The Marathon Des Sables

When is the closing date?

I cannot answer this with accuracy. Even if we are fully subscribed, you may still go on the wait list, in case someone has to drop out. Otherwise you can register for the next available MdS (typically 2-3 years time for UK entrants). Current status is available on the registration page

How big is the waitlist - will I get a confirmed place?

We will not add you to a waitlist unless we think you have some chance that you will get a place. The latest chance of a place is usually around the January preceeding the race. While you are on the waitlist, you will have access to the list to be able to monitor your position.

A lot of cancellations are due to injury, so it is impossible to predict how many people from the waitlist will get a confirmed place.

Do I need any previous experience?

In a word, No! Many of the people who participate each year have never even done a regular 42 Km marathon, let alone 5 consecutive marathons in a week. Obviously it helps if you have some experience but nothing on earth will prepare you for this event. It's unique and it's extremely tough.

That said, no experience is not the same as no training. If you wish to complete the MdS you must commit to your own training schedule and we recommend entering some prior events. Previous MdS competitors do arrange some events and these are a valuable source of knowledge - see our other events page for more information, & after you register we will let you know when an event is organised.

How can I raise this huge sum of money for the registration?

I know it's a lot and it's tough, but if you want to get to Morocco next year, you can do it. Find a really good charitable cause and pester people to contribute towards your entry as it will help the less fortunate, the sick, the poor etc. Facing Africa - NOMA, a charity set up to fight a terrible disease which kills over 500,000 small children in Africa every year is offering to subsidise upto 50% of the entry fee for anyone (from any country) if they enter the MdS in order to raise funds for their charity (Click here for more details).
Also, see the sponsorship page.

Do I need insurance?

There have been cancellations in the past due to injuries while training, failing the ECG (medical test, in the month prior to the MdS), or changes in circumstances. Therefore insurance is highly recommended. The Marathon Des Sables is an extreme event, and you must make sure that the insurance you choose does cover it. We list possible insurers for the MdS here.

Is there a video of a previous marathon?

There are lots of books and videos of prior MdS' available. Look on our links page, and also on our gallery.

When do I need to send in more information?

After you register, we will ask you to complete an online form, and to subsequently keep it up to date when your details change. It is essential to complete the form and keep it up to date or you will lose your place.

Later on, you will also be required to complete paper forms (with much of the same information!) which need to be signed by you.

• The official registration form
• A form asking for personal information e.g. your occupation, married/single, age, blood type, hobbies, running experience etc.

How do I know my blood type?

As part of the registration process we need to know your blood group. This is not generally something that is on record, so you will need to have a test done before you can register for the MdS. You can purchase self-test kits online from Home Health UK.

When do I have to send my medical certificate and ECG?

This can ONLY be done LESS than 28 days before the start of the MdS. These two documents are then taken with you to Morocco, and handed in on the day before the race start. However, the GP has to sign the form to state that you are in suitable condition for the marathon, so it is worth checking earlier on that the GP will be prepared to do this.

When can I get all the items needed for the event?

Some information will be sent to you once you register which will include suggested names and contacts, but most of the concentrated food can be bought at good camping shops. Also, you will get some good ideas from contacting previous runners.

What is the itinerary before and after the marathon itself?

You will be sent full details, but here is the itinerary for a previous year. (And earlier before that is your own training schedule!)

How is the total distance of the MdS divided into the 6 days?

In 2003, the total distance was 243km (151 miles) and was as follows: Day 1, 25km; day 2, 34km; day 3, 38km; day 4, 82km; day 5, 42km; day 6, 22km.

Is there a rest day?

The day following the 75 - 80 Km run is a rest day - but remember that it "may" take you into that day before you get past the finishing line.

How do I know what the pace is like during the event?

Well, most people do this lunatic event just to finish it (Click here to see why YOU should do it), but for the record, the winner in 2008 (a Moroccan) completed the race in 19 hours and 28 minutes - that's 12.6 km per hour - Impressive!. The fastest British person, Ian Sharman who came 13^th overall did it in 25 hours and 13 minutes - also impressive. On the other hand, entering the race as a walker is fine, too.

A glance at some other results shows most competitors averaging speeds between 4 and 7 km/h (that's 2.5 - 4.5 miles per hour).

Will I come across creepie crawlies in the desert?

It is possible. However, in the 30 years I have been going to Morocco, I still have not seen a snake in the wild. There are insects but mostly harmless. Mosquitoes are rare.

Will I get lost?

You are given a detailed 'roadbook' during pre-race registration. This includes a detailed route for each day, including the type of ground that you are covering. See some example pages.

Will people think I am a nutter?

Yes! But sod them!

If this something that has captured your imagination and you REALLY want to do it and somebody is going to benefit from your fund raising then be crazy once in your life. I can assure you that you will suffer like hell - doing the equivalent of 5.5 regular marathons in 6 days; carrying a load on your back; cooking for yourself in the middle of the Sahara; rough ground; temperatures of up to 120 degrees Farenheit; trashed feet; dull and boring food - you will dream about ice cream, a chicken Madras, bacon and eggs, a Mars bar, a pint, cold winters nights, slippers by the fire when you get back to your tent and all those other little things that always seem dull when you are at home. You will often think of giving up but sheer determination will keep you going and you will do your best. But yes, you will be considered crazy before you go. BUT you will be the envy of all those people when you get home after the "Sahara cleansing".

Will I meet our people and make friends?

Yes. About 800 of them. One of the wonderful things about this event is the camaraderie, the bond between people who don't even speak the same language. When you are feeling like shit one day and considering throwing in the towel, a guardian angel will come from behind and walk or jog with you for a couple of hours, talk to you and give you the encouragement to carry on. He/she will then disappear and you will do the same for someone else the next day. Believe me, it really is like that. There is a profound bond between all the competitors and they will want the next guy to finish the event.

What happens if I drop out before the end of the race?

You will have to hand in all your food and will spend the remaining days with the organisation i.e. you will be fed 3 meals a day and transported by truck or Land Rover to the finishing point and you will forfeit your security deposit. But this is not something you should be thinking about now. Or later.

How will I keep clean?

The short answer is that you won't. You will probably wear the same clothes throughout the race, there are no showers and the loos are not worth using - you will find a dune or a palm tree to hide behind. Women should rearrange their cycle.

How important is the weight of what I carry?

VERY IMPORTANT! You should aim to keep your ruck-sack down to about 7, 8 or 9 Kgs when you weight-in at the start of the race. Forget any luxuries. Take only what is absolutely essential. You can and might start dumping some of your belongings after day one when you realise that you have brought too much food or items that you don't really need.

How will I feel when I get home?

Many people go into a kind of depression after the race. Not because they didn't win but when they get home, everything seems dull and boring by comparison with what they have just spent a week doing. They miss the friends they made, the evening chats in the tents, the awesome desert, the stars at night, the elation of crossing the finishing line and the sheer excitement of watching and taking part in "The Toughest Footrace on Earth". You may be difficult to live with for a few days and it is hard to share the experience with someone who has not been there. Just ask some of those who have done it.

Is the MdS a well organised event?

Yes, once the event has actually started. But the day before the race starts and the day after the end of the actual race, things can be a bit chaotic. Catering for and accommodating 800 participants plus a crew and press of 200 is not easy in the desert, so don't expect a high level of efficiency and there is a lot of waiting around.

Will there be a representative from the Best of Morocco?

Hopefully yes, but this is not guaranteed and is not essential as you will be given a blow by blow itinerary of what should happen throughout your stay in Morocco.

What's the prize money like?

If you are thinking of entering for the prize, forget it! There are prizes for several categories. In a previous year the overall winner got 4,600 Euros; 1st prize women 2,800 Euros; 1st prize team 3,200 Euros - you see what I mean? So I will not bother telling you right now what the 2nd and 3rd prizes are.

How are penalties levied or can I be eliminated altogether?

There is a long list of penalties which range from 30 minutes to 3 hours added to your time. These include turning up late at the start of a stage and you will have that amount of time added to your overall time; you are missing a document (e.g. Xerox of your passport) 30 minutes penalty; certain items from the essential kit list missing, 1 hour penalty; road book missing, salt tablets or flares missing, 2 hour penalty. There are also a number of situations which can result in your elimination from the MdS - turning up with no backpack and equipment, 3rd offence of not going through the controls during the event, drug taking; 3rd offence of littering the desert with empty water bottles, ground assistance (i.e. hitching a ride in a vehicle during the race).

Will I be able to communicate with the folks back home?

Yes, a communications tent is set up each day where you can phone, Fax or e-mail your loved ones, charged per minute or e-mail address (This can involve long queues, and should not be relied on). You cannot, however, receive Fax or phone calls but you can receive e-mails (no charge).