mdslegendary | IAN CORLESS

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.

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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.