These rules apply to the 23rd MdS (2008)
Rules and Conditions - Contents
- Organisation
- Definition of the Competition
- General Conditions
- Conditions of Admission
- Categories of Participants
- Race Itinerary
- Technical and Administrative
- Identification Marks
- Space Reserved for Individual Sponsors
- Starting Order
- Liaison Stage
- Non Stop Race
- Check Points
- Race Stage Finish
- Order of Arrival
- Water Supply & Camping
- Medical Assistance
- Dropping Out
- Ground Assistance
- Insurance
- Weather and Terrain Conditions
- Markings
- Road Book
- Compulsory Equipment for Participants
- Registration commitment, Fees and Administrative
- Cancellation
- Faults and Penalties
- List of Penalties
- Photo Coverage
- List of Prizes
1. Organisation
The "Marathon des Sables" is organised by Atlantide Organisation Internationale (AOI - the organisers). Their sole and official representative in Great Britain is The Best of Morocco Ltd, 38 Market Place, Chippenham. Wiltshire. SN15 3HT.. It is expected to have about 700 entrants.
Top2. Definition of the Competition
The Marathon des Sables is a foot race, with several stages, free style (walking or running), and with food self sufficiency over a distance of about 230 Km (140 miles), with the route to be specified immediately before the start of the race. Each participant must carry his/her own backpack containing food, sleeping gear and other material.
Top3. General conditions
The Marathon des Sables will be governed by general race regulations and their amendments, to which all participants agree when they register.
Top4. Conditions of admission for contestants
Anyone meeting the following conditions will be accepted: over 18, any citizenship. Competitors must hold a medical certificate issued by the orgganization a registered stating their ability to participate, and an ECG report at rest.The medical certificate and ECG must be dated not more than 30 days prior to the start of the race.. Teenagers (over 16) may participate with written consent of a Parent or Guardian. They will have to meet the same requirements as adults.
Top5. Categories of Participants
- Category A: Individual
Every entrant will be ranked. In addition to the general ranking, there will be placings for females and veterans (in 4 categories over 40 - 79 years of age). - Category B: Team participants
A team is made up of at least 3 members. To remain in the race, at least 3 members of the team must complete the race. Each member of a team is also recorded as an individual in the general ranking.
6. Race Itinerary
- Departure to Morocco
- Transfer to hotel
- transfer to desert, administrative and technical formalities
- The Race, with fodd self-sufficiency - 7 days
- Transfer to hotel, prize giving ceremony / free day
- Transfer to airport / return flight
Detailed itinerary will be sent to competitors nearer to the time of the race
ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale reserves the right to modify: the regulations of the Marathon Des Sables, the aspect of the course (see ART. 21), the place and destination in case of forces beyond our control: weather, cataclysm, armed conflict, invasion in any form, lock-out, etc
Top7. Technical And Administrative verifications
This takes place on the day before the race start. Participants must present themselves to the race administrators. The participants must meet the administrative and technical requirements (see Arts. 24, 25, 27 & 28). At the control point, an exact list of each participants equipment must be established i.e. compulsory items, food and personal belongings. The administrators are authorised at any time to check and supervise the participants backpacks. Each element referring to the participant equipment list is strictly personal. In the case of a missing item whether it has being thrown away, lost or stolen, the participant will be penalised. Each competitor is responsible for his/her own equipment (See art. 27 and 28.)
Top8. Identification Marks
During the administrative and technical registration AOI will provide each participant with 2 numbered breast plates, one for the back and one for the chest (size: approx 20 X 24 cm) and a pointing card. These must be worn by the participants throughout the race and may be checked at any time by the Administrators. It is prohibited to cover the ID markings. Each participant is obliged to ensure that his/her ID marking is clear, visible and in good condition and in the proper place. The organisation will make spare ID markings available in case of loss or damage. Each participant agrees to adhere strictly to this rule, subject to serious penalty in case of violation (See arts. 27 & 28).
Top9. Space Reserved For Individual Sponsors
In addition to the official ID markings, the participants may use other body/clothing space for the use by individual sponsors (T-shirts (apart from the chest), shorts, socks, backpacks etc). However, the Organisation reserves the right to prohibit an individual sponsor considered to be oversize or in direct competition with the organisation's partners or sponsors, or for any other reason, which the organisation does not need to justify.
Top10. Starting Order
Departures for each stage will be grouped, except for the non-stop stage in which the top competitors from each list will leave around 3 hours after the first group. For the last stage, the last on the list will be the first to leave. Participants must start at the time indicated by the organisation.
Top11. Liasion Stage
This leg must be completed in 10 hours or less. The marathon stage takes place within a maximum authorised time of 12 hours. During the marathon, control post no. 3 (approximately at 30km) will close 9 hours after the start of the leg. Anyone not having crossed this point before the 9 hour deadline will be disqualified (see Art. 27 and 28).
Top12. Non-Stop Race
Appox 80Kms (50 miles) stage to be held partly during the night and within a maximum authorised time of 34 hours. During this stage, competitors must pass through control point No 4 (approx 45 Kms) within 16 hours or be disqualified (see Art.'s 27 & 28). After checkpoint 4, each competitor is free to choose a bivouac place, but must stay within the axis of the route.
Top13. Check Points
The water distribution points at both the start and the finish of each days stage are compulsory checkpoints. Other checkpoints are located throughout the course of each stage of the race. There are 2 to 6 check points depending on the length of each stage and each racer must go through them, otherwise penalties will be applied (see art. 27 and 28). This allows the race officials to record times and provide water supplies (see 16). Medical assistance will be available at each checkpoint
Top14. At each arrival post
An official time-keeper will take down the daily order of arrival for each competitor. Water is disrtibuted and point card must be punched.
Top14. Order of Arrival
The time of each participant is indicated in hours, minutes and seconds.
- Category A: Individual ranking
The daily stage classification is done by adding the time used to run that stage of the race plus penalties, if applicable. General ranking is done by adding times for each stage of the race. - Category B: Team ranking
For teams, the daily stage ranking is done by adding the times for each member of the team plus penalties, if applicable. The average of each team's times (plus penalties for withdrawal, if applicable) indicates the ranking of that team. General ranking is calculated by adding the times obtained by that team at each stage.
All complaints must be made in writing (see 27.
Top16. Water Supply
The Organisation is responsible for the supply of water for each contestant. Water is typically distributed as follows:-
- Liaison stage: 10.5 litres per person per day
- 1.5 litres at start of each day
- 2 or 3 times 1.5 litres during the race
- 4.5 litres at arrival point
- Marathon stage: 10.5 litres per person per day
- 1.5 litres at the start of the day
- 3 times 1.5 litres during the race
- 4.5 litres at arrival point
- Non-stop stage: 22.5 litres per person for 2 days
- 1.5 litres at the start of the day
- 1.5 litres at control posts 1, 3, 5, 6
- 1.5 or 3 litres at control posts 2, 4.
- 4.5 litres at arrival post
- 4.5 litres at bivouac
The water allocated each morning will be distributed before the start of the race at the competitors bivouac according to the time stated in the road book.
Each participant must manage his/her water needs according to water distribution and cannot obtain any other water supply at any time.
Bivouac
The bivouacs will be pitched each day on previously chosen sites transformed into camping grounds for the competitors; numbered tents sleep 8. Competitors may use their free time to prepare for the night and get medical care, if necessary.
Top17. Medical Assistance
A specially-chosen medical team, specialising in sports and tropical medicine will be in attendance throughout the race and will use assistance vehicles throughout the course. A medical team will be at each control and at the finishing line each day and will ensure that any participants who are suffering from physical exhaustion are brought back to the base camp. The medical team is allowed to remove ID plates and to eliminate from the race any participant whom they feel physically unfit to continue the race and/or having received vital medical care.
Top18. Dropping Out
Under no circumstances (and at the risk of having to pay the search costs involved) must any competitor leave the race without informing the organisation and signing an official discharge provided by AOI.
In the event a competitor drops out of the race: it is imperative that he/she advise an AOI official and returns the ID plates to an official of the race. A participant who does not comply with this rule will be penalised (see Art.'s 27 & 28).
If one member of a 3-person team abandons the race, the team will receive a one-hour penalty.
Competitors who drop out lose their security deposit.
Several options are available to participants who wish to withdraw from the race.
- In the case of a serious physical condition, repatriation may be arranged immediately.
- A participant who is in adequate physical condition but wishes to
withdraw may elect to
- Be driven to the final finish line having signed the official discharge provided by AOI. Subject to viability, lodging and meals being at his/her own expense
- Be driven by AOI every morning from the start of that day's point to the evenings bivouac.
Competitors who abandon and who stay at the bivouac will automatically be taken charge of by AOI. Competitors must hand over their food to the organisation.
Top19. Ground Assistance
The Organisation reminds all participants that the Marathon des Sables is a race through the Sahara Desert where climatic and ground conditions can be extreme.
Any outside assistance is strictly prohibited. If a participant is supplied by persons during the race, he/she will be heavily penalised . If a competitor goes far off the race route, necessitating a lengthy search, he/she will lose the security deposit (see Art.'s 27 & 28).
Top20. Insurance
An insurance policy covering medical evacuation (repatriation) is arranged by AOI for all entrants throughout the race. The policy covers the following:-
- Repatriation on medical grounds (Europe only)
- Funeral expenses - real costs (Europe only), Transport in case of death up to 1525 Euros
- Payment of medical expenses abroad: 5600 Euros
All competitors take part in the full knowledge of the risks that may be incurred during this type of competition. Since competitors participate of their own free will, the organisation is not responsible for any collapse or accident.
In accordance with the 1984 law on sport, the organiser is obliged to advise participants to take out their own accident and death insurance.
Top21. Weather and Terrain Conditions
Average temperatures in March / April
- Daytime: 86 - 120°F (30°C)
- Night: 40 - 58°F (14°C)
The 230 km (approx) course covers a wide variety of terrain (sand dunes, rocky desert, stony ground etc).
In case of sand storms lowering visibility to zero, the racers must stop in their tracks and wait for instructions by the Organisers.
AOI reserve the right to modify the course and the length of the various stages as a result of unfavourable weather conditions or regulations in certain areas.
Top22. Markings
The participants of the Marathon des Sables must follow the course as marked by AOI. For liaison stages, the course will be marked approximately every 500 meters. There are several natural landmarks which will also serve as additional points of reference. In the non-stop stage, illuminated markers will be in position for the night segment.
Top23. Road-Book
A road-book will be compiled from the survey reconnaissance missions. The exact course will remain secret and will only be revealed at the time of distributing the road-books at the start of the race. It will include various items of interest on the stages, support, map etc. A missing road book during the event will result in a penalty (see Art. 28).
Each morning a briefing will be given relating to that days stage by the Organisers in French and in English.
Top24. Compulsory Equipment for Participants
The compulsory equipment and the personal belongings of each participant (food, survival kit etc) should weigh between 6.5 - 15 Kg. This minimum / maximum weight does not include your daily water supply. Each participant will have to fulfil the above obligations during the administrative and technical controls in Morocco (see 27 & 28).
Food
Each entrant must provide his/her own food throughout the race. He/she must select the type of food best suited to that individuals personal needs, health, weather conditions, weight and back-pack conditions. We remind you that airlines strictly forbid the carrying of butane cooking gas and other fuels, either as hand-luggage or in the hold.
Each competitor must have 14,000 k/calories, that is to say a minimum of 2000 k/calories per day, otherwise he/she will be penalised (see 27 and 28).
Gas stoves are strictly forbidden.
Survival gear
- Backpack or equivalent (best suited to each participant)
- Sleeping bag
- Torch with spare batteries
- 10 safety pins
- Compass with 1°ree; or 2°ree; precision
- Lighter
- Whistle
- Knife with metal blade
- Tropical Disinfectant
- Anti-Venom pump (insect poison remover)
- Signalling mirror
- One aluminium survival sheet
A survival kit will be supplied by AOI and will include the following:-
- A Distress flare
- Salt tablets
- luminous signal stick (non-stop stage)
The kit will be supplied after the technical and administrative formalities have been completed, the distress flare must be returned at the end of the event.
Top25. Registration Commitment, Fees and Administrative obligations.
Obligations
Competitors should enrol in their own country if ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale has a representative in this country. The enrolment fee varies in these countries depending on what services are offered by our official representative. If the organisation is not represented in your country, you should enrol directly in France.
- Category A: Individual entrants
- Registration fee includes
- Return flights from London to Morocco
- Transfers on arrival / departure in Morocco
- Hotel in Ouarzazate before / after the race
- General ground assistance (tents at each stage)
- Water for the duration of the race
- Repatriation insurance (Europe only)
- Technical support
- Medical Assistance
- Air and ground support
- Survival kit
- Marathon des Sables T-shirt and Medal
- Marathon des Sables official film sent approx. 3 months after the event
- Registration fee includes
- Category B: Team Registration
- Participants wishing to register as an official team must send
an additional deposit per team member. This registration deposit
includes the same benefits and the same obligations as in Category
A. It also includes
- Listing of the name of the team in the official press kit
- Official team ranking during the race
- Individual placing/ranking of each member of the team
- Participants wishing to register as an official team must send
an additional deposit per team member. This registration deposit
includes the same benefits and the same obligations as in Category
A. It also includes
To register for the Marathon Des Sables the applicant must submit the following documents
- Completed registration form
- Additional personal information form
- Press release form
- Photocopy of entrant's passport indicating date/place of issue
- 3 passport size photos with entrant's name on the back
- A security deposit cheque (value to be returned if you complete the race and do not incur a penalty that forfeits the deposit)
- If you are receiving long term treatment for a chronic disease, attach a sealed letter addressed to the Medical Director
- A medical certificate (supplied by the organization, no photocopies) must be stamped by a doctor (preferably one specialising in sport) and an ECG at rest (to be dated not more than 30 days prior to the race)
The items listed above must reach The Best of Morocco Ltd within any deadlines specified. All payments (cheques/postal orders etc) must be made payable to The Best Of Morocco Ltd. Failure to meet the deadlines will result in the cancellation of your place with payments forfeited according to the cancellation policy.
AOI and The Best of Morocco reserve the right to refuse registration to anyone without giving any justification or reason.
Top26. Cancellation
Cancellations and requests for refunds must be made in writing by registered post in order to avoid any misunderstanding. Cancellation refunds will be made on the following basis
- Registration deposit of £500 (non-refundable under any circumstances)
- Between 31st Oct and 31st Dec inclusive: loss of £800
- Between 1st Jan and 30th Jan inclusive: loss of £1,000
- Between 31st Jan and 28th Feb inclusive: loss of £1,300
- From midnight on 28th Feb: loss of full amount
We advise all competitors to take out insurance covering cancellation
In the event of cancellation of the race, AOI undertakes to reimburse payments already received.
Top27. Faults and Penalties
- Technical and administrative verification
If a participant is more than 30 minutes late at the time of the initial start, he/she will be penalised by the length of time of his/her lateness. If a participant does not submit proof of having all his/her compulsory equipment, he/she will be eliminated from the race. Each administrative document missing from the registration file will result in a penalty (see Art. 28). Non compliance with min/max weight of backpack will be penalised. - Medical file
Competitors unable to provide a medical certificate and/or ECG dating back no more than 30 days prior to the start of the race during the medical checks prior to the race start will be penalised. They will lose their security deposit and will have to undergo these examinations on site in order to begin the race, subject to the doctors approval (See Art 28). - Listing personal belongings
Any participant who cannot account for one or more items of personal belongings must notify the bivouac official. Any participant who cannot justify at any control point the lack of any personal belonging will be severely penalised (see Art. 28). - Food
14,000 compulsory k/calories: When spot checks are made, any competitor unable to present the minimum 2000 k/calories per day during the race will receive a 2 hour penalty (see Art. 28). - ID Markings
In the event of loss or damage to ID markings , it is essential to advise race officials immediately, or a penalty will be applied. If a participant does not wear his/her ID markings, he/she risks elimination from the race. Tampering with an ID will result in immediate elimination of the participant as well as loss of security deposit (see Art. 28). - Start of race
If for any reason a participant is late to start, he/she will be penalised by the amount of time of his/her lateness. If he/she is more than 30 minutes late, he/she will be eliminated from the race and will have to surrender his/her ID markings (see Art. 28). - Checkpoints
There ate checkpoints at the start of each stage, during the stage and at the end of the stage. Check in at each check-point is mandatory. Arrival upto 30 minutes late at the stage start results in a 30 minute penalty, after 30 minutes it will be considered a failure to register. First infraction will be subject to 60 minutes penalty, second infraction will result in 120 minutes penalty and the third time elimination from the race (see Art. 28). - Maximum authorised time
Exceeding the maximum allowed time for a daily race will result in elimination from the race, id to be returned to the steward. Competitors exceeding the authorised time for checkpoint 3 on the marathon stage or checkpoint 4 on the non-stop stage will be disqualified. - Distress flares
Any abuse of distress flares without valid reason will be subject to a one hour penalty (see Art. 28). - Withdrawal from the race
Any participant withdrawing from the race must notify an organization official as soon as possible. The participant loses his/her security deposit. Withdrawal by one team member in a team of more than 3 members will result in a one hour penalty for that team, provided of course that at least 3 people remain in the race (see 28). - Drugs / Doping
Any use of illicit drugs by a participant noted by the medical team will result in the elimination of that person from the race. - Ground assistance
Any outside assistance is strictly prohibited. Fraudulently receiving outside assistance with food or water will result in a 3 hour penalty the 1st time and elimination from the race on the 2nd occasion. Vital medical assistance (perfusion, plaster cast, etc) will result in a 2 hour penalty the first time, and disqualification on the second occasion. The use of any transportation, either 2 or 4 wheels will result in elimination from the race. Any competitor who mistakenly wanders far off course, necessitating a lengthy search, will lose the security deposit. The receiving of extra water in particular circumstances (due to lack, leaking bottle or loss of water), and with the agreement of the stewards, will result in 30 minutes penalty the first time, 1 hour the second time, and elimination from the race on the third occasion. - Water and the environment
Any water container found on the course will result in a penalty (see Art. 28)
The throwing away of any food packaging or other items on the race route is strictly forbidden and will be penalised. - Complaints
All complaints must be made in writing :- during the event, to the head of the competitors' bivouac
- On the day after the event at Ouarzazate, at the competitors information point (see road-book)
- Until 20 April, by letter to AOI - BP 98 - 10003 TROYES Cedex - FRANCE.
28. Official list of penalties
| Reason for penalty | Elimination from MdS | Penalty imposed | Loss of deposit (Security Check) |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than 30 mins delay at admin/tech.check-in | Equivalent to time delay | ||
| Document missing | 30 mins | ||
| Non-submission of medical certificate and/or ECG report at rest | X if refused on medical grounds | 1 Hour | X |
| No backpack or equivalent | X | X | |
| No sleeping bag or compass with suitable precision | 3 hours | ||
| No survival kit or 2000 k/cal per day or survival sheet | 2 hours | ||
| No safety pins, knife, whistle, antiseptic, mirror, venom pump, lighter, torch & batteries, pointing card | 1 hour | ||
| Incorrect weight of bag | 1 hour | ||
| Personal equipment item missing | 30 mins | ||
| No breast plates (id markings) | 2nd offence | 1st time/warning | 2nd offence |
| Misplacement of ID markings | 3rd offence | 1st time/warning 2nd time/ 30 mins |
3rd offence |
| Tampering of ID markings | X | X | |
| Less than 30 mins late at start of a day's stage | Mins late | ||
| More than 30 mins late for start of a day's stage | X | X | |
| Exceeding maximum time allowed | X | X | |
| Out of time CP 3 Marathon stage | X | X | |
| Out of time CP 4 non-stop stage | X | X | |
| Non check-in at check point | 3rd offence | 1st time - 1 hour 2nd time - 2 hours |
3rd offence |
| Out of time departure checkpoint (water distribution point) | 30 minutes | ||
| Failure to follow the markings | 4 hours minimum | ||
| Unjustified use of flares | 1 hour | ||
| Withdrawal | X | X | |
| Abandon of a team member (leaving 3 or more members) | 1 hour | ||
| Abandon of team member (leeaving less than 3 members) | Disqualification of team | ||
| Doping or use of transportation | X | X | |
| Ground assistance | 2nd offence | 1st time - 3 hours | 2nd offence |
| Receiving of extra water | 3rd offence | 1st time - 30 minutes 2nd time - 1 hour |
3rd offence |
| Vital medical assistance | 2nd time | 1st time - 2 hours | 2nd time |
| Wandering far off course | X | ||
| Abuse of water bottles or the environment (discarded waste) | 3rd offence | 1st time - 30 mins 2nd time - 1 hour |
3rd offence |
29. Photo coverage
The Organisation reserves all exclusive rights for photo coverage of the MdS. Participants must agree that the Organisation may use exclusively their individual or collective names and pictures for anything related directly or indirectly to their participation in the Marathon. Any still camera, video or movie coverage done during the MdS cannot be used by participants, their entourage or trainers for any use other than personal without prior authorisation from the Organisation.
Top30. List of Prizes
- Individual class
- 1st prize: trophy and cheque
- 2nd prize: trophy and cheque
- 3rd prize: trophy and cheque
- 4th to 10th: credit towards the next MdS
- Team class
- 1st team: trophy and cheque
- 2nd team: trophy and cheque
- 3rd team: trophy and cheque
- Special classes
- Women
- 1st prize: trophy and cheque
- 2nd prize: trophy and cheque
- 3rd prize: trophy and cheque
- Veterans (over 40, 50, 60 and 70), separate Male / Female classes
- Veteran 1: trophy and cheque (not additional to any prize in the general rankings)
- Veteran 2: trophy
- Veteran 3: trophy
- Veteran 4: trophy
- Daily race challenge
Special prize for the winner of each leg from 1st - 6th days: credit towards the next MdS
- Women