Stage 2

Distance: 30.7 km

Terrain: 3 Djebels with 10 to 25% gradients and stunning panoramic views

Inspiration comes in all shapes, sizes and speeds and today Mohammed Ahansal once again confirmed that he fulfills the ‘speed’ element by taking another impressive stage win.

 

But by contrast, I would like to mention Didier Benguigui. Didier this year is running his 10^th Marathon des Sables. To commemorate the event he has had the ‘MDS’ logo tattooed on his arm and around it 9 stars. Next to the 9^th star is a space; a space for the 10th star! Impressive you may think? For many, one Marathon des Sables is enough, but for Didier it is his passion, his dream, his fantasy… to live in the desert, with friends and challenge him self over tough, technical terrain is what gives his life purpose. Did I mention; Didier is blind!

 

As I said, inspiration comes in many forms and today I had confirmed what I have always thought, that Didier is without doubt one of the heroes of the Marathon des Sables. He embodies all that is great in sport and humanity and as for his guide, Giles; all I can say is absolute respect.

 

I spoke to both of them today after what has been described as the toughest stage of the Marathon des Sables for years. Didier was upbeat and relaxed in his Bivouac, he was preparing food.

 

“How was it today Didier?”

 

“Tough, very very technical… not good for a blind person”

 

As I look Giles shakes his head…

 

“Giles, you are Didier’s eyes, it was an extremely tough and technical day”

 

“Yes, incredibly tough, one of the toughest days I have shared with Didier. We had to run along the knife edge of a ridge and on either side it would have been catastrophic to fall”

 

I had spoke to many a runner after the stage and Tobias Mews who finished 19^th on the stage and who is currently lying 21^st overall said:

 

“It was on incredibly tough day. Three climbs (djebels) interspersed with some ridge running and flat sections between CP’s and the third djebels was a brute that included dunes, rocks, roped sections and all with a 25% gradient. It wasn’t over at the top. The bivouac was insight some 4km’s away but we had a tough rock hopping descent and then a series of dunes that teased us to the finish line. It was like running for 28km and then finishing off with a ‘Stairmaster” session. It was brutal”

 

So that you have I, the Marathon des Sables today created a stage that inspired and punished in equal measure. But at the front a race was going on and after some impressive results on stage 1, placing’s have moved around.

 

Aziz El Akad started the day by running off the front and trying to make up some lost time from day one, but Mohammed Ahansal never let him get out of sight and by the last djebels was in the lead and finished the stage in 1^st place in 02:44:35. Salameh Al Agra finished second in 02:49:06 and the earl pace maker, Aziz finished third in 02:49:49.

 

Brit, Danny Kendall had another good day and finished 10^th in 03:12:19 and Neil Talbot finished 12^th in 03; 19:24

 

The men’s overall standings (top 3)

 

1. Mohammed      Ahansal 05:35:32
2. Aziz El      Akad 05:54:21
3. Antonio      Solaris 5:57:33

 

In the ladies race, Laurence Klein once again pushed ahead in the race to take the win in 03:44:27. But the main news was American Hicks moving up the field to take second place in 03:48:20 and Brit, Joe Meek finished third in 03:58:52.

 

Brits once again had another great day with Zoe Salt taking 4^th in 04:17:04, Amelia Watts 7^th in 04:22:56, Gwenaelie Couenon 15^th in 04:41:32, Edith Doyen 17^th in 05:07:43 and Mari Mari Walton 23^rd in 05:24:22.

 

The female overall standings (top 3)

 

1. Laurence      Klein 07:23:40
2. Megan      Hicks 07:41:11
3. Jo Meek      07:44:49

 

Tomorrow’s stage, stage 3 has 38km, 2 Djebels, 2 dried up lakes and lots of sand