COUTDOWN TO MDS LEGENDARY 2026 – ISSUE TWO

Posted on March 9, 2026 by talkultra

Marathon des Sables: What Actually Matters

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bring variety. Something crunchy. Something salty. Something soft. Texture matters when you’re exhausted.

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.

Reduce volume gradually. Stay mobile. Stay healthy. Combine tapering with heat work.

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.

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.

MDS WEBSITE HERE

MDS Tour and MDS Clubs for 2026

Join the MDS Clubs on HEYLO HERE.

The MDS Tour starts in January and moves from location to location, Register HERE

Follow Ian Corless

Instagram – @iancorlessphotography

Twitter – @talkultra

facebook.com/iancorlessphotography

Web – www.iancorless.com

Web – www.iancorlessphotography.com

COUTDOWN TO MDS LEGENDARY 2026 – ISSUE ONE

Posted on March 2, 2026 by talkultra

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Make sure your shoes have gaiters so no sand can get in the shoe.

Safety on Course

The race operates under strict safety protocols.

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.

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:

Running top, possibly long sleeve
Neck roll or Buff
Running shorts or skirt
Socks, and spare pair
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.

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.

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.

MDS WEBSITE HERE

MDS Tour and MDS Clubs for 2026

Join the MDS Clubs on HEYLO HERE.

The MDS Tour starts in January and moves from location to location, Register HERE

Follow Ian Corless

Instagram – @iancorlessphotography

Twitter – @talkultra

facebook.com/iancorlessphotography

Web – www.iancorless.com

Web – www.iancorlessphotography.com

A New Year, a Milestone Season: Marathon des Sables in 2026

Posted on January 6, 2026 by talkultra

A milestone anniversary, new formats, familiar classics, and a season that stretches from the Sahara to the Alps. Some years feel bigger than others. In 2026, the calendar alone tells you this will be one of those years for Marathon des Sables.

Forty editions after its beginnings in the Moroccan desert, Marathon des Sables has grown into a family of events that test endurance in different ways, across different landscapes, and for very different runners. Yet the heart of MDS remains the same. Self-sufficiency, shared hardship, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from moving forward when stopping would be easier.

January opens with something new and bold: MDS Ultra. Two distances. Two very clear challenges. A 100km option for runners ready to push beyond the classic stage format, and a 100-mile race for those who want to see how deep the well really goes.

An opening act designed to grab attention. Long distances, sustained effort, and the mental strain that only ultra racing can deliver. For many, it will be the first real test of their winter training. For others, it will be the centrepiece of their season. What matters most is what MDS Ultra represents – It signals evolution not revolution. MDS is not standing still, even as it celebrates its past.

Before January ends, the focus shifts west to the ocean for MDS 120 Atlantic Coast. Where dunes once dominated the horizon, runners now deal with open beaches, shifting sand, and the constant presence of the sea. The Atlantic Coast event has its own rhythm. Wind can play a bigger role. Footing changes by the kilometre. Temperatures can vary greatly, and yes, rain may be present? Still self-supported, still demanding, but in a way that surprises many first-timers. By the time the final runners cross the line, January has already delivered two very different expressions of what Marathon des Sables can be.

February and March bring a noticeable change of pace. No race numbers. No finish lines. Instead, preparation. The MDS team turns its attention fully toward the centrepiece of the year: the 40th edition of MDS Legendary. Four decades after the first runners set off into the Sahara, this anniversary edition carries weight. Not just for the organisation, but for the community that has grown around it.

Behind the scenes, logistics are refined, routes considered, and details checked and checked again. The Legendary event is not just another race, it is a reference point for stage racing, for many, a rites of passage, and in 2026, it will also be a celebration of everything Marathon des Sables has become.

Once the Legendary edition is complete, the calendar opens up again, and the global nature of MDS takes centre stage.

MDS Raid Namibia delivers raw beauty and isolation in one of Africa’s most striking landscapes. Namibia’s vast spaces, sharp light, and unforgiving terrain strip things back to basics. This is running in its purest form, where the environment sets the rules. A unique event as teams of two challenge a more stripped back and raw experience.

From Namibia, the series moves to Turkey for MDS 120 Cappadocia. Volcanic rock formations, flowing trails, and a sense of history underfoot make this one of the most visually distinctive events on the calendar. It is demanding, but also deeply immersive, ironically, despite the ‘sables’ tag, this event is much more a trail race – something new, different and unique.

MDS Crazy Loops – a format that lives up to its name. Short loops, repeated efforts, and a psychological game that can unravel even experienced runners over 24-hours. It is less about distance on paper and more about resilience in the moment. A fun and challenging event for all abilities that takes place at iconic ski resorts within Europe during July and August. A community event that brings the MDS vibe to the mountains.

As the year moves toward its final months, the pace does not slow. If anything, it accelerates. MDS 120 Morocco returns runners to familiar terrain, but with the confidence and refinement that come from years of experience. This is the desert, revisited with fresh eyes.

Alongside it, MDS Handi continues to redefine what inclusion looks like in endurance sport. It is a powerful reminder that challenge is not one-size-fits-all, and that determination takes many forms.

For those drawn more to movement than racing, MDS Trek Morocco offers a different relationship with the landscape. Still demanding, still immersive, but with space to absorb the experience in full where all abilities are catered for and yes, there is even some luxury – larger tents, no self-sufficiency, showers and so much more…

The international push continues with MDS 120 Jordan, where desert running meets ancient history. The terrain is tough, the scenery unforgettable, and the sense of scale impossible to ignore. An iconic event and arguably one of the most desired events on the MDS calendar.

And yes, there are hints of more to come. Potential surprises remain under wraps, but if past years are any guide, they will add another layer to an already remarkable season.

By the time 2026 draws to a close, Marathon des Sables will have crossed continents and climates. Morocco, Jordan, Peru, Turkey, Namibia, and Europe, with the Alps adding altitude to the mix. Each location brings its own challenges, its own stories, and its own reasons for being unforgettable.

What ties them all together is not just branding or format. It is philosophy. Self-reliance. Respect for the environment. And the shared understanding among participants that this is about more than running.

A milestone year invites reflection, but it also demands momentum. In 2026, Marathon des Sables manages both. Honouring 40 years of history while pushing forward into new territory, new formats, and new ways to test human endurance.

For runners, supporters, and the wider endurance community, it is hard not to look at the year ahead and feel a quiet sense of anticipation.

What a year it promises to be.

In addition to the above, there is the MDS Tour and MDS Clubs.

Join the MDS Clubs on HEYLO HERE.

The MDS Tour starts in January and moves from location to location, Register HERE

Follow Ian Corless

Instagram – @iancorlessphotography

Twitter – @talkultra

facebook.com/iancorlessphotography

Web – www.iancorless.com

Web – www.iancorlessphotography.com

MDS Legendary – 40th Edition To Feature Record Breaking Long Day!

Posted on October 4, 2025 by talkultra

In 2026, the Marathon des Sables (MDS) reaches a milestone: its 40th “Legendary” edition. What better way to celebrate four decades of desert ultra-endurance than by rewriting the record books? Among the announcements already stirring excitement: the “long day” stage for 2026 will be extended to 100 km, making it the longest single stage ever in MDS history. This bold move not only raises the bar for what runners will face, but signals that the 40th edition aims to become a defining moment of the race’s legacy.

Laurence Klein, 3x MDS champion – Photo by Ian Corless

A Brief History:

The roots of the Marathon des Sables reach back to the daring vision of French promoter Patrick Bauer. In 1984, he traversed part of the Sahara on his own, over 350 km in 12 days, with no external support, an experiment in isolation and survival. Two years later, in 1986, the first official Marathon des Sables was held, with 23 participants tackling a self-supported desert crossing. The winners, Bernard Gaudin and Christiane Plumere making history.

Over the years, MDS has grown from a niche extreme-race to one of the world’s most respected ultramarathons. Its signature format currently features around 250 km over 6-stages (7-days) in the Moroccan Sahara, with participants carrying their own supplies (food, sleeping gear, etc.) in full self-sufficiency – water and a place to sleep the only logistical supply. Terrain at The Legendary shifts from endless dunes, rocky plateaus, dried wadis, occasional mountains and shifting sands; daytime heat can often soar, while nighttime temperatures can drop sharply.

Stunning vistas at The Legendary – Photo by Ian Corless

Notably, throughout its history, MDS Legendary has always included a stage that stretches well beyond the “single marathon” distance, 80–90 km is normal to test endurance in extremes. In 2009, there was a long-stage of 92km’s…. But a full 100 km in one go will top them all.

With a passing of time, MDS Legendary has also diversified; now offering shorter formats such as MDS 120 (70–120 km), the MDS Trek variant with lighter logistics, MDS RAID and for 2026, the MDS Ultra which for the first time offers a single-stage ultra of 100km’s or 100-miles to be undertaken with a 40-hour cut-off. But the heart of the MDS remains firmly with The Legendary stage race.

The 100 km “Long Day” and What It Means

MDS will feature a 100 km long day, a stage longer than anything ever attempted in MDS history. This is more than a symbolic gesture, it’s a structural change that forces participants to rethink pacing, supplies, strategy, and mindset. Will the 40th edition of MDS The Legendary be considered the hardest ever edition? With an expected total distance of 270km +/- the answer is yes!

From a participant perspective, there will be some key considerations.

Pacing will be crucial with a delicate balance between enthusiasm and energy conservation. During the day, monitoring thermal stress will be crucial.
Pack weight will be crucial – the 40th edition of MDS Legendary, now more than ever, will require participants to have the lightest possible pack without breaking the strict rules and regulations.
Food – With a long day that is in real terms approximately 10 to 25% longer than usual, the need for extra calories and how those calories are consumed will become extra important.
The mental toll will have a huge impact, that will start now with the announcement of a 100km stage – just as you prepare equipment and training, set time aside to prepare the mind for the challenge ahead. This new length will push athletes into deeper zones of fatigue, testing resilience, self-talk, and mental fortitude.
Runners will traverse more varied landscapes, perhaps crossing more dunes, rocky flats, and most certainly everyone will require more night navigation.
Announcing the 100 km day well in advance gives aspirants time to rework prep plans – use this time effectively.

Food, as always, important at MDS – Photo by Ian Corless

Why 2026 Will Be a History-Making Edition

This is not just “another year” of MDS The Legendary, several factors are aligning to make the 40th edition uniquely compelling:

Milestone Significance – Forty years is a symbolic turning point. And by choosing to mark it with the toughest-ever stage, the organisers are intentionally raising the narrative: “Legendary by name, Legendary by reputation.”
New Records, New Legends – With no past precedent for a 100 km stage in MDS The Legendary, whoever finishes that leg (especially among the leaders) will enter the record books.
Attracting Ambition – Some ultra runners chase the “most difficult” challenge. A 100 km desert stage is a headline that will draw audacious minds and bodies, possibly pushing the field performance upward.
Legacy and Storytelling – In future retellings, the 2026 MDS The Legendary will be a pivotal point, some may say, the 40th edition was when MDS truly redefined itself. It’s the kind of turning point that historians of sport may hark back to.
Amplifying the Extremes – MDS has always lived on the edge: heat, sand, navigation, resource management. By stretching one day to 100 km, the extremity is amplified. The race becomes less about surviving the day, and more about mastering it.
The Longest Ever – With a long stage of 100km, the anticipated total distance for the 40th edition will be a record breaking 270km +/-.

Challenges & Risks to Keep in Mind

No radical shift comes without risks and MDS The Legendary are required to balance risk against challenge. A 100km stage has long been discussed for this iconic stage race, it’s only right that the 40th edition will personify the Legendary tag with a landmark distance. However, even the world’s top ultra runners may falter under a 100 km leg in desert conditions. Managing attrition will be critical. The required pace will be, as usual, 3.5km per-hour. And of course, the MDS blue and orange jackets will be on-hand, more than ever, to facilitate everyone crossing the line.

100% support from the MDS team – Photo by Ian Corless

Some participants may feel disadvantaged if their prior prep or experience didn’t anticipate such a long stage, but, this is why this early announcement helps – fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Perspective: How This Compares to Classic Ultra Benchmarks

To put 100 km in context: many stand-alone ultramarathons are in the 100 km to 100-mile range. But those are often supported events, with aid stations and crew support. In MDS The Legendary, with self-sufficiency, navigation demands, and desert extremes, layering a 100 km day is far harder than a flat 100k road ultra.

In prior MDS editions, long days of 80–90 km have already pushed runners to the brink, many cross the nights and run long into another day – for 2026, this will be the ‘norm’ for nearly all the participants.

The 40th edition becomes not just “another chapter,” but a rewriting of what MDS can be.

Final Thoughts: A Legendary Promise

The 2026 Marathon des Sables is setting the stage, literally and metaphorically for a landmark event. The 100 km long day announcement signals ambition, courage, and a willingness to push the narrative frontier of desert ultra-running. In addition, the implications for the overall race distance being 270k +/- adds to the drama.

For participants, 2026 will demand a rethinking of training philosophies, gear choices, pacing strategies, and mental frameworks. For the sport, it may become a reference point for what is “next level” in multi-stage desert ultras. And for storytelling, it offers rich stories:”

“Who conquered 100 km in the sands?”

“How 2026 changed MDS forever.”

Legendary by name, and with this edition, legendary by reputation in a whole new way.

Interested in a Marathon des Sables event? More information HERE

WAA apparel HERE

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Marathon des Sables The Legendary Turns 40: A Legacy of Endurance in the World’s Toughest Footrace

Posted on June 1, 2025 by talkultra

Since 1986, the Marathon des Sables – The Legendary (MDS) has carved its name into endurance racing history as one of the most gruelling, soul-stripping tests of human resilience. For 39 editions, it has pushed thousands to their physical and psychological limits under the crushing sun of the Moroccan Sahara.

In 2026, this legendary race will celebrate its 40th edition and it promises to be the most unforgettable one yet.

MDS The Legendary is six stages over roughly 250 km (155 miles), on blistering sand, across jagged jebels, and through soul-sapping salt plains. Runners carry everything they need for the week: food, sleeping equipment and clothes. The only luxury provided? A rationed daily water supply and a communal bivouac tent to crawl into at night which is shared with 7 other competitors.

Every ounce carried matters. Bring too little and you starve. Bring too much and the weight drags you down. Success depends on ruthless efficiency and mental grit.

For four decades, the The Legendary has become a rite of passage for ultra runners, adventurers, and those seeking to rewrite their limits. It has seen amputees cross the line, cancer survivors, soldiers, CEOs and importantly, ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The terrain has remained the same: raw, relentless, and unforgiving.

Despite the challenges, runner’s keep coming back, some for redemption, some for addiction, and all for the transformation.

The 40th Edition: What’s Coming in 2026

The 40th MdS won’t just be another race, it will be a celebration of the madness. A tribute to every blistered foot, every tear shed under Saharan stars, every finisher’s medal earned in blood, sand, and sweat.

The 40th will honour the legacy with style and fury.

Think You’ve Got What It Takes?

Entries for the 2026 edition open on June 11, 2025. Veteran or rookie, this is the year to go. Not just to run, but to become part of history. Become a Legend!

More information HERE

If you’re going to suffer, suffer for something legendary.

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MDS THE LEGENDARY 2025 : RACE SUMMARY

Posted on April 17, 2025 by talkultra

The sand is settling, the 2025 and 39^th edition of Marathon des Sables The Legendary is over.

Quite simply, a hugely successful edition with 95% completion rate and good time vibes felt throughout the Sahara and beyond.

OVERVIEW

Cyril and Olivier with Michael from the USA – Photo by Ian Corless

The transition from 2023 to 2024 was not an easy one. The take over of MDS from Patrick Bauer and into the hands of Cyril and Olivier had created some concern and anxiety. Most certainly, the build up to the 2024 (38^th) MDS had many concerns for participants that were vocalised on social media. However, after the 2024 event, all these worries and concerns were extinguished with an incredibly successful event and high finish rate. You Can read Marathon des Sables – The Legendary : 2024 Summary HERE should you wish.

Nothing like a MDS start – Photo by Ian Corless

From May 2024 to April 2025 the build up to the 39^th Legendary edition was seamless. The successful running and completion of MDS (3-stages over 4-days at 70/100 or 120km) events in Cappadocia, Fuerteventura, Jordan, Morocco, Atlantic Coast and the introduction of Trek and Handi only confirmed the growth, development, upward learning curve and the MDS team bonding and progression.

All of the concerns and worries for the 38^th edition of Legendary played out on social media were not present for the 39^th edition. There is a couple of reasons for this I believe:

The 38^th edition had been a huge success and therefore worries and concerns were answered.
The pro-active communication from the MDS team improved considerably.
Runner testimonies from the 2024 event confirmed that the ‘new’ MDS team and the changes made were all positive.
Evolution, not revolution was the quote that Cyril Gauthier had used in 2023 this was played out in 2024 and then consolidated upon in 2025.

Arrival in the desert – Photo by Ian Corless

THE 2025 EVENT

Welcome to the Sahra – Photo by Ian Corless

Post-race questionnaires are extremely important for the MDS team. Cyril and Olivier very much take all the comments, absorb them, digest them and then move forward with new plans. If a new plan does not work and the participants confirm this, then it is changed. If a new plan works, it is retained. There are no one-stop easy solutions, MDS is an ever-growing and ever-changing event that must constantly be a chameleon to the ever-changing demands and needs of participants.

TRAVEL

A key change for 2025 was in transportation. Two key points:

The core MDS team, based mostly in Paris, travelled to Morocco via train, boat and coach, taking 3-days and not using airplane travel. For 2025, this was a one way journey, a test, to see how feasible and practical this form of travel is. The general consensus from those who did it is/ was extremely positive. General comments were around this being an adventure in its own right, a brilliant opportunity to share more time with colleagues, a great opportunity to work while travelling and so on… I think we may well see this grow into something bigger for 2026!
In 2024, plane travel arranged by the MDS organisation was reduced to a minimum. For 2025 it was eradicated all together. Therefore, participants could no longer take the option of a MDS charter plane but had to arrange flights themselves. This is no big deal with so many flight options available, especially with MDS offering a free transfer coach service from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and post-race, a free transfer service back to Marrakech.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Catering by the MDS organisation once in the Sahara was removed in 2024, this was reasoned for 2025. To clarify, when the buses leave Ouarzazate for the desert, self-sufficiency begins for the travel day, the fist night in bivouac, the following day (admin day), the evening and then, the following day, the race starts and ‘race’ self-sufficiency begins. There is a difference between the two forms of self-sufficiency as the travel day and admin day you can bring as much or as little as you like. Quite simply, it’s not part of the mandatory race minimum requirement of 2000 cal minimum per day. You can bring tinned food, drinks, wine, beer, caviar…. Whatever you wish! It’s a no brainer to be able to look after your own food requirements and quite simply it greatly reduces the possibility of food related health issues that could potentially ruin a race.

ADMIN DAY

The procedures for admin day were changed for the 2024 edition and they were a huge success. This system was retained for 2025 making the process seamless, fast and considerably less painful than the procedures that had gone before.

BIVOUAC

In principle, it may well look the same, however, there are changes for the very observant. Firstly, the circles that make bivouac are smaller and tighter making the camp much more of a community. In 2025 there were new ‘women only’ tents for those who would prefer this option. On some days, in the middle of bivouac, yoga/ stretching was possible, circle of legend talks and yes, even a big fire.

WATER

The provision of water was drastically changed in 2024 and this was retained for 2025. During the race there is no rationing of water. As you arrive at a CP, water is decanted into your bottles via MDS blue jackets who pour the water from jugs. This water comes from large 5ltr bottles. Quite simply, you can have 2x 750ml bottles filled, you can then drink one and it will be refilled if required – a game changer.

Post-race you are provided with 1 large 5ltr bottle, the is rationed. So, this water must provide hydration post-race, be used for dinner/ breakfast and it must be used to fill your bottles to take you to CP1 the following day.

ICED WATER

CP’s have MDS orange or blue jackets who will pour iced water over your head to enable cooling. It’s a small simple step that makes a huge change that ultimately helps facilitate completion of the Legendary.

ORANGE AND BLUE JACKETS

The MDS would not happen without this amazing team of people. The energy, the enthusiasm, the constant good vibes make the runner the number one priority and YES, these people make the difference between finishing and not finishing. They are 100% switched on with the sole purpose to get every runner across the line. You can get a feeling of how important the blue and oranges are by taking a look HERE on Facebook.

Orange jackets are the medical team who make sure that participants are looked after 100%. They are there for you, no matter what the issue. You will see them on the course at CP’s, in fast response vehicles, in 4×4’s and of course in the medical tents in bivouac.

SAFETY

Any MDS event has risks associated with it. We are often in harsh environments, in challenging conditions, we have varying climate conditions and of course, we have runner’s and staff pushing the limit of what is humanly possible. Safety is taken very seriously and how safety is managed is an ever-changing and developing process.

Legendary had more fast response vehicles, more medical professionals on course, there were 10 medical professional runner’s who did the course and there was a new mobile medical unit for 2025 which is state of the art. There was also the inclusion of the ‘Orange Squad’ – a medical team who do the course the opposite way so that they are able to see runner’s coming toward them and should there be a problem, they can help immediately.

Each runner is issued with a Spot Tracker and this allows the MDS team to monitor each runner on the course and importantly, they have an SOS button which if pressed, will receive a medical response vehicle in minutes.

Feet are always an issue and of course, the medical tent is there to facilitate foot repair in bivouac. It’s important to be self-sufficient and look after your feet yourself, however, as and when necessary, a medical professional is always there to help.

RACE BRIEFINGS

Race start times are very important and pre 2024, the race start time was somewhat unpredictable. This changed in 2024 and was upped to another level in 2025 with every stage starting exactly on time! It may sound like a small thing, but knowing you will be underway as scheduled makes planning so much easier. If it says 0600 start, you know it starts at 0600.

Another change was the addition of an English speaking announcer – yes, it was me! This was the idea of Cyril and we instigated and tested this at Atlantic Coast in January, it worked. So, for Legendary and moving forward, an English briefing will take place and then be translated into French and not the other way around. Stage 6 race briefing may well go down in history as the best. Mood was already high with the final stage ahead, nut hen we had participant, Reujen Lista join us on stage for a ‘live’ version of Highway to Hell – it was epic!

Highway to Hell ‘live’ – Photo by Florian

WEATHER

As always, weather plays a key part in any MDS event. However, we are most definitely feeling the impacts of ever changing climatic conditions. It was always assumed that MDS will be hot and unbearable, history is showing that is not the case. Recently, particularly in Morocco, we have experienced difficult weather: MDS Morocco in October had torrential rain and flooding, the recent MDS Atlantic Coast in January had cooler temperatures, some rain and the last day had full-on sand storms. The 2025 Legendary started calmly and tranquil, it was looking to be a classic race, it was sunny, hot, but not too hot and the winds were relatively calm. That all changed come stage 4 (the long day) with cloudy skies and cooler temperatures in the day. During the night the winds increased, rain came and without doubt, from 2100 hrs the conditions were difficult and challenging. Especially for those who were moving through the night looking to get the long day done. CP’s had cold participants taking shelter looking to get warm and continue the journey. This weather continued through the rest day. Stage 5 had a mix of everything but the heat never came and stage 6 was cloudy, cool and with intermittent rain. There is a very big lesson that needs to be learned, I did say this before Legendary, but now, post-race, I can only say it more, you need to be prepared for bad weather! A good jacket is now essential, so much so, I do think that it should be added to mandatory kit. I also think it wise to make sure that you are able to keep key items, such as sleeping bag, dry during bad weather. Many had wet sleeping bags during the long day which can effectively make them useless, depending on what filling is inside.

THE ROUTE

Legendary is now 6-stages over 7-days and this is a huge difference. Pre 2024, the race was 5-stages and stage 6 was a non-times ‘solidarity’ stage for charity. It’s hard to argue against the charity side of this, however, a non-timed 6^th stage was pointless.

The race is now 6-stages timed and raced.

For 2024, the ‘long day’ was moved to stage 3. For 2025, it was moved back to stage 4. The main reason for this was due to the course and the start/ finish point.

2024 participants, as always, tried to stress that the 2024 edition was/ would be harder than 2025. Of course it’s nonsense. Comments like, ‘Argh, but here was more vertical gain in 2024!’ were unfounded as the people who made these comments had obviously not done due diligence, the reality is the 2024 Legendary was 252.9km’s and the 2025 event was 250km. Vertical gain was almost identical, 2024 was 2788m+ and 2025 was 2710m+

In many respects, the 2025 edition was more ‘classic MDS’ with a marathon after the rest day.

The route was notably different for some key reasons. The Sahara is vast and of course, needs to be explored more. Due to runner demand and logistical reasons, certain features have become almost ‘essential’ when running Legendary. However, Cyril and the team wanted to change that and therefore, there was no Jebel El Otfal in 2025, there was a return to Merzouga Dunes and while the route travelled in similar areas of the Sahara, the track was approximately 80% new. There were some great ‘new’ additions such as the huge dune on stage 4 and the stage 5 route was very special.

THE RACE

Rachid El Morabity once again took victory securing his 11^th and in the process he set a record for the most victories. It’s an incredible achievement to have this level of consistency over so many years. It’s fair to say, the level of competition at the front end of the race was less in 2025. The only real person who could upset Rachid was Hamid Yachou, he unfortunately withdrew mid-race with injury. We could argue all day if Mohamed El Morabity could beat Rachid, the simple fact is, it would not happen. However, as we look ahead to 2026, will Mohamed take over the Rl Morabity reigns? Mohamed is 10-years younger than Rachid and therefore, he has great potential ahead. Also, the inclusion of the 3^rd and younger El Morabity, Mbark, should not be looked over.

For the women, 2023 Legendary champion, Maryline Nakache returned and she was on fire. No, she was untouchable. For perspective, Maryline finished 3^rd on GC for the long day and at the end of the race, was 4^th on GC with the closest time to Rachid, by a woman, in the history of the race. Quite incredible. Aziza El Amrany won the race in 2024 and for 2025 she was 2^nd, she looked great throughout, despite an arm injury, however, she was no match for Maryline. Tomomi Bitoh placed 3^rd, she has placed 3^rd before. However, Annelies Brak would have placed 3^rd had she not received a 2-hour time penalty for non-compliance of mandatory kit.

Rachid completed the race in 20:55:47 and Maryline in 23:57:20. A total of 847 participants crossed the finish line, the last male Tomohito Hirai in 75:49:27 and the last woman, Nemoto Yuzuki in 74:31:01.

Results HERE

POST RACE

Reujen Lista rocking the awards – Photo by Ian Corless

Transfer back to Ouarzazate was easy and seamless with coaches filling with participants and leaving asap. Of course, a hotel, many showers, buffet food and a nice clean bed always feels amazing after the Sahara. The awards dinner turned into an impromptu rock concert with a participant, Reujen Lista, singing 3 songs on stage, the last, of course, was Highway to Hell. It was a fantastic way to end what was a legendary LEGENDARY.

DAILY 2025 SUMMARIES

MDS The Legendary Stage 1 HERE

MDS The Legendary Stage 2 HERE

MDS The Legendary Stage 3 HERE

MDS The Legendary Stage 4 HERE

MDS The Legendary Stage 5 HERE

MDS The Legendary Stage 6 HERE

Image Gallery HERE

Marathon des Sables Website HERE

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MDS The Legendary 2025 – Stage 5

Posted on April 11, 2025 by talkultra

The rest day allowed participants an opportunity to relax, look after their bodies and recharge ready for stage 5. However, sand storms throughout the day caused consistent problems, gladly, they eased when darkness came.

With 2 starts for stage 5, 0630 and 0800, bivouac awoke early with the eagerly anticipated marathon stage.

Enthusiasm was high with the long day done! It may sound crazy, but the minds of the runners now think, ‘it’s only a marathon today!’

The early part of the day was cloudy and cool, allowing for some great running temperatures.

Around 0900 the sun started to appear but was constantly arriving and disappearing and on occasion, small amounts of rain would fall. As the day progressed, once again the winds increased for some challenging conditions.

The route, new for MDS took participants through 3 key sections, Znigui Dunes, a mountain pass j. el Beg’e and finally a return to Znigui Dunes.

The men’s race was as expected, not a race. The top-3 contenders ran together for much of the day. It was only in the latter stages that Rachid and Mohamed pulled away from Ahmed to finish in 3:26:15 and 3:26:55 with Ahmed 4:26 later for a finish of 3:30:41.

For the women, Aziza pushed hard from the front, constantly fighting and never giving up.

However, Maryline looked calm and relaxed, she is in incredible form this year. Eventually she caught and passed Aziza to open up a gap of 03:37 to finish in 03:45:27.

Aziza crossed the line in 03:39:04 and as expected, Annelies Brak charged looking to get back time after a 2-hour penalty and regain the 3rd position. She finished 3rd on the stage in 04:14:22.

Tomomi Bitoh who is in 3rd overall finished 6th losing time to Annelies and 4th place on GC, Francesca Canepa had a tough marathon stage finishing 12th in 05:00:08 which has now moved Annelies to 4th on GC.

With 21.1km’s tomorrow, Tomomi has a substantial 40-minute lead over Annelies. Can Annelies do something remarkable?

Full results are HERE

Men ranking HERE

Women ranking HERE

Marathon des Sables Website HERE

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MDS The Legendary 2025 – Stage 3

Posted on April 8, 2025 by talkultra

After a tough and challenging stage 2, participants were happy for a shorter day of 32.5km’s for stage 3 ahead of the feared long day of 82.2km’s on stage 4.

With less soft-sand, the running would be easier, however, there was still 468m+ to test the mind and body.

On the stroke 0f 0730 the runner’s were released under cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. However, the sun and heat soon appeared making for another challenging day.

For the men, the El Morabity brothers today once again played with tactics.

Hamid Yachou started fast and opened a gap, he was pursued by Mohamed and behind, Rachid ran easy.

By CP1 Hamid had a strong lead, Mohamed was closing on him but Rachid was some 6-minutes back. Would Rachid close the difference?

After CP3, Hamid and Mohamed were side-by-side, the younger El Morabity policing the breakaway and ensuring that all times he would control the race.

By the time Rachid arrived, the gap had not closed and it became obvious that today Rachid would relinquish the overall lead playing a tactical game with stage 4 tomorrow.

At the close of the day, the male top-3 ranking is as follows:

Mohamed El Morabity 08:33:54
Hamid Yachou 08:38:46
Rachid El Morabity 08:40:16

For the women, Maryline Nakache ran a more relaxed stage keeping Aziza El Amrany close throughout the day. A sensible move with the long day tomorrow, any energy saved can be called upon for the 82.2km’s.

Ragna Debats once again ran in 3rd place and Annelies Brak and Tomomi Bitoh were 4th and 5th.

Gemma Game took it easier, again, looking to save energy for stage 4.

With 3 stages complete, the women’s top-3 is as follows:

Maryline Nakache 10:23:03
Aziza El Amrany 11:06:15
Ragna Debats 11:43:47

An epic morning start- Photo by Ian Corless

Full results are HERE

Men ranking HERE

Women ranking HERE

Tomorrow, stage 4 is 82.2km’s and will have 2 starts, 0600 for the masses and 0730 for the top-50 and top-5 women. With a cut-off time of 34-hours, the conclusion of the stage will come the following day, Thursday Apr 9th.

Marathon des Sables Website HERE

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Countdown to MDS The Legendary 2025 – Five

Posted on March 22, 2025 by talkultra

You are in the final 2-weeks for MDS The Legendary.

With this in mind, we follow up the conference calls that took place on Friday March 21st with a summary.

First and foremost, the conference calls were recorded and you can view them on YouTube, the english version is as below.

SUMMARY NOTES AND KEY POINTS

The adventure will be here soon, do not worry, keep calm, 80% of you are first time participants.

Here we will go over the key information about the race.

Logistics

Passport – keep it handy and make sure you don’t forget it! Make sure you have at leat 6 months validity.

Wear race clothing for travel including shoes and gaiters.

Take RACE PACK with all contents as carry-on luggage, this includes the food. The only items you must check-in are poles and knife/ scissors etc.

MDS admin send you a procedure via newsletter in case your checked bag gets lost.

There will also be a pre-race shop at bivouac if needed, this will not have an exhaustive amount of equipment, but it may help in an emergency.

What happens when you land in Marrakech?

At the airport as you exit, after baggage collection, there will be a welcome area on April 2 and 3rd look out for the MDS team wearing orange and blue gilets.

Board your bus

Bus schedule:

KENZI ROSE: April 2 & 3 – 7:00 AM
RAK AIRPORT: April 2 & 3 – 10:00 AM
RAK AIRPORT: April 2 & 3 – 12:00 PM

The drive to Ouarzazate is approximately 4-hour ride + mid-way break MDS will provide a snack. If you have special dietary needs, you should have submitted that on our website. You’re welcome to bring your own snack if that makes you feel more comfortable.

Drop-off at hotels in Ouarzazate – all buses stop at all hotels:

El Baraka
La Perle du Sud
Berbère Palace
Karam Palace

You’ll spend 1 or 2 nights there depending on your booking. Our staff will be present in the main hotels in Ouarzazate if you need anything.

April 4

Transfer to the bivouac

Meet at 7:30 AM in Ouarzazate to board the bus from either:

Karam Palace
Berbère Palace

6-hour transfer

1 break during the ride, lunch pack will be provided BUT I recommend you purchase items in Ourarzazate to take with you, remember dta 1 and day 2 in bivouac is self-sufficient.

REMEMBER you are self-sufficient with food BEFORE the race starts. So, you need to take adequate food, snacks etc. There is no restriction here as you carry this in your luggage.

➤ Arrival at the bivouac with your suitcase and all your gear 

➤ You’ll be assigned an 8-person tent – tent numbers will be shared next week 

➤ Arrival briefing 

➤ Sleep

IMPORTANT – You have luggage with you this night, a great opportunity to fine tune what you will take when racing. If it is cold, you can pack extra layers. If hot, you can maybe take less.

April 5

Technical checks stay in your bivouac tent and a member of the MDS team will come to your tent and tell you when to go. Expect this to take approximately 1-hour.

You will drop your luggage at the technical check. you will not see or have access to luggage until AFTER the race when you return to Ouarzazate.

Rest in camp and prepare for the race.

April 6–12

Race Stages You’ll discover the stage details in the roadbook, given to you when boarding the bus on April 4.

The long stage will be the 4th stage.

The race will be 250km’s over 6-stage / 7-days.

A typical stage:

Early starts so you will be getting ready in the dark.

Checkpoints every 10km (+/-) with unlimited water

We recommend carrying an extra soft flask for flexibility – but remember, you carry it!

Each CP has shaded rest zones

Orange-vest staff to help if needed for any medical issue

Cold water available to cool your neck (bring a neck gaiter!)

Feminine hygiene products available at bivouacs and on course

Minimum pace is 3.5 km/h – no stress, go at your own rhythm.

End of the stage: You can refill your bottles + get a 5L water bottle to last to CP 1 the following day.

EQUIPMENT

Review the list of mandatory equipment

First night at the bivouac: Good opportunity to test how cold it gets.

Bring a proper sleeping bag,

Have with you warm layers, light down jacket, etc.

Sleeping mat is highly recommended

Make sure you have tried and tested shoes with gaiters

Foot care – trim your toenails before the race – not too short, not too long. A pedicure can be a good idea.

Bring socks you’re used to, and maybe a spare pair.

Foot care during the race:

Clean and let your feet breathe after each stage.
If you feel a blister or small injury, go see the medics immediately – don’t wait!

Rain? 

Keep a rain jacket and a rain cover for your bag in your WAA pack – just in case.

Protect yourself from the sun: Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses – don’t neglect anything!

Clothing: Test your gear beforehand to avoid surprises One race outfit + one bivouac outfit is enough

Fire starter bricks – available in the pre-race shopMENT

MDS EQUIPMENT via WAA HERE

Food & Nutrition

Before the race: Food for the evening of April 4 and the full day on April 5 – whatever you like.

During the race: Plan 7 days of food: breakfast, lunch, dinner. For the last stage, only breakfast + snacks for the stage are needed. A lunch pack will be given on the return bus.

So, you need roughly 20 meals, totalling around 12,000 to 14,000 calories minimum.

Strategy – Test your meals and drinks in advance! Don’t bring 3 or 4 of the same meal unless you’re sure you like it.

Backpack weight It adds up quickly – aim to be as close to the minimum 6.5kg as possible. This does NOT include water.

Medical Advice Hygiene rules:

Never drink tap water.
Don’t share bottles or cups.
Avoid raw vegetables at hotels or elsewhere.
Stick to cooked food before and after the race.
Your digestive system will be sensitive.
Heat and stress can also cause minor digestive issues.
Don’t panic – mild diarrhea is often just your body adjusting (and it might even make you lighter!).
Limit physical contact at the bivouac.
Wash hands frequently – especially before eating or after using the toilet.
Use hand sanitizer often.

Tips for a safe race:

No self-medication If you feel unwell, don’t self-medicate.
Avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen, Voltaren, etc. – they can cause serious complications during intense effort.
Talk to the medics instead.
No COMPEED® for blisters They melt into your skin in the desert heat and make treatment harder.
Hydration Drink according to thirst – don’t over hydrate.

Drink two diluted bouillon cubes per race day.
MDS do not provide salt tablets as they’re not recommended.
Treat pain early The earlier, the better – avoid complications.
Listen to your body Fatigue, dizziness, pain – speak to an Orange Vest!
Medical Form One week before the MDS Legendary, you’ll receive a medical questionnaire from: no-reply@logicoss.net. Filling it out is mandatory to help the medical team take care of you during the event.

Race Tracking

Friends and family can follow you on the MDS website
Live tracking page
Live webcam
EMOTION BOXES
Satellite phone
There will be some connection spots – but we recommend disconnecting and enjoying the moment.

Final stretch:

Stop training. If possible get some heat acclimation – sauna, heat chamber, hot yoga etc

Don’t stress.

Once you’re in Morocco, we take care of everything.

Enjoy it!

Any questions? Call us.

A full recap will be emailed to you next week with all these details.

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Marathon des Sables – The Legendary : Podcast Five with Nicki Marsh

Posted on April 2, 2024 by talkultra

Episode 246 of Talk Ultra is with Nicki Marsh as we countdown to Marathon des Sables – The Legendary. With a 50th birthday looming in 2024 Nicki had been toying with lots of ideas of how to celebrate… The only thing that truly excited me (and could fit around work!) was MDS. Her husband had done it in 2017 and said never again. However, it took him all of 30 seconds to agree to do it again, with Nicki!

“I have degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, 4 foot surgeries on and another one on the cards I am determined to keep moving. My goal for the race when we entered was to get to the start line, then do the best I can to finish, the plan was to walk. I believe setting the right goals helps you develop the right mindset and avoid disappointment.”

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