RACE AT A GLANCE

What is the Marathon des Sables?
Marathon des Sables is French for "Marathon of the Sands". It is a grueling 7 day foot race that takes place in the Sahara Desert. Competitors race 150 miles in six stages, with one rest day. It requires total self-sufficiency, as competitors must carry all of their own food and gear for the entire race. The only things organizers provide are tents, medical aid, and rationed water...just 9 liters per day. There are no showers, no toilets
and no beds.

Where is the Marathon des Sables?
The Marathon des Sables takes place in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, Africa. The exact race route is kept secret until the day before the race. Organizers provide athletes with a map of the route as they are headed out into the desert. Competitors find their way along the course using the map and a compass.

The terrain varies from year to year, but generally covers rocky plains, dried out lakebeds and miles of sand dunes. Daytime temperatures can reach well over 50 degrees centigrade, and drop to as low as 5 degrees centigrade at night.

When is the Marathon des Sables?
The Marathon des Sables is held every year in April. Who competes in the Marathon des Sables? 600 athletes from around the world gather in Morocco each year for this race. Of these, about 10 percent are women, or about 60 female competitors each year.

Safety and Health at the Marathon des Sables.
Competitors must pass a medical exam and provide organizers with an EKG report from their doctor. Athletes are required to carry a survival kit, which includes a snakebite pump. Some of the most venomous snakes and scorpions in the world can be found in the Sahara. Runners also must have a compass, small knife, lighter, signal mirror and emergency flare. Athletes have to be prepared for any emergency, and this includes sandstorms that can blow up at any time, stranding runners.

Athletes get severely beaten up in this race. Blistered feet, missing toenails, muscle fatigue, chafing, bruising, and sunburns are just the tip of the iceberg. Of serious concern is Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. Symptoms range from dehydration,exhaustion, dizziness, chills, vomiting, erratic behavior, fainting, and coma. Many athletes suffer with dysentery, which causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Training for the Marathon des Sables
Sandy is trained by Lisa Smith-Batchen. www.dreamchaservents.com. She combines a serious running program with huge volumes of cross training. This includes swimming, pool running, cycling, weight training and snowshoe expeditions in the Rockies. Four weeks out from the race, Sandy works in sauna training, to acclimate to the intense heat awaiting her in the Sahara.

Equipment, Clothing and Food for the Marathon des Sables
Equipment must be desertworthy and lightweight! Running shoes need to keep out sand, and be at least a size too big to accomodate blistered, swollen feet. Gaiters can be useful to keep the sand out of your shoes. Sandy does not carry a change of clothing. The clothing she does wear is lightweight and wics away perspiration. Her backpack is custom made for the race.

Food must be selected very carefully. It must be lightweight, and provide the calories needed to fuel the body through the 150 mile race. Each competitor must have 2000 calories per day, otherwise he/she will be penalized...and organizers do check. Sandy does bring some freeze-dried food, but she does not bring a stove to cook it...this would add too much weight. She just soaks the meal in water for a few minutes, and eats it cold.