Saturday 9th April 20th Marathon
des Sables – Technical Checks
For its twentieth edition, the Marathon des Sables has a record number
of competitors : some 798 runners including 75 women. 37 countries are
represented. This huge multi-cultural family has attracted people from
all walks of life this year: a Swiss biologist, Chinese piano tuner, French
furnace maker and English psychologist to mention but a few. Runners aged
between 19 and 70 are in good spirits, happy to be taking part in this
historic edition but nervous at the idea of affronting high temperatures
and more hills than usual. This year’s edition is also a bit longer:
255 kilometres. The distance is divided into six stages and run over 7
days. Competitors are self-sufficient in food throughout, theonly thing
they’re given is water (9 litres per day).
Today’s technical and administrative checks went off smoothly. For
the second year running, competitors are given a card that will chart their
medical history, detailing any treatment they receive during the race.
They’ve also received their race numbers; back-packs have been weighed
(between 6kgs and 15kgs), calories counted (a minimum of 2000 per day)
and the compulsory equipment checked. Competitors are in good spirits,
the Italians even inspired to singing a few arias. The only negative note
was the news that Haj Brahim El Joual, one of the veterans of the race
and the absolute recordman having taken part in 18 of the 19 editions so
far, will not be allowed to run the race due to failing health. He will
however join his fellow runners for the first few kilometres tomorrow as
a way of paying hommage to one of the MDS’ most popular participants.
The serious business begins tomorrow with a longer opening stage than usual
(29 kms). The favourites will be testing one another out during the first
few kilometres. The adventure commences at 9H30 and promises to be sweet…
