After the first night spent in the bivouac, the 609 competitors of the 19th Marathon des Sables presented themselves this morning for the usual check-ups. They checked in their survival equipment – blanket, number of calories, flare gun – and all the medical certficates needed to combat the 237 kilometres of Maroccan desert. So far no particular problems to report. “ Nowadays the runners are aware of the absolute necessity of these check-ups, on the whole they are better and better prepared each year and they follow our guidelines seriously.” explains Uber, a race official.
There is a particularly high number of British runners this year, over 200 competitors ready to defy the local heat. A runner offers an explanation for this phenomenal turn-up; “Well, we do have a song which says that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. We are here to prove that true!…”
Otherwise there are some 26 nationalities represented here : about 15 Maroccans, about 200 French of course, but also Spanish, Germans, Americans, Koreans, Pakistanis, Swedes, Swiss, Canadians, Czeks, and runners from the Czek Republic and New Zealand…etc! And let’s not forget the 79 women. Everybody is still fresh-faced, clean and tidy…how long will that last? There’s only one thing on their minds : the urge to start as soon as possible and get rid of all the stress of waiting. This time tomorrow the wait will be over, with the first leg of 28 kilometres tackled.
As far as the organisation is concerned, the first bivouac of the race was set up in a spirit of friendliness and without mishap.
In a nutshell everyone is raring to go, ready for action, adventure, and emotion !