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| Marathon des Sables | |
|---|---|
| Name | Marathon des Sables |
| Location | Erg Chebbi, Sahara Desert, Morocco |
| First | 1986 |
| Distance | "≈ 250 km (multiday ultramarathon)" |
| Type | "Ultramarathon, Multistage, Self-sufficient" |
| Organiser | Éric Walther |
Marathon des Sables The Marathon des Sables is a multistage ultramarathon held annually in the Sahara Desert of Morocco, covering roughly 250 km over six days. It attracts endurance runners, adventurers, and military personnel from around the world, combining extreme heat, sand dunes, and logistical challenges. The event intersects with broader arenas such as endurance sport, adventure tourism, and international media coverage.
The event unfolds across the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga and involves long logistical coordination among organizations like race promoters, local Moroccan authorities, and international federations including World Athletics and military endurance units. Competitors often include athletes associated with institutions such as the Royal Air Force, United States Army, French Foreign Legion, and universities like University of Oxford and Harvard University. Media coverage has featured outlets such as the BBC, The New York Times, Le Monde, The Guardian, National Geographic, and broadcasters like Eurosport and Discovery Channel.
The race was founded in 1986 by Patrick Bauer with connections to sponsors and adventurers, later organized by event managers who liaised with stakeholders including the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism and regional authorities in Errachidia Province. Early editions drew explorers linked to expeditions by figures such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes and associated polar campaigns documented alongside voyages like Endurance (1914 expedition). Over decades the event evolved amid logistical episodes involving airline partners like Royal Air Maroc, safety frameworks influenced by organizations such as the International Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières, and regulatory attention from bodies akin to World Anti-Doping Agency.
The multistage route negotiates terrain types including the Erg Chebbi dunes, rocky hammada plateaus, and intermittent oases near settlements such as Merzouga, Rissani, and Erfoud. Stages vary from 20 km runs to long marches exceeding marathon distance on a marquee "long stage" comparable to legs in events like the Tour de France or endurance stages in the Badwater Ultramarathon. Camp logistics echo expedition planning from historic treks like the Mekong River expeditions and modern adventure races such as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Eco-Challenge. Navigation sometimes references celestial techniques used in voyages like James Cook’s Pacific voyages and modern GPS technology provided by firms akin to Garmin.
Runners include elite ultramarathoners who have competed in events such as Comrades Marathon, Western States Endurance Run, Spartathlon, and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, as well as celebrities and influencers associated with media like Vogue and Men's Health. Age-group categories echo systems used by Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games federations; military and corporate teams from organizations like the Royal Navy, United States Marine Corps, Google, and Nike also partake. Participation demographics show links to national athletics bodies including USA Track & Field, British Athletics, Fédération Française d'Athlétisme, Athletics Kenya, and Ethiopian Athletics Federation.
Competitors are self-sufficient, carrying food and mandatory equipment akin to backpacking lists promoted by organizations like REI, The North Face, and Patagonia. Safety protocols mirror standards from World Health Organization advisories and heat-stress research from institutions such as Harvard Medical School and University of Cambridge physiology departments. Medical and rescue support includes personnel trained by Red Cross, St John Ambulance, and military medics from units like Royal Army Medical Corps. Anti-doping controls reference practices from WADA and sample processing in laboratories similar to LGC facilities. Gear regulations resemble outdoor standards issued by International Organization for Standardization.
Record holders and notable finishers have crossed over from ultramarathons and endurance sports, with athletes who have also featured in events like the Comrades Marathon, Spartathlon, Badwater Ultramarathon, Western States Endurance Run, UTMB, and appearances by figures connected to BBC Sport and ESPN coverage. Performances have been documented in sports science literature from universities such as Oxford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University. National champions from Kenya, Ethiopia, France, United Kingdom, United States, and Spain have posted competitive times; celebrity participants include explorers linked to Sir Ranulph Fiennes expeditions and media personalities profiled by outlets like The Times and Rolling Stone.
The race influences regional tourism in Southeast Morocco and engages local Berber communities around Erg Chebbi and towns like Merzouga and Rissani, with economic ties to hospitality businesses and cultural projects supported by entities such as the UN World Tourism Organization and Moroccan Ministry of Culture. It features in adventure literature alongside works by authors like Michael Palin and Paul Theroux, and in documentary film traditions akin to productions by BBC Documentary teams and National Geographic Documentary Films. Charitable partnerships have included organizations similar to Save the Children, UNICEF, and Cancer Research UK.
Category:Ultramarathons Category:Sport in Morocco