The 37th was a tough one from many perspectives, heat, sandstorms, route and a very long, long day at 90km. You can read my summary HERE.
30% did not make the finish, the second highest in the race history, the highest coming in 2021.
Now, all eyes, look ahead to the next edition, the 38th in 2024. Many were looking to register in May, however, Marathon des Sables communicated a delay in registrations opening till the end of June. Of course, delays are never good and of course, questions get asked.
There has been many rumours if the 37th edition would be Patrick Bauer’s last? There has been no communication on this and no confirmation, equally, for clarity, there has been no official communication of new ownership. This, I assume, will be communicated in due course.
In recent days, Marathon des Sables has communicated in multiple languages to notify of significant changes that will take place for the 38th MDS. There are 3 key points:
Words as provided by Marathon des Sables.
Point 1:
The 38th MARATHON DES SABLES will take place over 5 stages instead of 6 previously. The total distance, around 250 km, does not change, and this will only slightly change the distance of each stage:
- Stage 1 from 28 to 35 km
- Stage 2 from 28 to 39 km
- Stage 3 from 28 to 39 km
- Stage 4 (The Long One) from 75 to 85 km (over 2 days)
- Stage 5 (Marathon Stage) of 42.195 km
The removal of the sixth stage will allow everyone to celebrate obtaining the Finisher medal at the end of the Marathon stage: no more stress about the ten kilometers of the sixth stage! This will also allow us to offer a more substantial Solidarity program associated with this same Marathon stage, which will strengthen support for the Solidarity MARATHON DES SABLES association.
Point 2:
The MARATHON DES SABLES is contested in food self-sufficiency: only water, in limited quantities but sufficient to cover the needs of an athlete evolving in the desert, is provided to you each day. You must take along for your entire stay in the desert everything you need to eat and prepare to eat (freeze-dried meals, semolina, cereal bars, stove, etc.). This self-sufficiency will include for this 38th edition the day of your arrival in the desert, and the day of control preceding the race. These first two days will allow you to test yourself in real desert conditions, and to reduce sanitary risks.
Point 3:
To offer you more flexibility, and to reduce the carbon footprint of the event, we will charter fewer planes than in previous years. Only 400 places will be available from Paris, and 200 from London. As usual, we will of course take you from OUARZAZATE airport to the first bivouac, in the heart of the desert. And for those who wish, free shuttles will be set up from MARRAKECH to allow you to easily reach OUARZAZATE. You will thus have the possibility of anticipating or extending your stay, or of being joined by your family, much more simply than before.
SUMMARY AND THOUGHT PROCESS
The Marathon des Sables is loved and it’s fair to call the participants, staff and volunteers a family. Without doubt it’s a community that is 37-years in the making. So, when changes come, they are often taken with a sense of held breath. Some will dislike them, some will like them, some will be indifferent and if you are new to Marathon des Sables, you will probably be no wiser as you have nothing to compare to.
For perspective, Marathon des Sables has gone through many changes in its 37-years.
- In 1989 participation increased to 170. I am sure competitors from previous years did not like the increase.
- In 1991 the Gulf War impacted on the race and sponsors.
- In ’92’ the establishment of regulation regarding equipment and food were implemented.
- ’94’ Doc Trotters arrives.
- In ’99’ a mobile hospital becomes part of MDS.
- Internet arrives in 2000.
- In 2001, the ‘long day’ originally called §The 70’ exceeds 80km.
- 2006 146 DNF due to heat and humidity.
- In 2008 Solidarité MDS is created.
- Flooding at MDS in 2009.
- For the 25th edition, 1013 participants.
- In 2013 the final “Charity” stage sponsored by UNICEF is introduced.
- 2020 Coronavirus.
- 2021 and D&V sweeps through MDS and causes the highest DNF rate.
- 2023 heat impacts on the race with 30% DNF.
Quite simply, if anything can be learned from the above, change and changes happen, planned or not. So, let’s look at the new 3 changes and see the pros and cons.
POINT 1:
The charity stage has always been a discussion point, from my perspective, having been at the past 10-editions is that the stage has been pointless. The race is over, so, it just drags out the agony for one more day.
But the counter argument is that it provides this great opportunity for a ‘tent’ to spend the time together, in the desert as a moment of celebration.
For 2024 this stage will go. Give MDS one or two editions and I don’t think it will be missed.
The downside may well be the impact on the charity and fund raising, however, the communication says, ‘…offer a more substantial Solidarity program associated with this same Marathon stage…’ So, this addresses this point.
The race will be 5-Stages. This is no different to what has happened since 2013. The race has been 5-stages and the medal is provided at the end of the ‘marathon’ stage, stage 5. However, the release outlines the following:
- Stage 1 from 28 to 35 km
- Stage 2 from 28 to 39 km
- Stage 3 from 28 to 39 km
- Stage 4 (The Long One) from 75 to 85 km (over 2 days)
- Stage 5 (Marathon Stage) of 42.195 km
If we take the longest distance from the above, 35, 39, 39, 85 and 42.195 this provides a total distance of 240.195km.
If we take the shorter distances, 28, 28, 28, 75, and 42.195 this provides a total distance of 201.195km.
So, moving forward, the Marathon des Sables has the potential to be as long as 240.195km (a significant way from 250km) and potentially as short as 201.195km and an average distance of 220km.
In fairness, the potential to have a shorter distance race could reflect or compensate for a very difficult route, for example, a great deal of soft sand, dunes, climbing and technical terrain. And by contrast, a longer route could reflect an ‘easier’ more runnable route.
For the race to live up to ‘The Toughest Race on The Planet’ and the tag of 250km or 6 marathons may/ will need to be addressed.
Does the distance matter?
POINT 2:
One of the key attractions and challenges of MDS is the self-sufficiency. It makes the race exceptionally difficult, and this is why the race is so hard. Carrying all one requires, food, clothing and equipment is THE Marathon des Sables, and this has been copied worldwide.
This self-sufficiency is manageable as before the race, one is not self-sufficient and post-race, one is NOT self-sufficient, just ask any hotel, restaurant, or cafe in Ouarzazate!
So, the new point 2, ‘Self-sufficiency will include for this 38th edition the day of your arrival in the desert, and the day of control preceding the race. These first two days will allow you to test yourself in real desert conditions, and to reduce sanitary risks.’
The above has some pros and cons.
PROS: Ironically the mention of ‘sanitary risks’ does make one ask what element of food poisoning or similar took place in 2021? Certainly, reducing any outside risk does improve one’s chance of making the stage 1 starting line without a problem, so, being self-sufficient and relying on one’s own food addresses this.
CONS: You should NOT be testing your food strategy in the two days before the race, this should have been done before! Catering by MDS took away stress and worry, getting dinner on arrival day and then breakfast, lunch, and dinner the following day offered an opportunity to fill up on calories and dine with tent mates and others, to remove this IMO it will be seen as a negative. BUT, if you haven’t been to MDS before, you will not know difference!
My initial reaction to the removal of catering was negative. The more I have thought on it, I have started to appreciate some of the benefits. But my conclusion is that the removal of catering impacts on the MDS experience, especially for those who have been before and experienced it.
POINT 3:
Quite simply, if you are someone who likes or needs a more ‘package’ holiday experience and you are French or English, you need to enter early to make sure you are one of the 200 or 400 who will have a flight included.
Outside of this, once you enter the race, you would need to arrange your own travel. For perspective, this has always been the case for anyone outside the UK and France, flights were chartered because entries made a charter possible.
PROS: The option to arrange one’s own travel offers flexibility, such as arrive early and or depart late. You may be able to get better prices. MDS are offering free shuttles to Ourzazate from Marrakech, it roughly takes 6-hours. Carbon footprint will be saved as charter planes fly out full of runners and then home empty. They would then fly out empty and return full back to UK or France.
CONS: With only 400/200 flight options for French and UK participants, this may will impact on those ‘who want’ this option and cannot have it, maybe they will not enter? Meet point in Ouarzazate will mean increased costs as it will require a hotel stay. It’s also a 6–8-hour drive to bivouac 1 the following day. For the past few years, planes have flown to Errachidia requiring only a short drive to B1 and no hotel stay.
One point not addressed is the option to meet at Bivouac 1. This would make more sense, particularly if one is arranging one’s own travel. I personally would fly to Marrakech, then fly to Errachidia and then taxi to B1.
PRICES:
The prices for the MARATHON DES SABLES 2024 are as follow:
- Offer with flight included from Paris: 3,990€/person for an individual registration and 4,090€ for a team registration (priority to the participants with French residency; then reservation has to be requested by email for other countries according to the availabilities).
This offer is limited to 400 people. It includes the round trip flight from Paris to Ouarzazate.
- Offer without flight: 3,540€/person for an individual registration and 3,640€ for a team registration
This offer does not include flight. Participants will meet at the airport in Ouarzazate on April 12.
The prices for participants living in Great Britain, Ireland and the British Islands are as follows (different service):
- Offer with flight included from London: 5,280€/person for an individual registration and 5,380€ for a team registration
This offer is limited to 200 people. It includes the return flight from London to Ouarzazate.
- Offer without flight: 4,680€/person for an individual registration and 4,780€ for a team registration
This offer does not include a flight. Participants will meet at Ouarzazate airport on April 12.
CONCLUSION
Change is always difficult. Runners who been before may not be happy, but can they learn to accept the change? If not, they may well never enter MDS again. For those who have never done the race before, they will have nothing to compare it to, so, it will be the norm! For them, it will still be an amazing experience and one that they will prepare for based on the rules.
In regard to prices: “In the history of the MARATHON DES SABLES, many crisis have affected the organization and endangered the sustainability of the event. The Covid-19 crisis is not the least, and yet, since 2018, our rates have only increased by €90 (for an individual participant taking our planes from Paris). At the same time, the costs related to the organization of the event exploded (transport, equipment, security, etc.). The increase between the 37th and 38th editions therefore acts as a rebalancing to ensure the future of the legendary desert event. And that’s without counting on the novelties, like this famous gala evening which will close the event in style! We are fully aware that this registration fee can make it difficult for some people to participate, and we will do everything to help you make your dream come true (payment in several times, advices in your sponsorship process, etc.).”
As I was told, this is evolution, not revolution. Do you agree?
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