MDS 120 Fuerteventura returns in September 2025, not ‘just’ another race on the calendar, but an important marker in the history of the MDS 120 format. A collision of raw endurance and wild beauty, where athletes trade comfort for grit, and discover just how far their bodies and minds can be pushed. Set against the sunburnt backdrop of the Canary Islands, the race is part expedition, part survival trial, and part celebration of human resilience. A race for all with 3 distance options available, 70, 100 and 120km’s.
What Is the MDS Fuerteventura?
MDS 120 Fuerteventura is the younger sibling of MDS The Legendary, the original multi-stage ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Like its parent race, the Fuerteventura edition demands that competitors carry their own supplies while covering gaily distances under variable conditions.
The format is simple but brutal: three stages spread across four days with desert, volcanic ridges, and coastline to endure. Each participant must carry their own food, sleeping kit, and survival essentials, relying only on the organization for water, medical support and a tent. Each stage offers a different flavor of challenge, from long, flat stretches where heat and monotony test mental strength, to rugged climbs that punish the legs and lungs in equal measure.
This self-sufficiency format transforms the MDS 120 Fuerteventura from a simple race into an expedition where every choice is an important aspect – how much food to pack? which shoes to wear? when to push and when to conserve energy? – each decision carries a consequences that can make or break the experience.
Participants spend 3 nights at the MDS bivouac and enjoy 4 nights at the Playitas Resort hotel, offering numerous facilities (two nights before, two nights after).
Participants choose between 3 different distances: 70, 100 or 120km, divided into 3 stages, over 4-days. This includes 1 full day of rest.
Here is the breakdown:
- Stage 1: around 25 to 30km
- Stage 2: around 20, 40 or 60km
- Stage 3: around 25 to 30km
The Experience: More Than a Race
Fuerteventura is often described as the most “African” of the Canaries, its landscape shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions, relentless winds, and a climate closer to desert than Mediterranean. It’s the perfect environment for a stand-alone adventure, or an ideal preparastion ground for a further adventure in Morocco.
Beautiful yet brutal. Wide expanses of golden sand stretch for kilometers, interrupted by jagged lava fields and rocky ridgelines. The sun can beat down with unflinching intensity, but be warned, temperatures can swing wildly between scorching afternoons and cooler desert nights.
Coastal stages hug turquoise waters where waves crash against black cliffs. Inland routes weave through barren plains dotted with cactus and aloe, offering glimpses of a stark, unspoiled wilderness.
Ask anyone who has completed the MDS Fuerteventura, and they’ll tell you it’s not just about running. It’s about living in a stripped-down, elemental state for nearly a week. Each day begins with the ritual of packing up camp, stuffing sleeping bags and rations back into packs, ready for a day on the trails. By mid-morning, the desert heat has arrived, runners are strung out across the horizon like a line of ants marching into infinity. The rhythm of the race is simple: walk, run, eat, drink, rest. Repeat.
At night, exhaustion gives way to camaraderie. Competitors gather under the stars, swapping stories, sharing advice, and laughing about the day’s suffering. Bonds form quickly because everyone is in the same fight, battling the same heat, hunger, and fatigue. By the end of the week, the MDS 120 Fuerteventura community feels like family, one forged in adversity.
The finish line is more than a marker of distance. It’s a rite of passage. For many, crossing it means proving to themselves that they can endure more than they ever imagined. That’s why the MDS format is addictive: once you’ve lived through it, you carry its lessons into every part of life.
The Spirit of the Race
Beyond the logistics, numbers, and training plans, what makes the MDS 120 Fuerteventura extraordinary is its spirit. It’s about stripping life down to its essentials: water, food, movement, survival. In a world cluttered with convenience and noise, the race forces participants into clarity. You discover not only the limits of your body but also the surprising depths of your will.
Looking Ahead
MDS is not about beating others. It’s about discovering what you’re really made of. And for those lucky enough to be there in Fuerteventura, September 2025 will be a week they’ll never forget.
Marathon des Sables – information and race entry HERE
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IAN CORLESS 