Portraits
Alessandra Perbellini (D815-GBR) & Chris Kateifides (D774-AUS)
Vegeterian gourmets Alessandra Perbellini (D815-GBR) and Chris Kateifides (D774-AUS) have put a lot of thought in preparing their food for their first Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES – they knew that they could not last on tasteless dehydrated food.
Adrian Panozzo (D617-AUS)
Adrian Panozzo (D617-AUS) On the second day of the long stage, Adrian Panozzo (D617-AUS) is quite relaxed : he completed the leg in 13h 44' (earning a great 171st ranking), which means he got to the bivouac in excellent time for a good night's sleep and can now enjoy a full day's rest.
Frédéric Doué (D326-FRA), Grégory Michel (D327-FRA), Gilles Gabrielli (D328-FRA), Christophe Castes (D329-FRA) and Eric Belleut (D330-FRA)
From rehab to the desert. For this 26th Sultan MDS, Frédéric Doué
Sonia Furtado (D133-FRA)
Sonia Furtado’s happy story After winning the long, 82km stage on Wednesday night, and coming third in the final overall ranking, Sonia Furtado is more radiant than ever. Despite her very good performance on the Ultra trail, the runner from the Gard region of France never thought she would find herself here one day.
Peter Gallanagh (D741-GBR)
When Peter Gallanagh (D741-GBR) went for a health check for insurance purposes five years ago, he had no reason to suspect anything could be wrong with him. It was a shock to find out his heart only beat 33 times a minute and that 15 seconds could sometimes go by between two beats.
Tristan Muller (D612-AUS)
Serial marathon runner When Google closed its Melbourne office, the Australian Tristan Muller (D612-AUS) lost his job. He decided to use his redundancy pay and the money from selling his house to finance a madcap project: to run one marathon per week for a year, right across the world.
Rebecca Cox (D634-GBR)
Running to take stock of life Rebecca Cox (D634-GBR) celebrated her 30th birthday during the MARATHON DES SABLES. If she is there today, it is because she felt the need to take stock of her life and the future. After living in Asia, Singapore and Bali, she returned to London after a relationship break-up.
Peter Stanfield (D627-NZL)
From one desert to another Peter Stanfield (D627-NZL) is a New Zealander, but works and lives in Saudi Arabia. When one of his friends told him about the Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES, the 53-year-old lawyer decided to start training for the race.
Kim Soonmo (D637-COR)
“The Sahara was my dream” The South Korean, Kim Soonmo, is a regular marathon runner. He as already taken part in marathons in Boston, Tokyo and similar events in Mongolia among other places. At 64, he has already won 7 ultra-marathon titles, all in his homeland.
Osama Al Qattan (D239-JOR)
“Experience sensations that only MDS can bring about” Osama Al Qattan (D239-JOR) is from Jordan, and this is his first participation in the Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES, on which he joins his illustrious and formidable compatriot, Salameh Al Aqra (D236).
Laurence Klein (D280-FRA)
She's here to win Each year, the fight on the women's side gets fiercer. The 2011 edition will be no exception. On top of the usual champions, Touda Didi (D5-MAR) and Monica Aguilera (D505-ESP), here comes Laurence Klein (D280-FRA).
Tobias Mews (D796-GBR)
Alright, he's an ex-army boy, alright, he spent a year and a half in Irak where he's had a taste of the desert, but for someone who'd never run more than 20 miles with a pack , who in fact hadn't even started running when he signed up for the 26th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES back in 2008 (convinced by army mate and future tent mate Phil Davis D715-GBR), Tobias Mews (D796-GBR) is doing spectacularly well: he completed the long stage in under ...
O MURCHU Daithi (D910-GB)
Daithi O Murchu is not a man to let a sense of measure dampen his appetites and enthusiasm. This 50 year old teacher from Dublin thought it would be exciting to go straight from a treck in the North Pole to the 26th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES and then on to climb Mount Everest.
Martin Myers (D804-GB)
Moroccan runners like to run in a classical floating pair of shorts, unlike other competitors who tend to favour the tightest cycling style. Martin Myers (D804-GB) has solved the old dilemma: he runs with a most elegant and practical sport kilt.
Greg Collett, (D891-GBR)
This now 51 year old investment banker from London had already taken part in the 23th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES (finishing with a highly respectable 199th ranking): he had enjoyed it so that he and his tent-mates swore to come back this year.
Guido Di Paola (D265-FRA)
Guido Di Paola, obviously a Frenchman! From his name you would never know that Guido Di Paola (D265-FRA) was anything but Italian! This 39-year-old salesman comes from Vic-sur-Seille in the French region of Lorraine, and this is his very first Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES.
Rayyan Agha (D937-SYR)
"A lesson in humility" Meet the only Syrian participating in this 26th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES. His name is Rayyan Agha (D937), and he is an entrepreneur back in his homeland.
Chen Pinbin (D639-CHN)
Impossible doesn't exist in Chinese? He's a smiley kind of guy and he's Chinese – courteous and calm like so many Asians. Chen Pinbin, 32, is a professional runner and he likes challenges, the bigger the better.
Cécile Bertin (D216-FRA)
Cécile, journalist on the run During the Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES, the easiest role has to be the journalist's. Sitting in his car, he speeds from checkpoint to checkpoint while the competitors wear themselves out trying to get to the finish line in time.
Rachid El Morabity (D4-MAR)
King Ahansal's crown prince? Impressive, astounding, incredible: these are some of the adjectives that come to mind when describing how the Moroccan Rachid El Morabity (D4-MAR) is performing so far on the 26th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES.
Veronica Lee (D643-CHN)
"For my mother" Veronica Lai Ying Lee (D643-CHN) is Chinese and this is her second Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES, her first dating from 2005. The first time she took part she was really looking to discover a race whose reputation had reached the five continents, but this time, ...
Mohamad Ahansal (D1-Mar)
Going for five times! One brother can hide another. After the long Lahcen era, Mohamad Ahansal (d1-Mar) has succeeded him. Victorious in 1998, then 2008, 2009 and 2010, this reputed mountain guide is attempting to hang on to his title on the 26th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES.
Chen Pinbin (D639-CHN)
Impossible doesn't exist in Chinese? He's a smiley kind of guy and he's Chinese – courteous and calm like so many Asians. Chen Pinbin, 32, is a professional runner and he likes challenges, the bigger the better.
Rory Coleman (D705-GB)
He’s a well known figure of the Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES, or rather, his previous incarnation, « the English Bulldog », was: fully dressed in Union Jack gear and roaring in front of the cameras “Come on, Patrick Bauer, it’s not hard enough, make it harder for the Bulldog”.
Association « Droit au cœur »
D13-FRA, D24-FRA, D108-FRA, D110-FRA, D243-FRA, D244-FRA
Who amongst those familiar with the Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES do not know Michel Back? Michel Back, who took part in the race 23 times ...
AMA Team-run for life D383, D384, D385, D386-POL
“Running for solidarity”
Solidarity is a core issue at the Marathon des Sables. Apart from the sporting aspect, many competitors run to support a good cause, like Stefan Batory D383, Gawel Boguta D384, ...
Christian Mosar (D348-LUX)
Luxembourg laughter
The portraits take shape depending on who we come across in the bivouac. Christian Mosar (D348-LUX), on his 4th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES event, shouts out to me: “Hey, are the emails coming soon please?
Jean-Pierre Mesnage (D104-FRA)
Not giving up
Jean-Pierre Mesnage (D104-FRA) is no newcomer to the MARATHON DES SABLES, since he ran in the 7th event in 1993.
Michaël Delance (D96-FRA)
Uchizy proudly represented
When you ask people, “Why MARATHON DES SABLES?” most reel off a never-ending reply. Michaël Delance (D96-FRA) simply says: “Why not?”
Jonathan Hiscock (D902-GB)
When Patrick Bauer gives his morning brief and encouragements to the competitors from the top of a Land Rover every morning on the start line, he likes to wish many happy returns to those whose birthday it is – everybody sings along… a good way to open one’s lungs before setting off!
Joel DAMAS (D253-FR)
In search of the green pompoms
2010 was such an adventure that Joël couldn't imagine spending the 26th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES slouching on his sofa.
Jean Claude Gouhier D99-FR
"I'm running in memory of my son"
Jean-Claude Gouhier, 43, is taking part in the Sultan Marathon des Sables for the first time.
Yoon Myung Geun D638-COR
"Another, more exciting challenge"
Like his compatriot Kim Soonmo, Yoon Myung Geun was also keen to discover the Sahara. There was more to his dream than simply treading on Moroccan soil, though
Mustapha Ait Amar D6-MAR
Target: the podium
After arriving in equal third place running on his own last year, the Moroccan Mustapha Ait Amar, who is taking part in his fourteenth Sultan Marathon des Sables and also running for the Rahal team, has only one target in view, and that's the podium.
James Binks (D680-GB)
Whilst his tent-mates have gone to fetch their first stock of water, on the eve of the check day, 67 year old James Binks (D680-GB) is enjoying a quiet moment. Make no mistake, his apparently shy demeanour has nothing
John Cahill (D696-GB) - Jane Whitmill (D868-GB)
When 50 year old John Cahill (D696-GB) came back home after proudly finishing the 25th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES last year, he would have been quite happy to call it a day. Except his 40 year old partner Jane Whitmill (D868-GB) thought it would be nice for the two of them to go back together.
Joseph Le Louarn (D679-FRA)
An elegantly discreet moustache, sparkly eyes… It is his 6th participation to the Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES and, at 79 years old, he is the eldest competitor this year : so naturally Joseph Le Louarn (D679-FRA) had to run under number 679.
John Woods (D158-GB)
Piers Cushing (D711-GB)
They met at boarding school when they were 17 and they’ve been friends ever since. To celebrate their 40th birthday, John Woods (D158-GB) and Piers Cushing (D711-GB) thought they’d put their friendship to the test…
Salameh Al Aqra D236-JOR
This year is the 6th Sultan MARATHON DES SABLES for 40 year old Jordanian runner Salameh Al Aqra (D236-JOR). He first took part in 2002, a date he will never forget. He first heard about the race from its founder, Patrick Bauer, who was hosting another race in Jordany, the Desert Cup.
