Marathon des Sables – The Legendary : STAGE 4 2024

Posted on April 18, 2024 by talkultra

Time allowance 12-hours 45-minutes / 0630am and 0800 start (top 150 ranked)

The fall out from the long day is always hard. Bodies are now tired and normally, many would be saying, ‘just a marathon to go!’ But not for the 2024 edition.

Stage 4 is 43.2km’s and to follow, stage 5 and stage 6 at 31.4km and 21.1km respectively.

Travelling north all the way to B3, this is a tough day and probably will be remembered as the soft-sand day, especially as the most challenging terrain comes at the end.

With 3 CP’s at 10km, 22.9km and 30.1km, the severity of the stage is reflected with ‘additional’ water stations at 17km 37.7km.

While the early km’s allowed for easier terrain with cooler temperatures, the kick is in the tail with relentless sand and dunes from 22km all the way to the finish with increasing heat, expected at a 35-degree high, but feeling much hotter than 40-degrees for the runner’s. A tough day!

Rachid El Morabity dictated the early pace with Aziz and Mohamed behind.

The trio mixed it up but by the halfway point they were all together.

In the closing 10km, Rachid made a notable kick and pulled away for the stage win, Aziz and Mohamed behind 3:13:24 for Rachid and 3:14:59 for the duo.

Aziz E Amrany has been at another level this year and once again she dominated the stage from the front with another stage win in 4:29:41.

Aziza Raji followed looking relaxed and strong with a secure 2nd place in 4:53:08.

Sadly, 3rd placed runner Adriana Moser had to withdraw from the race at one of the CP’s opening the door for Gemma Game who has placed 3rd at MDS twice in the past; it maybe three times a charm! However, it was Rajaa Hamdaoua who was 3rd on the stage with 5:09:59.

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Marathon des Sables – The Legendary : STAGE 3 2024

Posted on April 17, 2024 by talkultra

Time allowance 35-hours / 0600 and 0730am start

Stage 3, the feared ‘Long Day’ coming earlier in the race requires respect. Quite simply, with 3 stages still to go, energy management is key. However, it was a decision of the new organisation, to bring the long day earlier to allow participants to be fresher and have more energy for the challenge ahead. Also, with earlier starts, cooler temperatures for the early hours.

The route is a classic and arguably, I would say it is the most beautiful route of all the MDS I have experienced. It’s a tough one though!

From B2 the stoney climb to the summit of Jebel El Otfal is followed by the steep and sandy descent before a long flat run along the plateau before climbing and traversing the ridge of Jebel Joha Baba Ali, for me, one the best parts of the whole race! Another ridge follows before stoney ground and sand leads the route close to Ramlia and CP5. From here, the march continues.

Ba Halou, Oued Rheris, Ras Kemouna, the salt flats, the iconic El Maharch and then a return to B2. This is a highlight tour of the Sahara that mixes plateau, technical terrain and lots of soft sand.

With 7 CP’s: 12.5km, 24.5km, 35.2km, 43km, 51km, 63km and 74.5km, the requirement for extra water is important and therefore at CP1, runner’s were provided an additional 1.5ltr bottle so that they could increase their carrying capacity for the stage.

The majority of the field started at 0600 and the top-50 at 0730. While the top men and women would look to push the envelope, the early starts would mean a finish in daylight. For most, this stage is about survival and many went through the night and into the next day to get the job done.

The winds had eased and the temperatures rose reaching a high of 33-degrees on the stage and a ”feel’ of 40-degrees during the mid afternoon. It was certainly a day that took it’s toll with many runner’s requiring attention and of course there were sadly DNF’s – a confirmed number to follow.

Starting 90-minutes after the masses, the top-50 were soon at Jebel El Otfal and the charge lead by Rachid El Morabity for the men and Aziza El Amrany for the women.

After the first ridge, the format was the same, Rachid pusued by his brother Mohamed and Aziz Yachou, with Aziza Raji pursuing her Moroccan friend.

By the second ridge, Mohamed was in the lead, Aziz followed and then Rachid, with CP2 close, a plan was coming in to action for the El Morabity brothers, but, what was it?

What followed, was a complete surprise, Mohamed opened up a lead and continued to extend time finishing in a remarkable 7:37:47.

Aziz and Rachid finished in 8:31:52 and 8:31:53 respectively – what just happened? There will be more news to follow on this when I get in to bivouac and discuss with the three protagonists. For now though, Mohamed had the run of his life and Rachid is unlikely (?) to win his 10th MDS.

Yoann Stuck was 4th and Hamid Yachou 5th, 8:46:30 and 9:17:21.

Aziza El Amrany is on fire this year. I have never seen her race and push so hard. It’s impressive, her victory was as equally mind-blowing as Mohamed crossing the line in 10:46:10.

Aziza Raji and Adriana Moser once again placed 2nd and 3rd, 11:24:29 and 12:05:06.

Day1 passes to day 2 and now those who have pushed through the night have another day to achieve the opportunity to fight another day.

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Marathon des Sables – The Legendary : STAGE 2 2024

Posted on April 15, 2024 by talkultra

Time allowance 13-hours / 0700am start

Stage 2, a beautiful stage of 40.8km’s travelling north to B2. This area of the Sahara has been used on multiple Marathon des Sables and rightly so, it’s an area that offers excellent terrain and visual splendour.

The opening km’s to 6.3km ease the runner’s into the day and then the following km’s to CP1 at 12km are a challenge that sap energy.

CP2 comes at 25km however, the inclusion of an additional water station at 19.8km makes the stage more manageable.

Cold water at the checkpoints help runner’s cool off

Although the presence of soft-sand is minimal, the terrain is hard and energy sapping. CP2 to CP3 is just 8km (33km total) and then the final run in to 40.8km concludes the day.

Sand, golden light and mountain backdrops

With an 0700 start, camp was alive with. head torches as runner’s prepared for the day. A mild night and finally, the wind disappeared.

At the start, temperatures were around 12-degrees and they stayed low till around 0900 and then the mercury rose to a predicted high of 33-degrees.

The first downhill of the day for James Miller (ZA)

Although Rachid El Morabity had a lead early on, the day was very much neutralised for the top runners in Mohamed El Morabity and Aziz Yachou. They have respect for the long day on stage 3 and they all know this will be a crucial decider for potential overall victory.

Mohamed, Rachid and Aziz all finished roughly together and with stage 2 complete, the time are 5:22:47, 5:23:14 and 5:23:16 for Mohamed, Rachid and Aziz respectively.

Aziza El Amrany unstopple for this 38th edition.

The women’s race had the same format as stage 1 with Aziza El Amrancy forging ahead for another stage win and a more substantial time gain, her time now 6:54:06 in comparison to 7:40:32 for Aziz Raji who also finished 2nd on the stage.

Adrianna Moser concluded the stage podium with a now total time of 7:51:49 with Gemma Game and Laurence Klein at 8:04:49 and 8:26:17.

Stage 3 tomorrow, the long day, starts at 0600 for the majority and the top-50 at 0730. It will be tough day with no wind and rising temperatures.

You can receive daily updates and reports on this website. Follow on IG @iancorlessphotography and @mdslegendary

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Marathon des Sables – The Legendary : STAGE 1 2024

Posted on April 14, 2024 by talkultra

Time allowance 10-hours / 0730am start

It’s all change for 2024 and with the race re-using several bivouac locations, the race will have a different feel and format.

Admin day passed yesterday and now everyone feels settled in their new home – a tent shared with 7 other souls. Camp life is becoming normal and anticipation is high. Weather has been ‘cool’ by MDS standards, however, the wind has been relentless with constant sand storms.

The start as sand blew through the Sahara

A key change for 2024 is also earlier start times to allow easier running in cooler temperatures, stage 1 with a scheduled 0700 call and 0730 start. It means morning prep and admin is taken mostly in the dark. Today was ‘chilly’ withe temperatures around 10-deg.

B1 located close to Tafraout offers an excellent location and this area is familiar territory for Marathon des Sables.

The distance 31.1km with 3 checkpoints coming at 9.1km, 16.4km and 24.3km. In many respects, it’s a good stage 1 with mostly hard and runnable terrain and little soft sand. A key feature around 10km’s is Jebel Taourirt Mouchanne and then challenging terrain from 14km to 19km before returning to where the stage started.

Stage 1 is always taken with caution, however, at the front of the race, an earlier start, cooler temperatures and a very runnable day could only mean one thing – a fast day! Temperatures for the early runner’s remained under 20-degs and it was midday bfore temperature reached 23-degrees with a possible high of 27-degrees.

Uncharacteristically, Rachid El Morabity dictated the pace all the way to CP1. He usually starts slow and builds speed, not today, no doubt testing everyone else. He was closely followed by Aziz Yachou, his brother, Mohamed El Morabity and then Aziz’s brother, Hamid.

For the women, Aziza El Amrany dictated the pace and it was a fast pace building a large margin over the competition, notably Aziza Raji.

Quickly after CP1, Rachid eased up, and Aziz passed. Rachid then almost jogged allowing hos brother to pass and Hamid. A surprising tactic.

From the final checkpoint, it all changed again. Now Mohamed leading the charge to the line, Rachid close behind and then Aziz, 2:11:09, 2:11:36 and 2:20:33 respectively with Hamid Yachou taking 4th ahead of Ahmed Ouikhalfen, 2:20:33 and 2:25:46.

Top Brit was John Dewey in 6th, Yoann Stuck from France was 8th.

Aziza El Amrany was a woman with a mission today, no doubt realising that 2024 is her opportunity for victory. She crossed the line in 2:45:54 and amazingly, past MDS winner, Aziza Raji crossed the line in 3:11:53 – a huge gap after stage 1.

Adriana Moser and Gemma Game ran much of the day together and they crossed in 3:12:53 and 3:13:45. MDS legend, Laurence Klein finished 5th in 3:23:13.