In 1986, inspired by a solo journey across the
Sahara, French concert promoter Patrick Bauer
launched the Marathon Des Sables (MDS), a
six-day, 251-kilometre stage race across the
Moroccan desert. Competitors had to carry all
their own supplies, camping together each night.
The emptiness and exposed setting made it the
perfect crucible in which to test the limits of
endurance and a new genre of running was born.
The desert ultra scene has blossomed
considerably since. RacingThePlanet (RTP) began
what became the 4 Deserts series in 2003 with the
advent of the Gobi March, adding the Atacama
Crossing, the Sahara Race and The Last Desert in
Antarctica in following years. They also have anannual roving RacingThePlanet event.
In 2017, MDS added a Half Marathon des
Sables in Spain’s Canary Islands and another
full-length race in Peru. Then there’s the Kalahari
Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM) and the
Ultra Gobi – the latter a continuous race over no
less than 400km.
But just what is the appeal? American Zandy
Mangold has completed several RTP events and
won the Atacama Crossing in 2017. He says:
“I love the challenge of running in extreme
conditions. The heat, terrain, wind and freakish
beauty keep things entertaining no matter how
hard it gets.”
As Editor for MDS, Emmanuel Lamarle haswitnessed many races. He underlines the edginess
of the environment: “It’s raw, it’s tough, it’s quiet.
You feel good, and at the same time you know
you would die if you are not responsible.”
Some relish such challenges. Brit Nathan
Montague is another experienced desert runner
who has run the MDS and Ultra Gobi, and won
the KAEM: “I think my general stubbornness,
bloody mindedness, and ability to take a punch
means I was made for ultras!” he says.
“The thing is, deserts are not just sand, as
the Gobi proved. All terrains, all skills, all aspects
of endurance and actually a bit of speed. Find a
desert and take me there. I love them. The heat is
just another punch to fight back from.” AA50 Desert ultras
— March/April 2018