The race story

1984: Patrick BAUER alone in the Sahara1984: At 28 years of age, Patrick BAUER decided to make for the Sahara to try to traverse a 350km expanse of uninhabited desert, on foot, alone, where he wouldn’t come across a single village, oasis or watering place. Totally self-sufficient, with a rucksack weighing 35kg and containing water and food, he set off on a journey which was to last 12 days. It was the starting point of what was to become the MARATHON DES SABLES.

1986: The 23 pioneers of the 1st MARATHON DES SABLES : The creation of the first MARATHON DES SABLES in the Moroccan Sahara. The 23 pioneers who took the start never imagined that their footprints would mark the start of a legendary event, which today has become unmissable on the schedule for major adventure sport meets. The creation of a non-mechanical competition in the Moroccan sands offers adventure runners a wealth of new prospects.

1987: Creation of the MARATHON DES SABLES logo: the face of a runner covered by a keffiyeh, the eyes protected by a pair of sunglasses and the pipette from his or her water container clenched between the teeth.

1996: First participation by Mohamad, a youngster of AHANSAL descent. The two Moroccan brothers set off together and rank 4th and 5th respectively.

1997: This year heralds the start of the AHANSAL saga. Morocco is honoured with first victory going to Lahcen. He beats his two pursuers, despite them being international long-distance running champions, by nearly 30 miles.

1999: A mobile hospital on the MDS comes into being. There are around thirty practitioners on the ground, with doctors and nurses joining the caravan. A dedicated helicopter and ten cross-country vehicles track the competitors each day. Onboard these vehicles there are doctors of course, as well as high-tech equipment. The village boasts a genuine field hospital.

2002: This edition is punctuated by a sandstorm, involving headwinds, which lasts the entire week. The doctors invent a machine for ‘low pressure cleansing’ to rinse out the runners’ eyes. Despite the difficult conditions, there are few retirements to report as the wind considerably reduces the temperature.

2005: The Luxembourg runner Simone KAYSER is the first woman to win 3 MDS. For this 20th edition, the total number of runners exceeds 700 for the first time, with no fewer than 777 runners taking the start.

2006: A drying wind and very high humidity levels cause damage to the runners’ bodies. Despite additional allocation of water, a whole series of retirements ensue. There are a total of 146 retirements ultimately, which equates to double that of the previous record... Race management decides to shorten the long leg by over 10km given how tired the runners seem.

2012: A dramatic turn of events on the longest leg as the then leader in the overall standing, Rachid EL MORABITY (MOROCCO) injures himself one kilometre from the finish. Medical examinations reveal a serious muscular lesion in the quadriceps. After over five years on the 2nd or 3rd step of the podium, Jordanian SALAMEH AL AQRA secures the title.

2013: 1027 competitors at the start line, a new participation record. New feature: a final “Charity” stage sponsored by UNICEF and crossing the Merzouga dunes rounded up the race. Sportswise, Mohamad AHANSAL and Megan Hicks were the champions of the 231.5 km. On a human level, all of the finishers won their crazy bet.

2014: 1029 competitors at the start line. Winner in 2011, Moroccan Rachid EL MORABITY (MAROC) won the overall ranking and takes Mohamad AHANSAL’s crown. In the women’s category, Nikki KIMBALL (USA) has stamped her mark over the past 5 stages to take outright victory. The major athletics star, Moroccan Hicham EL GUERROUJ will be at the start of Saturday’s Unicef Charity leg. An electric atmosphere coloured the arrival of the last finishers in the long leg, who were greeted by the whole bivouac.