Your hardest moments on the MARATHON DES SABLES

If the MARATHON DES SABLES wants to be a race accessible to the greatest number thanks to its very wide time barriers and its very considerate supervision, it remains an extreme event. And who says extreme says difficult moments to pass. Small review of these moments which instantly require all our energy to be overcome…

And we start with feet problems of course…

Sylvie PROMPT

On the long before CP4 the feet exploded, and finally a sand viper that arises! The urge to give up invaded me, and there we take out a photo, we talk to him, and off we go… My darling by my side who at the time wanted to race with me… Finally a good one remember this bad moment!

Thierry LE RALL

MDS 2015: feet stuffed with blisters at the end of day 3. Day 4 impossible to put on shoes, swollen feet. Long stage: 91 km entirely made by walking. I will take 25 hours to reach the bivouac. Day of rest feet in the air all day, the bulbs dry ... The next day last step and I use! What a great race…

Another regular concern: dehydration...

Philippe ROUX

2015 second stage, dehydration and diarrhea and more water 2 km from CP2! So we walk, we regain strength at CP and it's off!

Anne BONZOUMET

The dehydration which means that you can no longer take a step, and that you have 30 minutes of penalty because you have to drink and drink and you ask for an additional bottle.

Stephane BRETTE

2016, from the second day at the start of the long stage, diarrhea washed me away ... Fortunately, the docs and Françoise were there! And then at the bottom of the big djebel, the potato came back! I even finished the sprint marathon!

Lionel MAHUT

Long stage 86 km. At km 50 I got dehydrated. I did not realize it. It was while arriving at a check that the doc saw me stagger! A blood test, a big saline drink, another blood test, advice from the doc magician and presto here I go again. The next 10 kilometers was hell. Without our guardian angels I would not have finished. We can never thank them enough!

The long stage often returns in difficult times...

Maximilien PICHELIN

The last nine kilometers of the long in 2016, endless!

Jean-christophe SALGUES

In 2018, on the last check on the long route, a dozen kilometers from the finish, I decided to stop to eat more consistent food. I sat in a tent made available next to a runner who was in the arms of morphée, I dragged my backpack to the ground without completely removing the suspenders, there I felt my body tell me "man if you do not move you will do like your neighbor and you are not ready to leave". I ate and drank in 10 minutes, I took as much time to put my bag correctly on my back, I spent 15 minutes to get up and finally leave in a cold duck. I can tell you that I have never felt my body in such a state of fatigue.

Didier GOSSET

The end of the long stage in 2015, endless but only good on arrival.

The cold can surprise in the heart of the desert…

Steph CLISSON

The cold of the night in 2018 ... Sticking to each other with my friend was the only solution to try to warm up and sleep a little anyway!

Alain ROSSIAUD

Cold at night!

Sometimes surprising problems...

Ela STEINER

When we got stakes on our heads in the middle of the night during a big sandstorm…

Daniel RIBBI

MDS 2015, in full action, a huge snake stands in front of me, it stares at me, prepares to attack me. I step aside and four other snakes surround me. My escape becomes impossible ... and then suddenly ... I wake up!

Stephane BLR

In 2015, at the 30th edition, when I made a double sprain 4 km before the bivouac of the second stage. We were fourth in the standings with the Alpine hunters team.

I gritted my teeth and continued the remaining 160 km… No abandonment for the team. Thanks again to the docs…

Frank HELDENBERGH

The first 10 of the 17 kilometers of the Solidarity stage in 2016…

Pierre FRI

The Marathon stage! You think it will pass cream since you did 86 km the day before but you end up demolished!

Michel THÉVENIN

It’s always hard but the second stage with the dunes of Merzouga and the 76 km long stage put my mind to the test. We find pleasure and satisfaction upon arrival ...

Nathalie ROBIN

The hardest ? arrival 2013!

Those who have no hardship, and yes it exists...

Carole PIPOLO

No personal hard blow because what happiness! The hard knocks of our team 29 in the tent in 2018 when Andrea gave up, when Mat Mat did not know if he was going to start, the two injured sisters ... We joined together and these are moments that united us for life.

Meryem MAHFOUD

MDS 2017, no hard times for me personally, pure moments of pleasure. I got out of it formatted…

Alain WEMELLE

The hardest moment is when we come back to Paris!

And the last word that sums it all up…

Jean-christophe SALGUES

We did not all run the same years, but when I read you I feel like I have done the 35 editions so much I share your stories, your feelings, your love of this competition. What a fantastic family!