Stage 2 of the 40th edition of the MDS Legendary delivered speed, strategy… and something far deeper, a raw fight for survival.
A crisp 06:00 start gave runners a rare gift: cool desert air, fragile and fleeting. In the darkness, the start line shimmered with the glow of head torches, like a moving constellation about to be swallowed by the vastness ahead. For a brief moment, it felt almost forgiving.
But the desert never gives for long.
The 40.5km point-to-point stage, stretching across a fast, flat expanse toward a brand-new bivouac, was broken by checkpoints at 8, 15, 21, 28.1, and 33.7km, lifelines scattered across an otherwise merciless landscape. There was no shade. No escape. Only distance, heat, and the quiet question each runner carried: how much more can I endure?
At every CP, blue coats stood as silent heroes in the furnace, offering water, and iced water poured over the neck, brief moments of relief before the long march resumed.
In the distance, the camel safety patrols moved steadily across the horizon, watchful and calm—guardians of the race, there for the moment when determination might tip into danger. A reminder that here, in the heart of the desert, this is more than competition.
In the men’s race, Michaël Gras ignited the stage early, daring to disrupt the dominance of Mohamed and Rachid El Morabity. For a time, the pace burned hot with ambition. But experience has its own rhythm. By CP3, the El Morabity brothers had taken control, waiting, measuring, then striking. Mohamed surged to victory in 2:58:26, Rachid close behind in 3:03:01. Gras, after a relentless fight against both rivals and the rising heat, held on for third in 3:03:46.
The women’s race told its own story of strength and resilience. Maryline Nakache led from the front with authority, claiming victory in 3:48:21.
Behind her, the desert reshaped the field. Aziza El Amrany faltered under the pressure, and opportunity emerged through the heat haze. Agathe Teillet-Magot and Desiree Linden pushed through to secure their podium places in 4:10:31 and 4:13:00.
But beyond the podiums, beyond the times, every runner was fighting a quieter, more personal battle, against the sun, against fatigue, against the voice that whispers stop.
And still… they kept going. With Stage 3 ahead, a shorter but pivotal test, the focus already shifts to what looms large on the horizon: Stage 4 and its brutal 100km reckoning.
The desert is not done. In truth… it’s only just beginning.
The 40th edition of the MDS LEGENDARY is here and it’s unlike anything that’s come before it.
Six stages. 270 kms. A route that raises the bar once again.
This year’s course delivers both scale and variety. It opens with a steady 35km to find your rhythm before stepping up to a longer 40.5km day for stage 2.
Stage 3 pulls things slightly shorter at 29.1km ahead of the stage 4 ‘long day,’ but by this point, the cumulative load is already building.
Then comes the centrepiece.
Stage 4 stretches to a record-breaking 100km, the longest single stage in MDS Legendary history. With two staggered starts and a 40-hour cut-off, it’s a true test of pacing, resilience, and decision-making under fatigue. This is where the 2026 and 40th edition will be defined.
With a 40-hour cut-off, the need to rest, recover and reset quickly is important. A classic marathon distance of 42.2km follows on Stage 5, before the final 23.2km push to the finish and the glory of medal.
Across the six days, the route totals 270km’s with 2612m+ of climbing, in the Sahara, every metre and every step counts, this will be tough.
Since its creation, the Marathon des Sables has built its reputation as one of the toughest footraces on earth. The 40th edition honours that history while pushing into new territory, with its longest stage ever and one of its most demanding overall distances.
An epic edition.
An iconic race.
A route that will be remembered.
Race Summary:
Day 1 – Stage 1 35km 285m+ 0700am start – 1000h cut off
Day 2 – Stage 2 40.5km 486m+ 0600am start – 1135h cut off
Day 3 – Stage 3 29.1km 413m+ 0700am start – 0620h cut off
Day 4 – Stage 4 100km 721m+ – two starts, 0500/0700am – 4000h cut off
Day 5 – Stage 4 continuation/ rest day
Day 6 – Stage 5 42.2km 424m+ 0630am start – 1205h cut off
Day 7 – Stage 6 23.2km 238m+ 0630am start – 0440h cut off
270km and 2612m+
Stats
Over 1500 participants
30% women
68 nationalities
68% new to an MDS event
France lead with 403 participants, followed by the UK and then Belgium
Key age is between 35 and 44 closely followed by 45 to 54.
Marathon des Sables: What a Week in the Desert Really Looks Like
The Marathon des Sables has always been legendary. In 2026, it becomes something even more special.
This edition marks the 40th anniversary of the race. Four decades of runners crossing the Sahara under their own power. Forty years of stories, struggle, and unforgettable moments. To honour that history, the 2026 race will be longer, tougher, and designed to celebrate everything the event has become.
As we move through March, I’m sharing a short series of weekly articles to help sharpen your preparation. This is the third of four. The goal is simple: remove uncertainty.
When you arrive in the desert, you should know what to expect.
For many runners, especially first-timers, the unknowns can feel overwhelming. What happens when you arrive in Morocco?
How does the bivouac work?
What does a typical day look like?
And how do the logistics of such a remote race actually function?
Let’s walk through it together.
The Evolution of the Race
The Marathon des Sables has changed over the years, and many of those changes focus on reducing environmental impact.
Past participants will notice significant differences. Charter planes have been removed. More transport now happens overland. The race increasingly relies on local staff and local produce. Media presence has been reduced. A storage centre in Morocco limits the need for shipping equipment every year. Transport trucks have been reduced, and power-saving measures are everywhere, including solar energy.
Water management has also evolved. In the past, runners received 1.5-litre bottles. Today, the race distributes 5-litre bottles, dramatically reducing plastic use during the event.
Behind the scenes is a large support structure dedicated to safety.
• Around 120 medical staff, known as the Orange Jackets, monitor runner safety 24 hours a day.
• The Blue Jackets focus on runner relations. They are present in the bivouac, on the course, and at checkpoints. If you have a question or concern, they are your first point of contact.
Out on the course, SSV vehicles provide rapid access across the route and carry medical professionals for immediate response. In addition, there are 12 support 4×4 vehicles and a unique system of 40 camel patrol teams. These local teams monitor specific zones and report any issues quickly.
Add to that 20 medical patrol staff on the course and another 25 blue and orange jacket team members, and you begin to see how carefully the race is supported despite its remote setting.
Arriving in Morocco
Your journey begins in Ouarzazate, the meeting point for the race.
Plan to arrive at least one day early. This gives you time to settle in and avoids unnecessary stress before the adventure begins. Hotels are your responsibility to book.
The organisation provides free transfers from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, usually departing from the airport and a designated hotel. Always check official timings before travelling.
Photo by Ian Corless
On Day 1, buses depart from Ouarzazate for the first bivouac. The journey takes roughly six hours across spectacular desert landscapes. A lunch pack is provided, but it’s wise to bring extra snacks and drinks.
When you arrive at the bivouac, you’ll be assigned a tent number. Remember you are self-sufficient in regard to food, water is provided. For the moment, you still have access to your luggage. The following day, after administrative checks, you will deposit that luggage and begin the self-sufficient part of the race.
From this point forward, the desert becomes your home.
Life in the Bivouac
Bivouac life is simple. Very simple.
There are no showers and no power. You live under traditional desert tents with seven other runners. It can feel crowded when everyone is organising gear, so respect each other’s space and keep things tidy.
There are a few practical rules that quickly become important:
• Toilets are installed throughout the bivouac and at checkpoints.
• Some toilets are designated women-only or mixed-use, and it’s important to respect those arrangements.
• Biodegradable hygiene bags are provided and waste is separated into organic and sanitary bins.
Phones are strongly discouraged in camp. The bivouac is meant to be a place for rest, conversation, and disconnection. If you need to make an emergency call, move away from camp out of respect for others.
There is also an IP phone available for emergency calls, costing €2 per minute.
Another change from previous years is the removal of the email message system. This reinforces the race’s self-sufficient spirit and saves thousands of sheets of paper that were previously used to print messages.
Instead, runners can use Emotion Boxes to record short video messages that are sent to loved ones. You need to designate before the race who these messages will be sent to.
At the centre of camp sits the Info Tent, where Blue Jackets are always present. This is where you:
• collect your daily water
• ask questions
• check rankings
• access medical support if needed
Additional facilities include women’s changing cabins and sanitary products available both in the bivouac and at checkpoints.
A few other important bivouac rules:
• Never light a fire within 50 cm of tents
• Do not walk barefoot
• Drop empty water bottles at designated recycling points
• On bivouac move days, return containers to the Info Tent
It may sound strict, but these rules keep the camp safe, clean, and functioning smoothly.
You will go through administrative, technical, and medical checks, while the MDS shop opens nearby. At the shop you can purchase WAA apparel, fire bricks and any other last-minute things you may have forgotten or need.
Each runner receives one 5-litre bottle of mineral water, which must last until the first checkpoint of the race.
Before heading to the checks, prepare the required documents:
• Passport
• Completed technical control form
• Medical certificate
• Resting electrocardiogram (ECG)
During the admin process you will:
1. Deposit your luggage (it will later be returned to you in Ouarzazate).
2. Present your documents and mandatory equipment.
3. Have your race pack weighed.
4. Undergo medical verification.
5. Receive your GPS beacon.
6. Submit your technical control form and receive two race bibs.
If you need to discard a personal item listed on your form later, you must inform the organisation or risk a penalty.
Later in the day:
• 4:30 PM – Stage briefing
Photo by Ian Corless
• 6:00 PM – 40th anniversary photo session
The race is now very real.
A Typical Day in the Desert
Every stage day follows a similar rhythm. Wake up will typically be around 0400 to 0500.
Breakfast is self-sufficient, using the food you’ve carried with you.
Stage tart times vary, but be prepared and ready for 05:30. If temperatures are high, the start may move earlier. Plan for at least 90 minutes of preparation before the start.
Thirty minutes before the stage begins, you must be ready. The race starts on time and no one is held back.
Out on the course, each checkpoint typically between 8-10km’s provides:
• water distribution
• medical presence
• toilets and hygiene supplies
At the finish line, you receive a 5-litre bottle of water, which must last until the first checkpoint the following day. To clarify, you need to drink, cook dinner, wash (if you can spare the water), make breakfast and fill bottles ready to last to CP1 all from the 5ltr bottle.
Each evening the Info Tent and medical clinic are open.
Safety in the Desert
Despite the race’s self-sufficient nature, medical support is extensive. Assistance is available before, during, and after every stage. However, runners are expected to understand basic foot care, which is essential during multi-day desert racing.
For more serious problems, the Dokever medical team takes over.
If you must withdraw from the race, you must notify the organisation. In emergencies, medical evacuation will occur. For non-emergency withdrawals, transport will be arranged back to Ouarzazate, but hotel and food costs will be your responsibility.
At night during a stage, headlamps are mandatory.
Navigation and Desert Conditions
The course is marked clearly and all checkpoints are mandatory. Cutting across the course is forbidden.
Compass headings in the road book are provided as guidance if visibility becomes poor. Know how to use a compass and take a bearing!
Sandstorms
If a sandstorm arrives:
• protect your eyes – you need good glasses and ideally goggles
• cover your nose and mouth typically with a Buff or similar
• stay close to other runners
Photo by Ian Corless
If visibility drops, stop moving and immediately remove compass and take a bearing for the direction of travel. When conditions improve you can move again relying on the compass bearing to ensure you are going in the correct direction.
If you stray from the course, the organisation will receive an alert from your GPS beacon and locate you.
If You Become Lost
It is highly unlikely that you become lost at MDS, however, it is possible to stray of course and feel disorientated. If you cannot see course markings for ten minutes:
1. Stop and assess your position.
2. Climb a small rise if possible to scan the horizon.
3. Backtrack for up to ten minutes if necessary.
Remember, you have a tracker, so, MDS organisation will know where you are and will be able to find you – do not panic.
As a last resort, activate the SOS function on your GPS beacon.
Distress signals can also be made using whistle blasts or torch flashes at night
To alert SOS with a whistle, the internationally recognized distress signal is three short, sharp blasts, followed by a pause, and then repeated. While the full Morse code for SOS is three short, three long, and three short blasts, the simplified “three blasts” method is more commonly used in disaster preparedness to call for help.
To alert SOS with a torch, flash the light in a repeating pattern of three short flashes, three long flashes, and three short flashes.
Medical Requirements
All runners declare medical information during registration.
During race checks, you must present:
• an original medical certificate
• a resting ECG
Photo by Ian Corless
Failure to provide these documents results in disqualification, though emergency testing may be available on site for a €200 fee.
Medical staff specialise in sports and tropical medicine and operate throughout the race.
They also have the authority to withdraw any runner deemed medically unfit to continue.
The Stages
The 2026 race covers approximately 270 kilometres +/- across the Sahara. Total elevation gain will be around 2500m +/-
Confirmed distances will be in the road book, anticipate the following +/- km’s.
Stages include:
• Stage 1: 37 km
• Stage 2: 41 km
• Stage 3: 29 km
• Stage 4: 100 km (You have two days to complete this stage.)
• Stage 5: 42 km
• Stage 6: 21 km
Photo by Ian Corless
To complete the race properly, runners must carry enough food to provide at least 14,000 calories. Remember, this is the minimum, you may well need more than this, so, balance calorie requirement and weight carefully.
The runner is self-sufficient and must carry ALL they need for the whole race, water the only exception.
After Each Stage
Once you reach the bivouac again, recovery begins immediately. You will receive a 5ltr water allocation which must last to CP1 the next day. Stage 4 an exception due to the rest day where extra water will be allocated.
Photo by Ian Corless
Start with a recovery drink before preparing food.
Important – take off your shoes and socks right away. Let your feet breathe and inspect them carefully while you are waiting for water to boil or, you are waiting for a meal to hydrate.
Eat a meal within 1-hour of finishing the stage.
Changing into clean or warmer clothing can make a huge difference. It allows running gear to dry and gives a mental reset for the next day. However, you also need to balance weight – keep ‘extras’ to an absolute minimum.
Sleep and rest is another priority. A sleeping mat helps enormously for rest, relaxation and sleep comfort. Your sleeping bag must be light but warm enough for desert nights. We are all different, so know what you need.
Be meticulous with your gear. Eight runners share each tent, and it can quickly become cluttered. Keep your bag packed and store items immediately after using them. Desert winds or sudden sandstorms can easily carry equipment away, especially lightweight items like sleeping mats.
Photo by Ian Corless
A Buff around your neck is invaluable. It lets you cover your nose, mouth, eyes, and ears quickly when conditions change.
Many tent groups also create a simple cooking area using stones and small branches for fire. Often the first runner back begins preparing the cooking area for everyone else.
Over time, these small routines become part of the experience.
And the bivouac itself becomes something special.
You will share the tent with people from all over the world. You will go through highs and lows together. Some moments will be difficult. Others unforgettable.
Many runners say the friendships formed here last a lifetime.
That is the spirit of Marathon des Sables.
After the Finish on Stage 6
Cross the finish line of the final stage and you will receive your medal, water allocation, and a packed lunch.
Photo by Ian Corless
Then you board a bus back to Ouarzazate. Buses leave as soon as they are full, so, no need to hang around and wait for ages.
The bus will take you to your specific hotel and your luggage will be waiting at your hotel.
What comes next is simple but glorious:
a shower…
then another shower…
and maybe one more.
Clean clothes.
A real bed.
A proper meal.
The following day is free to relax and explore. Remember the MDS shop! Later in the afternoon there is a dinner, awards ceremony, and celebration party.
Photo by Ian Corless
After that, the journey home begins.
But the memories of the desert tend to stay with you far longer.
The Marathon des Sables has a way of becoming far more complicated than it needs to be. Spend five minutes online and you’ll find spreadsheets, gear breakdowns to the gram, and endless debates about socks.
Here’s the truth. It’s a multi-day race in the desert where you carry your own kit, manage your energy, and keep moving forward. That’s it.
Yes, details matter. But simplicity wins.
The 2026 Marathon des Sables – The Legendary is not just another year in the desert. It marks 40 years of the race. That alone tells you something about what’s coming. This edition matters. It will be longer, tougher, and built to celebrate the history of the event properly.
As we move through March, I will release weekly articles to help you sharpen your preparation. This is the second of four. The aim here is simple: give you clarity. No surprises. No guesswork.
Below is a broader, more grounded take on what to focus on, including some of the small, often overlooked realities that make a big difference once you’re out there.
Start With This Mindset
You are not preparing for comfort. You are preparing for control.
Control of your energy.
Photo by Ian Corless
Control of your hydration.
Control of your thoughts when things get hard.
The desert strips away noise. What’s left is you, your pack, and the next checkpoint.
1. Your Pack: Fit Over Fashion
You’ll see a lot of the same packs on the start line. The WAA 20L Ultra Bag is extremely common because it was built specifically for races like this.
But popular doesn’t mean perfect.
A pack should sit close to your body without bouncing. It shouldn’t pull on your shoulders or rub your lower back raw by day three. Try it loaded. Walk in it. Run dunes in it if you can.
Photo by Ian Corless
Smaller is usually better. If you give yourself space, you’ll fill it. And once your food weight drops midweek, too much space means constant shifting and irritation.
Getting close to the 6.5 kg minimum isn’t about ego. It’s about reducing cumulative fatigue. Every unnecessary gram is lifted thousands of times over the week.
2. Sleep Is Recovery, Not Luxury
You don’t need a five-star sleep system. But you do need rest.
A sleeping bag choice should reflect how you actually sleep at home. If you’re always cold, don’t suddenly become brave in the Sahara. Cold nights drain energy quickly.
A lightweight down jacket is incredibly useful. Brands like Mont Bell, Haglöfs, Yeti, and Nordisk all make reliable options. It doubles as camp insulation and extra warmth inside your bag.
Random but important: cover your head at night. Even a simple buff makes a difference.
And yes, take a sleeping mat. After several hours in the heat, lying on hard ground feels far less heroic than it sounds.
3. Clothing: Function Only
Nobody cares what you look like by stage four.
Choose clothing you’ve already trained in. Check underarms, inner thighs, lower back, and anywhere straps sit. If something rubs slightly at home, it will tear skin in the desert.
Photo by Ian Corless
A spare pair of socks is wise. Changing into dry socks after a long stage feels surprisingly restorative.
Some runners like having a lightweight long sleeve or leggings just for evenings. It’s less about warmth and more about feeling human again after a tough day.
4. Shoes and Gaiters: Non-Negotiable
Shoes must be tested, broken in, and reliable.
Slightly wider can help accommodate swelling. But oversized shoes create movement. Movement creates friction. Friction creates blisters.
Aim for a thumbnail’s space beyond your longest toe.
Gaiters are essential. Sand will find its way in otherwise, and constant grit inside your shoe is demoralising.
Small thought: practise emptying sand quickly and calmly. You’ll do it often.
5. Food: Think Beyond Calories
Yes, you must carry at least 2,000 calories per day.
But calories alone aren’t the whole story. Appetite changes. Sweet fatigue is real. By midweek, many runners crave savoury food.
Recovery nutrition right after each stage can speed up how you feel the next morning. Even a small protein-based drink helps.
Also consider practicality. If you skip a stove, make sure your meals work with cold water. And if you’re someone who needs coffee to function, plan for it. Tiny comforts can have a big psychological impact.
6. Water Strategy: Be Flexible
You must be able to carry at least 1.5 litres, usually via two 750 ml front bottles.
Soft flasks and bladders are lighter, but they can puncture. Rigid bottles are heavier but durable.
Have the capacity to carry an additional 1.5 litres if required. In extreme heat or on longer stages, the race has sometimes increased water allowances.
Practice drinking steadily rather than chugging. Drink to thirst before the race starts. Overhydrating early doesn’t help.
7. Salt and Electrolytes: Plan It Yourself
Salt tablets are no longer handed out.
You must start with 14 stock cubes as part of the requirements, but that’s just one element. Test your electrolyte strategy in training. Don’t experiment for the first time in Morocco.
Cramps in the middle of a long stage are not where you want surprises.
8. Your Feet: Your Entire World
If your feet fail, your race fails.
Trim nails carefully before the event. Know which socks work for you. Consider taping strategies only if you’ve tested them.
After each stage:
Remove shoes immediately.
Clean sand off.
Let skin dry.
Deal with hot spots early.
Blister management is part of the race. The medical team is experienced, but prevention is always easier than repair.
9. Heat Preparation
The final two weeks are ideal for heat acclimation.
Sauna sessions. Hot baths. Controlled heat chamber work. Even Bikram yoga.
The goal isn’t to exhaust yourself. It’s to teach your body to manage elevated core temperature more efficiently.
Arriving heat-adapted reduces stress from day one.
10. Taper Properly
In the final weeks, you don’t gain fitness. You protect it.
You want to feel slightly restless at the start line, not tired.
11. Learn to Walk Well
This surprises many first-timers.
You may not run as much as you think. Dunes, heat, pack weight, and long stages change expectations quickly.
Photo by Ian Corless
Practice strong, efficient walking. Especially uphill. Keep posture tall. Use arms deliberately.
Fast walking wins time and saves energy.
12. Poles: Train With Them or Leave Them
Poles can feel like four-wheel drive in soft sand and on climbs.
Lightweight folding carbon poles from brands like Black Diamond and Leki are common.
But poles only help if you’ve trained with them. Poor technique wastes energy. Good technique saves it.
13. Keep Equipment Minimal
Every “just in case” item adds up.
Ask: will this meaningfully improve my race?
Your pack should sit close to 6.5 kg. The only luxury many runners truly appreciate is a lightweight way to listen to music.
Interestingly, many also discover they don’t miss their phone at all.
14. Tent Life
You’ll share a tent with seven others.
These people become your support system. You’ll hear their breathing at night. You’ll see their low moments and your own reflected back.
Choose tent mates wisely if you can. The camaraderie becomes one of the most powerful parts of the week.
15. Travel and Admin Realities
Wear your running shoes and kit on the plane. Carry your pack as ‘carry-on’ with as much of your race kit as possibe. Lost luggage does happen.
Bring your own snacks for travel days. The transfer from Marrakech is quite long, so is the transfer to bivouac one. MDS do provide lunch packs as and when applicable, always good to be self sufficient.
The first two nights in bivouac are self-sufficient, plan accordingly for food. Take comfort items you’re happy to give away before racing begins, for example, you may take a larger/ heavier inflatable bed.
Admin day can take 1-2 hours. Bring water, snacks, sun protection, even an umbrella for shade. Stay patient.
Have additional items such as a base layer, sleeping bag liner and other items that may be on a ‘question’ list for the race. On night 1 and before you go to admin, you can make final decisions of what to and what not to take. Particularly important if you think you may be cold at night.
After bag check-in, you drop your luggage and no longer have access to extra gear. Make sure you have everything you need for the race! But full self-sufficiency only begins when the race starts, so you can enjoy small comforts until then.
Bring a simple repair kit. Zips break. Gaiters tear. The desert is unforgiving.
16. The Mental Game
At some point, you will question why you signed up.
That moment passes.
The Marathon des Sables isn’t just about endurance. It’s about staying calm when you’re tired. Staying steady when others surge. Accepting discomfort without drama.
Highs and lows are part of the rhythm. If it were easy, it wouldn’t matter.
Final Thought
The desert simplifies everything.
There’s no clutter. No constant notifications. No daily noise. Just sun, sand, wind, and the quiet focus of moving forward.
Whether you finish near the front or close to the cutoff, the experience is transformative.
It reminds you how little you actually need, and how much you’re capable of carrying.
MDS is a hark back to a more primitive time, a time without clutter and modern technology. Embrace this. Embrace the silence of the surroundings and the simplicity of placing one foot in front of the other.
The 2026 Marathon des Sables – The Legendary is not just another year in the desert. It marks 40 years of the race. That alone tells you something about what’s coming. This edition matters. It will be longer, tougher, and built to celebrate the history of the event properly.
As we move through March, I will release weekly articles to help you sharpen your preparation. This is the first of four. The aim here is simple: give you clarity. No surprises. No guesswork.
Photo by Ian Corless
The Shape of the 2026 Race
If you raced in 2025, you already experienced the longest edition in MDS history. In 2026, the format stays similar but the distance increases again.
Six stages. Seven days. All timed.
Photo by Ian Corless
In previous years, the charity stage was not timed. That changed in 2025 and continues in 2026. Every stage now counts.
The long stage returns to Stage 4, just as it did in 2025. This time it will be 100km. Read that again. One hundred kilometres across two days in the desert.
Photo by Ian Corless
While total distance has fluctuated over the years, 250km has often been the benchmark. For 2026, you should plan for approximately 270km plus or minus. It should not shock you. But it will test you.
One positive? Depending on how quickly you complete the long stage, you may have almost a full day and night to recover before Stages 5 and 6. That recovery window could be valuable.
Daily stage distances are rarely confirmed in advance. It remains unclear whether exact distances will be released before arrival in Morocco. Historically, that information is kept quiet. Still, it’s not hard to estimate how the race could look.
Photo by Ian Corless
A likely outline might be:
Stage 1: 32km (Day 1) – total 32km
Stage 2: 38km (Day 2) – total 70km
Stage 3: 36km (Day 3) – total 106km
Stage 4: 100km (Days 4 and 5) – total 206km
Stage 5: 42km (Day 6) – total 248km
Stage 6: 21km (Day 7) – total 269km
Total: approximately 269km +/-
As in 2025, expect sand. A lot of it. Expect the Merzouga Dunes. Do not expect Djebel El Otfal.
You now have a working template to mentally prepare for the challenge ahead.
Before the Race Even Starts
Your race does not begin at the start line. It begins with logistics.
Photo by Ian Corless
In the final 2 to 3 weeks before the race, taper training back so that you are fresh and strong. Also plan for heat adaptation, this could be specific heat chamber sessions or a series of sauna sessions or similar.
Photo by Ian Corless
You are responsible for arranging your own accommodation before the official transfer from Ouarzazate to bivouac one. If you fly into Marrakech, you may need a hotel there as well. There are free transfer buses from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. Arrive in Ouarzazate at least one day before required, have a good hotel night and time to relax and prepare before the transfer to the desert. MDS will confirm the dates and times for transfers etc.
From there, the structure usually follows this pattern:
Day 1 – Bus transfer from Ouarzazate to the desert bivouac. You settle in and stay overnight. This is self-sufficient. No meals are provided. Bring enough food for arrival day and admin day. There is no weight restriction at this point, so bring what you want.
Day 2 – Technical, administrative, and medical checks. Overnight in bivouac, still self-sufficient.
Day 3 – Stage 1
Day 4 – Stage 2
Day 5 – Stage 3
Days 6 and 7 – Stage 4, the 100km long stage
Day 8 – Stage 5
Day 9 – Stage 6, medal at the finish, bus transfer back to Ouarzazate. Overnight hotel with half-board.
Day 10 – Free day in Ouarzazate, awards ceremony and gala evening. Hotel half-board.
Day 11 – Airport transfers. End of the adventure.
Bivouac Reality
From the moment you step into the bivouac, you are self-sufficient. Water is provided. Everything else is your responsibility.
You must bring food and drink to cover arrival day and admin day before racing begins. You do not carry this food during the race, so be smart. Bring proper meals. Rachid, for example, makes a Tagine in camp.
You also have access to your luggage before admin checks. This is valuable. Bring spare kit, extra layers, backup options. You can fine tune your equipment in real desert conditions.
And do not assume MDS = heat. In 2025, we had rain, strong winds and sand storms.
Recent editions have shown how unpredictable conditions can be. The October MDS 120 Morocco race in 2024 saw rain and flooding. The Atlantic Coast edition had extreme wind, cold temperatures and rain. The desert is not always hot and dry. Prepare for variation.
Before admin, you can adjust your race pack. After that, your pack must meet regulations:
Minimum weight: 6.5kg excluding 1.5 lts of water.
Minimum food: 2000 calories per day.
All mandatory kit must be present.
No exceptions.
Water Strategy Has Changed
Since 2024, water provision has evolved.
Photo by Ian Corless
Once Stage 1 begins, water during stages is effectively unlimited. You are no longer handed sealed 1.5L bottles at checkpoints. Instead, volunteers in blue coats pour water from large containers into your bottles.
If you stand at a checkpoint and drink a full bottle, they refill it.
Typically, checkpoints are spaced around 10km apart, terrain permitting. However, if conditions demand it, additional water stations may be placed between checkpoints, for example at 5km. This flexibility is important to combat excessive heat.
Photo by Ian Corless
For the long stage, there may be a requirement to carry additional water capacity. This could be supplied in a 1.5L bottle. Plan ahead. Either have spare capacity to decant, or a system to carry a full bottle.
After each stage, water is rationed. You receive one 5L bottle. That 5L must cover:
Post-stage hydration
Dinner preparation
Breakfast preparation
Water allocation to CP1 the next day
If you want to wash, that also comes from the same 5L. Prioritize drinking and eating. Washing is optional. Hydration is not.
Salt Is Now Non-Negotiable
The race rules require 14 broth cubes. They are salty and mandatory.
In 2024, this change was questioned. By the end of the race, feedback was largely positive.
Not all cubes dissolve well. Test them. Many athletes use ‘Knorr’ because it dissolves reliably. Build a salt replacement strategy that works for you. This is a self-sufficient race. You must manage your own electrolyte plan.
Feet: The Deciding Factor
Along with dehydration, damaged feet are one of the main reasons people do not finish.
Your shoes must fit correctly. Your socks must suit you. You must know how to treat hot spots and blisters. Desert sand magnifies small problems quickly.
Ignore your feet at your peril.
Advice – A thumb nail of space above your longest toe is ideal. Note, I say longest toe – this may not be your big toe! A wider shoe is a good idea to allow for toe splay. If a shoe is too big, your foot will move when walking or running. A moving foot causes friction, friction means blisters.
Photo by Ian Corless
Make sure your shoes have gaiters so no sand can get in the shoe.
Safety on Course
The race operates under strict safety protocols.
Photo by Ian Corless
Fast response buggies are positioned to access difficult terrain quickly. 4×4 vehicles are spread across the course.
Every runner carries a tracker attached to their pack. This allows the organization to monitor your position in real time. It includes an emergency button for immediate assistance.
There are also medical runners on course. These are trained medical professionals competing in the race. They wear a different colour race number so you can identify them. They can provide immediate care if necessary. In addition, the full medical team is equipped to respond anywhere in the desert.
Photo by Ian Corless
During stages, water is not rationed. If you need more, you can have it. At key checkpoints, iced water is available for cooling and is poured over your head by blue coat volunteers. Orange jackets manage medical incidents.
Mandatory Equipment Means Mandatory
You must carry:
Pack such as WAA Ultra Bag 20L
Minimum 1.5L water capacity
Sleeping bag
Head torch plus spare batteries (charger or solar charger allowed)
10 safety pins
Compass with 1–2 degree precision
Lighter
Whistle
Knife
Topical disinfectant
Signal mirror
Survival blanket
14 broth cubes
Sun cream
200 euros or 2000 dirhams
Passport or ID card
Original ECG document and medical certificate
Roadbook (provided on arrival)
GPS tracker
Pay close attention to deadlines and rules for ECG and medical forms. The regulations are strict.
Calories: The Real Numbers
The rules require 2000 calories per day across six stages. That equals 12,000 calories minimum to comply.
However, with the rest period during the long stage, 14,000 calories is a more realistic minimum. You may carry more. For example, a small and slight women weighing 50kg has very different calorie needs to a tall, muscular 90kg male. Understand your calorie needs.
You must be able to prove calorie totals. If you repackage food into lighter containers, keep the nutritional labels.
To break it down clearly:
Stage 1 – 14,000 calories remaining
Stage 2 – 12,000 calories remaining
Stage 3 – 10,000 calories remaining
Stage 4 – 8,000 calories remaining (long stage)
Day 5 – 6,000 calories remaining (rest day, still requires 2000 calories)
Stage 5 – 4,000 calories remaining
Stage 6 – 2,000 calories remaining
On Day 5, you may still be moving during the long stage or recovering in camp, but you still require 2000 calories. On Stage 6, you technically only need breakfast and race snacks.
Essential Personal Kit
Beyond mandatory equipment and food, you will need:
Shoes with gaiters, Velcro sewn securely in advance
Hat with potential neck cover
Sunglasses with strong protection and good fit for sandstorms or take extra goggles
Watch
Warm layer – windproof and possibly lightweight down jacket
Foot care supplies
Hygiene products
Toilet roll or wipes
Lip balm
Blindfold
Ear plugs
Spoon
Pot or bowl
Stove
Fuel cubes
Sleeping mat
Pillow
Flip flops or similar
Note – If you plan to NOT heat water, you will not need a stove of fuel cubes. However, you will still need a bowl or something similar to eat food from.
Photo by Ian Corless
For repairs, consider:
Zip ties
Gorilla tape
Super glue
Sewing kit
Cord or thin rope
Equipment can fail. Plan for that.
Final Practical Advice
Keep your pack as close to 6.5kg as possible. Extra weight adds unnecessary stress, especially in the longest edition to date with a 100km long stage.
Limit luxuries. If you take one, make it a lightweight MP3 player with reliable battery and earphones.
Accept the conditions. You may not wash. You will get dirty. You will smell. That is normal
Start conservatively. Ease into the race.
Photo by Ian Corless
Poles can make a huge difference, but only if you know how to use them properly. Front runners may not need them. Most people benefit from them.
Learn to walk efficiently. Many arrive expecting to run 80 percent and walk 20 percent. In reality, it is often reversed.
Protect your feet from day one.
Take a sleeping mat. In the desert, your job is simple: run, eat, sleep. Good sleep improves recovery. Recovery keeps you in the race.
Stage 3 of the MDS 120 Atlantic Coast wasn’t about pace. It was about heart. Twenty-seven kilometres stood between every runner and the finish. The final stage. The one that decides how the story ends.
The day opened under a heavy sky. Low cloud hung over the coast, light rain drifting in and out, just enough to cool the skin and sharpen the mood. It felt serious. Proper. A stage that demanded respect.
From the first steps, the terrain made its intentions clear. Soft sand soaked up energy. Feet sank, calves burned, rhythm disappeared. Progress came the hard way, one honest stride at a time.
Then there was the Atlantic – Wild. Loud. Unapologetic. The ocean pushed high up the beach, swallowing the firm running line and forcing everyone into deeper, slower sand. The final ten kilometres became a test of patience and grit. Shoes heavy with water. Legs tight. Eyes fixed forward. The sound of the waves constant, relentless, daring you to stop.
Every runner carried their own journey into those final kilometres. Some had 70 kilometres in their legs. Others 100. Many the full 120. Different distances, same effort. Same doubts. Same determination.
And then, finally, the finish.
Not a sprint. Not fireworks. Just raw, unfiltered emotion.
Tears mixed with rain. Smiles broke through exhaustion. Hugs lasted longer than words. That medal, placed gently around tired necks, meant everything. It wasn’t just metal. It was proof. Of discipline. Of resilience. Of promises kept when quitting would have been easier.
This is what the Atlantic Coast gives you.
It gives you challenge. It gives you atmosphere. It gives you moments where the world narrows down to breath, movement, and will. And in return, it gives you something rare. A finish that feels truly earned.
If you’re looking for a race that stays with you long after the sand is washed from your shoes, this is it. The coast is waiting.
Stage 2 of the MDS 120 Atlantic Coast 2026 arrived with options and consequences. Twenty kilometres, forty, or the full sixty. Three distances, one shared truth: today would ask more than legs. It would ask for patience, judgement, and honesty. The course did not care which option was chosen. It simply waited, stretching out along the Atlantic edge, ready to test everyone who stepped onto it.
The morning hinted at uncertainty. Low cloud rolled in from the ocean, cool air brushing faces that had already been scoured by salt and sand. There was a little rain, just enough to darken the ground and sharpen the smell of wet earth. Then the sun broke through, sudden and bright, as if to remind the field that comfort would be temporary and effort unavoidable. It was a day of changeable weather in every sense, and the tone was set early. Adjust. Adapt. Keep moving.
From the first kilometres, the terrain refused to settle into anything predictable. Soft sand swallowed shoes and rhythm, turning simple forward motion into work. Each step demanded attention. Ankles wobbled, calves burned, and breathing grew louder. Then the sand gave way to rocky plateau, hard and uneven underfoot.
The pace changed again, this time to caution. Eyes stayed down, scanning for safe placement. The plateau opened wide, exposing runners to the elements and to themselves. There was nowhere to hide from the wind, the sun, or the thoughts that arrive when the body starts to ask hard questions.
Flooded gorges brought a different challenge. Water pooled where it was least expected, cool and deceptively deep. Shoes filled, socks soaked, and the familiar squelch followed each step on the exit. Some laughed at the absurdity of it. Others grimaced, knowing wet feet mean blisters later. But everyone crossed, because stopping was never really an option. This race does not negotiate.
Beyond the gorges, the course stretched into wide open terrain. The Atlantic Ocean appeared and disappeared, sometimes a distant shimmer, sometimes close enough to hear. The scale of the landscape made individuals feel small, but also free. Lines of colour moved slowly across the land as runners spread out, each locked into their own effort. This was where time began to behave strangely. Minutes felt long. Hours blurred. The distance chosen mattered less than the simple act of continuing.
The final stretch ran flat and true, parallel to the ocean. It should have felt easier. On paper, it was. In reality, it was where fatigue spoke loudest. The body was already empty. The mind had been negotiating for kilometres. Yet the finish lay ahead, invisible at first, then slowly, mercifully, real. The ocean rolled on, indifferent and steady, while the race reached its quiet climax.
The finish line became a gathering point for everything this day had taken and given. It was a welcome sight, one that drew out raw emotion without apology. Tears fell freely, sometimes before the line, sometimes after. Laughter broke out in short bursts, the kind that comes when tension finally releases. There was joy, genuine and earned, mixed with exhaustion that sat deep in the bones. Some crossed upright and strong. Others bent double, hands on knees, searching for breath. All were changed.
The day stretched long into the night. Headlamps flickered in the distance as darkness closed in. Volunteers stayed wrapped in layers, voices steady, encouragement unwavering. The clock kept moving. And then, close to 2300 hours, the final finisher crossed the line. There was no rush. No hurry to be anywhere else. Just a moment held for someone who refused to stop. Applause cut through the night, not loud, but meaningful. This, too, mattered.
Stage 2 was not about speed. It was about choice and consequence, about learning the difference between discomfort and danger, about discovering how much is left when you think there is nothing. Today, participants found out who they are and why they are here. Some answers were quiet. Others arrived with force. But they arrived all the same.
There were moments of doubt, of frustration, of anger at the sand, the stones, the weather, the distance. There were also moments of clarity, when effort narrowed the world down to the essentials. Step. Breathe. Drink. Keep going. In those moments, the noise of everyday life fell away. What remained was simple and honest.
As the camp settles and the body begins to cool, tomorrow offers something rare in this environment. A day of rest. A pause. Time to recharge and recover. Muscles will stiffen, feet will tell their stories, and minds will replay the day in fragments. There will be care, conversation, and quiet pride. Because Stage 2 demanded respect, and those who met it earned that rest.
The Atlantic continues to roll in the dark. The course waits. And the field, changed by today, will rise again when it is time.
Stage 1 of the 2nd edition of the MDS 120 Atlantic Coast marked a powerful and inspiring beginning to the adventure in Morocco, where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. A field of 250 participants set out on this opening day, with an impressive 80 percent taking on their very first MDS experience. Just under half of the runners were women, and the age range spoke volumes about the inclusive spirit of the race, from the youngest at 19 years old to the oldest at 78. With 30 nationalities represented and the support of 147 dedicated staff, the event immediately felt global, vibrant, and alive.
This first stage covered 23km, with 343m of elevation gain, following a point-to-point route along the Atlantic coast. Checkpoints were placed at 9.1km and 17km, guiding runners through a constantly changing landscape.
The terrain offered little rhythm. Soft sand drained energy, dry river beds broke momentum, and rocky plateaus demanded focus and careful footwork. While the elevation profile looked modest on paper, the reality underfoot made it a demanding day from start to finish. The sand, in particular, turned every step into a test of patience and strength.
The challenge began long before the start line. A 2am wake-up, followed by a 3am departure and a lengthy transfer, asked a lot of the runners before dawn had even broken. Yet spirits remained high. These athletes were fully self-sufficient, carrying everything they needed on their backs, managing their nutrition, hydration, and equipment as they moved across the course. It was a true test of endurance, organisation, and resilience.
Despite the early start, the travel, and the relentless terrain, the performance across the field was outstanding. Every runner dug deep, and the final participant crossed the finish line well within the cut-off time, greeted with applause and encouragement.
As the sun dipped and the day drew to a close, the runners settled in for their first night under the stars on the Atlantic coast. Tired legs, sandy shoes, and quiet smiles told the story of a hard-earned first stage completed. It was a demanding, memorable opening chapter, and a clear signal that the MDS 120 Atlantic Coast is as much about heart and determination as it is about distance.
MDS 120 Atlantic Coast returns for 2026 with a bold 2nd edition that invites walkers and runners alike to a three-stage, four-day self-sufficient challenge along Morocco’s Atlantic shores. Competitors will take on routes of 70, 100, or 120 kilometres in total, choosing their own distance while mastering the same demanding, coast-to-coast format that has become a hallmark of the MDS family. This year’s edition follows closely on the heels of the inaugural MDS Ultra, which wrapped up just a week earlier, making the Atlantic Coast event the season’s first MDS 120 race of 2026. Participants will gather in Agadir for a seamless pre-race briefing, then linger after the finish for a relaxed post-race stay in a comfortable hotel. The event is designed for all abilities, from dedicated walkers to seasoned runners, offering a true test of endurance without sacrificing accessibility.
Photo by Ian Corless
The coastline landscape promises a mix of open beaches, wind-sculpted dunes, and rugged hinterland, delivering diverse terrain without losing the sense of adventure that draws participants back year after year. By welcoming walkers right beside runners, the event reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity while preserving the challenge that marks the MDS family. For those who crave the feel of a grand adventure without crossing continents, the Atlantic Coast edition offers a perfect balance of scenery, camaraderie, and personal achievement.
Photo by Ian Corless
What to expect on the three stages
The race unfolds over three days of stage racing, spread across four calendar days. Each participant selects their total distance – 70, 100, or 120 kilometres – and completes the corresponding combination of stage lengths. The route design emphasises a continuous, day-by-day test of endurance, and self-reliance, with the sense of discovery growing as the coastline unveils new horizons.
Expect a demanding yet spectacular mix of beach stretches, coastal dunes, rocky outcrops, and inland trails that thread along the Atlantic fringe. While the sea air and sun contribute to the challenge, the route rewards rhythm, efficient pacing, and smart planning.
As a self-sufficient event, participants rely on well-marked courses and a robust safety net. Course marshals, remote safety teams, and medical support are in place, with clear guidelines on mandatory equipment and daily checkpoints. Competitors manage their own nutrition and water, planning for the day ahead while staying mindful of weather and terrain. This combination of independence and structure is what defines the MDS 120 experience.
Photo by Ian Corless
The MDS 120 Atlantic Coast is explicitly designed to welcome a wide spectrum of abilities. If you’re a walker who can cover long distances with steady pace, or a runner seeking a new endurance benchmark, this event offers a supported, self-sufficient platform to push limits in a beautiful, accessible setting. It’s ideal for first-time MDS 120 participants seeking a well-structured introduction without compromising the sense of accomplishment, as well as returning athletes looking for a coastal contrast to Sahara routes.
Why MDS 120?
Expanded inclusivity with a broader distance range: The 70/100/120 km options enable more participants to tailor the challenge to their current level while still delivering the iconic MDS 120 experience.
Photo by Ian Corless
A fresh Atlantic coastal route: The coastline around Agadir offers new routes that emphasise coastal beauty and wind-sculpted terrain, creating a distinctive mood and pacing compared with prior editions.
Photo by Ian Corless
Athletes travel to Agadir, where a hotel base serves as the staging ground for briefing and support, with a hotel stay also planned for post-race recovery and celebration. The overall package aims to balance challenge with comfort, giving participants a strong sense of community without sacrificing the rugged essence of self-sufficiency.
A celebration of pace, place, and persistence MDS 120 Atlantic Coast 2nd edition is more than a test of endurance. It’s a celebration of pace, place, and persistence, inviting a broad range of athletes to test their limits in a setting that blends the raw beauty of Morocco’s Atlantic edge with the camaraderie and strategy that define the MDS experience. The 70, 100, and 120 km distances let participants choose a level of challenge that matches their training, experience, and appetite for adventure, while the three-stage format over four days preserves the thrill of back-to-back days on the trail.
If you’re looking for a race that marries coastline drama with self-sufficient racing, where every kilometre earned is a personal milestone and every sunset over the Atlantic is a reward, the 2nd edition of MDS 120 Atlantic Coast in Morocco awaits.
Forty years after the first chapter of desert racing was written, a new one opened in the Merzouga region of Morocco with the inaugural edition of MDS ULTRA. This was not a return to the past, an acknowledgement of history but also a clear statement of intent – one race, two distances, no stages and no reset. Just a single, continuous effort across the desert, with runners committing to either 100 kilometres or 100 miles within a strict 40-hour time limit.
Set against the wide, open landscapes surrounding Merzouga, the race introduced a different way to experience the Sahara. Held in winter, the conditions reshaped the challenge. Days offered pleasant, manageable heat that allowed athletes to settle into rhythm and pace. Nights told a different story. Temperatures dropped fast, the cold biting through fatigue, turning the long hours of darkness into a test of preparation, focus, and resolve. Managing layers, energy, and morale became as important as managing speed.
The course reinforced a stripped-back philosophy. Predominantly flat and designed with less soft sand, for some, it encouraged sustained running, for others, the distance and challenge required survival marching. But flat did not mean easy. Over such distances, the lack of variety became its own challenge. Every mistake was amplified, every slowdown hard to recover from. The desert demanded patience and discipline, hour after hour, the cold nights bringing the greatest challenge.
On the ground, the scale of the operation matched the ambition of the format. Five life bases were positioned across the route offering a place to sleep, food, a warm fire and incredible support. Nine water stations filled the gaps in-between and a team of 147 staff working across logistics, medical care, safety, and race control made the whole thing tick. Organisation was tight, communication clear, and participant safety central throughout.
The racing itself gave the event its heartbeat. Athletes from 30 countries lined up, bringing an international energy to the desert, with women making up 30 percent of the field. What followed were two races and countless individual battles. In the 100-mile event, Martin Gallardo charged ahead in the early stages of the race, but after 40km’s, Maryline Nakache delivered a standout performance, coming from behind taking the outright win. In the 100-kilometre race, Adriana Moser claimed second place overall behind Sergio Turull, Francesca Canepa placing third – a podium underlining the depth and quality of competition across both distances and the dominance of women in the ultra distance.
But beyond the podiums, MDS ULTRA was 40-hours of stories. The glory of victory played out at the front, while deeper in the field some runners faced the agony of a DNF – forced to stop by injury, exhaustion, or the quiet accumulation of small failures.
For others, the reward was simpler and just as powerful: survival. Reaching the finish after a single, unbroken push through heat, cold, daylight, and darkness.
This first edition of MDS ULTRA established its own identity – it honoured Morocco’s and the MDS desert racing heritage without trying to recreate it. Fast but unforgiving, simple in concept and demanding in execution, it proved that even after four decades, the desert still has new ways to test those who dare to cross it.
IAN CORLESS 