Marathon des Sables and Desert Cup - October 2000 - N°41
Hello to you all.
The SAHARA NEWS has changed its format so you can now get news about the 2 races ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale is pleased to offer you. This bulletin will be sent to you each month and aims to give a maximum of information. You can also consult it on our web-site: http://www.aoicimbaly.com
Whether you prefer to run in stages in the Moroccan desert or non-stop in Jordan, we hope you will find enough to satisfy your love of foot races in wide-open spaces.
With the Olympic Games in full swing, if there's a maxim applicable to runners it has to be the words of Baron du Coubertin: "the main thing is to participate".
We're on the same wavelength because in the MARATHON DES SABLES or the DESERT CUP, though the winners are congratulated for their achievements, all the competitors come out with a sense of personal victory which is worth all the medals in the world. To finish an extreme sport is a reward that goes beyond notions of ranking and as a general rule, the satisfaction of having made it through to the end is in itself enough to bring happiness to the participant.
The runners in the DESERT CUP will be the first in action launching into it on 07 November from Wadi Rum. From its first edition, the race will be genuinely international with competitors from Japan, USA, Morocco, Canada and many European countries.
We are happy to officially announce that the year-2000 edition will be run under the High Patronage of Her Majesty Queen RANIA: an immense honour for a premiere.
As for the MARATHON DES SABLES, the number of competitors will not increase for the next edition so we can only advise future participants to enrol as soon as possible.
Here's hoping that the Olympic Games prove gripping. Good luck with the training and see you soon.
AOI

 

MEDICAL FILE
The compulsory medical certificate and electrocardiogram must be dated the month of October.
Imperative : the medical certificate to be completed is the one in the enrolment file sent to you by AOI. Do not forget to bring it to Jordan on 06 November; failure to do so will mean you cannot start the DESERT CUP.

EMERGENCY RESERVES
Remember to bring along 2 x 50cl flasks (of your choice) in order to receive the 1 litre of emergency water supply. These containers will be put in a plastic bag and sealed by us. They must only be opened in absolute necessity. They are in addition to the water bags and flasks you will drink from during the race. The 2000 emergency calories must be presented separately during the technical checks as they will also be set apart and sealed.

OBJECTIVE AND CALORIES
Each objective corresponds to a minimum number of obligatory calories. This is so that someone planning to finish in 24h will not have to run with food for 62h. But be careful: failure to respect your target time will result in a one hour penalty. We advise you to bring more than the strict minimum.
This is a testing race and weather conditions are very variable. Energy drinks will not be taken into account as they're too complicated to evaluate, especially outside their packaging. If you haven't already done it, send us the form stating your objective as soon as possible.



All information on Desert Cup 2000 and 16th Marathon des sables on our internet site www.aoicimbaly.com

ATLANTIDE ORGANISATION Internationale
BP 98 - 10003 TROYES Cedex - FRANCE
Phone. : (33) 03 25 76 57 77 / Fax : (33) 03 25 76 87 75
E-Mail : infos@aoicimbaly.com - WEB : http://www.aoicimbaly.com
Sahara News number 41 realized by CIMBALY International - Pépé and Marie

Need advice ?
If you are enrolled on the 16th edition and wish to contact runners from your country who have already participated in MDS, call your representative and they will tell you how to get in touch.

Team enrolment
When you enrol, don't forget to mention the name of the team, the number of members and the full name of each. It makes handing out the ID numbers much easier ...

Sahara News n°41 - www.aoicimbaly.com - Webmaster : Neuromedias

 


Medical care
The DOC TROTTER medical team will be present during the DESERT CUP. They are experienced in adventure races and will be at check-points and in race officials' vehicles. Before the race, remember to see a foot specialist, prepare your feet properly and during the race don't wait until you're in pain before putting on plasters.

A running in team
New race, new concept. Teams must be mixed and made up of 3 people throughout. This means that in order to make up a team, you need to be either 2 women and 1 man or 2 men and 1 woman.

What's on the menu ?
Auto-sufficiency in food begins from breakfast on 07 November before the race starts. Once over the finish line, you will be lodged at a hotel with half board. Remember to bring enough money to feed yourselves during your stay in PETRA. Prices are similar to those in France, though alcoholic drinks are more expensive....

Time for bed !
We advise competitors wishing to sleep for a few hours to do so at check-points. They'll find a reassuring presence and medical care. We remind you that there are time-limits for reaching check-points. They will be indicated in the road book. Example: if starting-time is at 8h30, you must be at CP5 (K59) at 24h (midnight) in order to leave the next day by 5h at the latest. Same time-a day later frame at CP10 (K119): it's feasible !

Off you go !
The route is long and not without its challenges. Remember that some runners suffered psychologically between CP9 (K104), the end of the sand, and CP10 (K119). The piste is very winding and undulating and there are so many detours it can seem never-ending. You'd like to run, but after so many kilometres of sand, the legs just won't take it. You therefore have to get used to walking

Click ! Click !
For the first edition there will be no official photographer from our organisation to immortalise your exploits in Jordan. So if you want to bring back some snaps, don't forget your camera.

It'll be quite some fight !
It risks being a real battle on the women's front between Pascale MARTIN (F) winner of 15th°MDS, Alijca BARRALLONA (CAN) winner of both the 12 hour New York race and Idatasport 2000, and long-distance runner Kazuko KAIHATA (J).
The men ought to watch out!

Place your best !
In addition to Christian GINTER (F), first in the 99 test run, several runners will be setting out to win including François CAILLY (F) and Eric MOTTE (F) from France(18th and 20th in MDS 2000) and René HEINTZ (F) a winner in Norway and Mauritania. Also forces to be reckoned with are AQRA, second in 99 and his comrade SWITTI who was long in the lead before abandoning last year.
Naming a winner in advance won't be easy!


Tabernacle !
We are now represented in Canada. Sylvain DESCHENES from Horizon Nature Aventures will represent the MDS for Canadian runners. The chance to go from snow-clad forests to sunny sand-dunes should seduce more than one runner in April. Welcome on board Sylvain !

Methods of enrolment
To get enrolled, your registration file must include all the following documents:
- completed commitment form
- deposit of 4000FF (610 Euros)
- additional information form, dated and signed
- photocopy of your valid passport indicating date of issue
- 3 passport-sized photos with your name on the back
- security deposit check of 1000FF (152 Euros) which will only be cashed in the event of penalties or withdrawal from race)
ALL INCOMPLETE DOSSIERS WILL BE REFUSED AND RETURNED TO YOU ; So don't forget anything and make sure your passports are up to date!