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Portraits
Laurie
Andrews (465) and Michele Jensen (500), positive
Helder
Alexandre Sousa Ferreira (613), surprising
Desert
Team 22 (328, 329, 330, 331,332), focused
Ian
Sharman (821), motivated
Shigemi
Hazama (631), hilarious
Gilles
Diehl (141), modest
Mohamad
Ahansal (1), under pressure
Al
Aqra’ Salameh (71), ambitious
Jorge
Aubeso Martinez (622), zen
Touda
Didi (6), determined
Ryan
Gregory (526), hollywoodian
Sylvie
Alcala Bournat (187), serene
Stéphane
Lesoin (207), reliable
Louis
Cornevin (48), passionate
David
and Mark Simon (531 and 532), together
Paddy
Haddock (892), fishy |
COMPETITORS'
CORNER
Akanksha Foundation
Cancer Research UK
St. Vincent’s cancer
Passion Trophy
Noma Facing Africa
AICR
ING Chances for Children
Fred Hollows Foundation
RUN 4 CHILDREN
Competitors list - 2008
Blackfriars’s School
OFFICIAL
PARTNERS
KIA MOTORS
NEW BALANCE
THEOLIA
Buff
ONMT
Sidi Ali
transavia.com
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| The course |
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The route for 2008 is 245.3 Km long,
making it the longest ever in the history of the MARATHON
DES SABLES.
The race will be challenging from day one - and continue
that way - offering all the variety of the Sahara. The course
will take runners over ergs (dune zones), seriously steep
jebels (up to 25% slope factor) and rocky plateaus. They’ll
have to cross hard as iron salt-flats and the driest of wadis.
The backdrop to all of this is the most beautiful of landscapes
with vistas accessible only to those on foot. The desert
has its secret gardens and competitors on MDS will be lucky
enough
In its 22-year history since it was set up in 1986, the Marathon
des Sables has brought together near-on 10,000 competitors
in the south Moroccan Sahara.
Whether running individually or in teams, competitors are
self-sufficient in food and must carry all their own equipment
(food and compulsory kit) during the entire race.
Marathon runners and trail runners worldwide consider the
race to be the “Grail” of footraces. It’s one of the most
difficult in the world: around 230km, freestyle, run in 6
stages varying from 20 to 70km, taking in all the different
terrain in this particularly beautiful part of Morocco.
With average speeds going from a minimum of 3 Km/h to maximum
14 Km/h, the Marathon des Sables is an extraordinary course,
characterised by its spirit of conviviality and solidarity.
For this 23rd edition, organised by AOI under the aegis of
the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, around 850 competitors
will be setting off to conquer the Moroccan sands on March
30th. 30% are French, the other 70% made up of more than
32 nationalities, with a strong Anglo-Saxon presence
Sportsmanship, solidarity, conviviality and respect for the
environment: these are the organisation’s key words.
1986, the 1st MARATHON DES SABLES welcomes 23 competitors
2008, 850 competitors are expected |
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