Competitors must carry all personal belongings and food for the entire event in their backpack. Water and tents are supplied by the organizers.
Competitors congregate in the town of Ourzazate (pronounced Waah - zar - zar - tay) and are taken by bus into the desert. On the bus, the event details are provided to them. The next day is an administration / acclimitsation day where the necessary medical checks and checks of compulsory gear / food requirements and only then, are you cleared to start.
Each participant sleeps with 7 other tent mates under a tarpaulan style beduoin tent, that is best described as shelter rather than a tent, as it remains open to the elements. The race each year has around 800 participants, so its always best to have ear plugs... there has to be a few snorers in that many people!!
Distances vary each year, but I have seen some stats on the average distances on the various days of the event for the past 5 years or so, and they are as follows:
Day 1: 30km - just to ease you into the event
Day 2: 35km - a solid day out on the desert, hopefully no blisters yet
Day 3: 38km - by now your legs are getting the hang of this event... hopefully
Day 4: 78km - yes, the big day. The first 3 days are a prelude to this day.
Day 5: Rest day... competitors have around 34 hours to complete day 4, so some competitors sleep in the desert at various check points, or where they feel comfortable, and finish the next morning.
Day 6: 42k - a marathon. I hope you got some rest yesterday, you have a full marathon to do today... but take heart, once this day is done, you're almost home!
Day 7: 16km - just an easy jaunt to the finish line to pick up your medal.
What makes this event so iconic is that it challenges you on so many fronts. Sure, there is the actual distance - something that you cannot underestimate, you must respect the distance and manage your energy and resources.
Secondly there is your backpack. It is your home for a week and you have to carry it, so it has to be comfortable and big enough to carry all your needs, but light enough so you can move with it. Efficiency in packing is the way to go. As a result, most people take a combination of freeze dried meals (simply add water), gels and energy bars to get through.
Thirdly there is hygiene. There are no showers, toilets etc, so you need to make sure you dont get sick and maintaining appropriate hygiene is important. Its hard to run if you have the trots every day....
Fourthly there is the comfort v weight trade off. Do you want to bring a stove to heat up your meals? Or just use water and cook them in the hot sand? Do you want to bring a sleeping mat to put under the sleeping bag... but then you have to carry it.
Really, the event is all about trade-offs and choices. You can take your bar fridge, a 4 seater couch and a tv... if you can carry it! You can try and run at olympic 5km pace... but if you've knackered after 25 mins... you still have a long way to go! You can walk it... but you'll be out there for a long time and will you have enough water to get to the next check point (about 10kms apart, and you get 1.5 litres at each check point).
Its a magic event because of the combination of all these challenges, and that's even before you consider the terrain (sand dunes, dried river beds, extensive rocky ground, hills and mountains so steep you need a rope to climb up them...), the day time temperatures (up to 49C) or night time chills (down to 3-5 C).
Entry for Australian's is through an American company called Dreamchasers. This what how Dreamchasers describe the event...
The Marathon Des Sables (or MDS) is a 145 mile, seven-day stage race conceived and organized by Frenchman Patrick Bauer and Atlantide Organisation Internationale. While the event can be very demanding if you are racing, the daily time cut-offs are generous enough to allow someone to power-walk the entire 145 miles. Consequently, it is not necessary to be an elite runner to take part in the Marathon Des Sables.
During the event, competitors run on foot through some of the most beautiful, remote sections of the Moroccan Sahara while carrying a backpack with essential gear, food, sleeping bag and clothing for the week. The race organizers provide water (generally 9 liters per day) and a traditional, two-sided Berber tent each night for sleeping during the seven days of racing.
There are six stages over the seven days, with the first three daily stages set around 20 miles each. The fourth stage is around 50 miles; the fifth stage is always a full marathon of 26.2 miles, and the sixth (and last) stage is from 9-12 miles.
Runners are typically given 40 hours to complete the 50 mile stage, with most finishing the stage in one day. This essentially provides most people with a rest day in between the 50 mile stage and the Marathon stage. Each year brings a new course, which is not revealed until two days before the race.
The terrain at the MDS is not all giant sand dunes. In fact, most of the course is run over salt flats, dried up river beds, rocky desert plains, and ancient, dried up lakes. And, it is not uncommon for the course to wander through a remote desert village. The course is usually well marked and all competitors receive a "Road Book" which provides an official course description for each stage.
Temperatures can be extreme, with possible daytime highs reaching 125°F and night-time lows of 38°F. Additionally, the occasional sandstorm can add to the mix. Thus, competitors should be prepared for anything.
As a further guide, here are some pictures of prior events, to give you an idea of the terrain, the gear participants carry, and the Moroccon scenery...
