17h14, Annette Herdman finished 585th in 67h09. I finished 111 in 31h01. 585 runners have finished this 21st Marathon des Sables out of the 731.
Information
The Rules and Race Dynamics
The Marathon des Sables is governed by regulations intended to ensure safety and maintain the self-sufficiency requirement. Participants carry a mandatory kit for the duration of the event, including a sleeping bag, headlamp, compass, signaling mirror, knife, and disinfectant. A primary rule concerns nutrition: runners carry a minimum of 2,000 calories per day, totaling at least 14,000 calories. Missing mandatory equipment or food results in time penalties or disqualification.
The race consists of six stages over seven days. While the first three stages cover between 30km and 40km, the fourth stage is the longest. Covering between 80km and 90km, it continues through the night and into the following day. Fatigue and limited sleep are significant factors during this part of the course.
Water is provided by the organization at specific checkpoints and at the bivouac. Participants receive a specific volume of water based on the distance and temperature; exceeding the ration leads to time penalties. Medical staff have the authority to remove a participant if their health is at risk. The competitive ranking is finalized after the fifth stage, followed by a final solidarity stage.
