.

MARATHON DES SABLES 2006

TEAM ODYSSEY

The Race

The Race takes place in April 2006, with the UK competitors departing the UK on 6th April and gathering in Ouarzazate in Morocco with the rest of the International field on 7th April.   The Marathon des Sables is a 6 day 151 mile race (made up of legs of 16, 21, 24, 50, 26, and 14miles) through the Sahara Desert and is generally considered to be the World’s toughest footrace.

 

Every year around 800 competitors from around the world set out to run the equivalent of one marathon a day for 6 days over open desert, rocky ground, sandy barren wilderness and mountainous dunes, in temperatures which reach 120°F/48°C . If you believe in hell, you know it is a place of unrelenting pain and toil, that is the Marathon des Sables.

 

We must carry everything that we will need for the duration of the race (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag etc..) as well as carrying and preparing our own food for the duration of the race.  The only assistance provided by the organisers being the provision of water, rationed and handed out at checkpoints throughout the race, a basic “tent” over our heads each evening and the undoubtedly much needed nightly medical assistance .  There are no washing facilities, no toilets and no change of clothes.  Anyone wishing to purchase “Aroma de Odyssey” Spray Mist at the end of the race will be accommodated, all proceeds to the nominated charities. 

 

We are still preparing our “menus” but we must consume a minimum of  2000 k/calories per day, generally in the form of a freeze dried, vacuum packed “pot noodle” in the evening with various energy bars, jelly babies, skittles and  the ubiquitous pepperami being consumed whilst running during the day.

 

Is this truly the toughest footrace on earth?  We’ll let you know when we get back!!