Marathon des Sables (often abbreviated MDS) is an international organization that hosts several formats of ultra-endurance footraces, most of them held in food self-sufficiency conditions.

The flagship event, now known as MDS Legendary, dates back to 1986 and takes place every year in the Moroccan Sahara, covering around 250 km in six stages.

Since 2017, the organization has expanded its portfolio with new formats (ranging from 70 km to 250 km) and destinations such as Peru, Namibia, Fuerteventura, Jordan, Turkey and France.

Each year, thousands of amateur and professional runners from around the world participate in various races, which combine athletic challenge with a shared and communal experience.

History The first edition of the Marathon des Sables was held in 1986 in the Moroccan Sahara, with 23 competitors — among them French adventurer Patrick Bauer, who two years earlier had crossed part of the Sahara alone (about 350 km in 12 days). The race was won by Bernard Gaudin and Christiane Plumere.

In November 2017, the first international editions were launched: a full 250 km event in the Peruvian desert of Ica, and the Half MDS in Fuerteventura (Spain). Later editions expanded to Namibia, Jordan, Turkey and France.

Formats Today, the Marathon des Sables is no longer a single race but a global series of events, each adapted to different audiences and terrains. The main formats are: MDS Legendary – 250 km in 6 stages, self-sufficient, Morocco. MDS 120 – 70, 100 or 120 km in 3 stages. MDS Trek – 70 to 120 km in 4 stages, with lighter logistics (not strict self-sufficiency). MDS RAID – 90 or 107 km in teams. MDS Handi – 70 km in inclusive teams. MDS Crazy Loops – loops of 3 to 5 km over 24 hours. MDS Ultra – 100 km or 100 miles in a single non-stop stage.

Winners Edition Year Male winner Nationality Female Winner Nationality Notes 1 1986 Bernard Gaudin Christiane Plumere 2 1987 Hassan Sebtaoui Marie-Ange Malcuit 3 1988 Bernard Gaudin Ange Malcuit 4 1989 Hassan Sebtaoui Claude Battistelli 5 1990 Hassan Sebtaoui Claire Garnier 6 1991 Hassan Sebtaoui Monique Frussote 7 1992 Mohamed Bensalah Monique Frussote First Moroccan man to win 8 1993 Mohamed Bensalah Irina Petrova First Russian woman to win 9 1994 André Derksen Valentina Liakhova First Russian man to win 10 1995 André Derksen Béatrice Reymann 11 1996 André Derksen Anke Molkenthin First German to win 12 1997 Lahcen Ahansal Rosanna Pellizzari First Italian to win 13 1998 Mohamad Ahansal Rosanna Pellizzari 14 1999 Lahcen Ahansal Lisa Smith First American to win 15 2000 Lahcen Ahansal Pascale Martin 16 2001 Lahcen Ahansal Franca Fiacconi 17 2002 Lahcen Ahansal Simone Kayser First Luxembourger to win 18 2003 Lahcen Ahansal Magali Juvenal 19 2004 Lahcen Ahansal Simone Kayser 20 2005 Lahcen Ahansal Simone Kayser 21 2006 Lahcen Ahansal Géraldine Courdesse 22 2007 Lahcen Ahansal Laurence Fricotteaux 23 2008 Mohamad Ahansal Touda Didi First Moroccan woman to win 24 2009 Mohamad Ahansal Touda Didi 25 2010 Mohamad Ahansal Mònica Aguilera Viladomiu First Spaniard to win 26 2011 Rachid El Morabity Laurence Klein 27 2012 Salameh Al Aqra Laurence Klein 28 2013 Mohamad Ahansal Meghan Hicks 29 2014 Rachid El Morabity Nikki Kimball 30 2015 Rachid El Morabity Elisabet Barnes First Swede to win 31 2016 Rachid El Morabity Natalia Sedykh 32 2017 Rachid El Morabity Elisabet Barnes 33 2018 Rachid El Morabity Magdalena Boulet 34 2019 Rachid El Morabity Ragna Debats First Dutchwoman to win 35 2021 Rachid El Morabity Aziza Raji 36 2022 Rachid El Morabity Anna Comet Pascua 37 2023 Mohamed El Morabity Maryline Nakache 38 2024 Rachid El Morabity Aziza El Amrany 39 2025 Rachid El Morabity Maryline Nakache 40 2026 Mohamed El Morabity Maryline Nakache

Notable participants

Moroccan brothers Lahcen and Mohamad Ahansal, who won 10 and 5 editions, respectively, Mohamad also being 7 times second behind his brother.«Marathonien des sables, Lahcen Ahansal, enfant nomade et star du désert» Rachid El Morabity holds the record for most wins with 11. Mauro Prosperi, a former Olympian from Sicily, is known for his 10 day disappearance while running in 1994. In 1994, René Nevola, Mike Stroud, Mike Lean and Richard Cooper became the first British runners to complete the Marathon des Sables. René Nevola was the first Briton to complete the race and finished in 22nd place. Marco Olmo, an Italian ultratrail specialist, ran all editions since 1996, with best placement 3rd (achieved three times). At the 2013 edition, Olmo was 64 years old, and he was 47 when he ran his first.G. De Pascale, Il corridore - Storia di una vita riscattata dallo sport, Ponte alle Grazie 2012 Chris Moon from Lanarkshire became the first amputee to complete the Marathon des Sables in 1996. Moon had lost his right arm and leg while supervising the clearing of landmines in Mozambique. Dima and Lama Hattab, Jordanian twins, were the first female Middle Eastern participants in the race in 2001.

Jack Osbourne entered in 2006 but quit early on in the second stage. He was running as part of his Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie TV series. Rohit Sood, became the first Indian national to complete the race in 2003. He raised ~$10,000 for 5 charities as part of his journey to the race. Luis Enrique Martínez García (known as Luis Enrique), Spanish former professional footballer, and former manager of FC Barcelona, completed the marathon in 2008. James Cracknell, British rower and adventurer, competed in the 2010 race and became the highest-placing Briton ever to compete in the race, finishing 12th until fellow Briton Danny Kendall placed 5th in 2014. In 2017 Tom Evans became the first Briton to finish in the first three, finishing third overall. Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes became the oldest Briton to complete the Marathon des Sables in 2015, at age 71, coached by MDS Coach and 18 x MDS finisher Rory Coleman."Sir Ranulph Fiennes completes desert race Marathon des Sables" at bbc.co.uk Accessed 3 June 2017 In doing so he raised over £1million for the Marie Curie charity. However, in 2024 Harry Hunter became the oldest British finisher at 76 years old Cactus became the first dog to compete the Marathon des Sables in 2019. Cactus, a stray dog, started joining in with the runners during the second stage of the race and then went on to complete the remaining stages of the race. Cactus was awarded the official race number 000 and received his finishers' medal. Belgian YouTuber Robert Van Impe, known as Average Rob, completed the 2025 race with his brother Arno. The pair trained for 6 months prior. As of 27 June 2025, their documentary covering their attempt has 1.2 million views.

Incidents During the 1994 marathon, Mauro Prosperi was set off course by a harsh sandstorm. He was lost for 10 days before being found in Algeria, following a well-publicized search of the desert. During the 2021 marathon, a French runner in his early 50s suffered from cardiac arrest which resulted in his death.

Bibliography

Ted Archer: Carved by god, cursed by the devil – a true story of running the Sahara Desert. Redwood City CA, University of Dreams Foundation 2009. Patrick Bauer ... [et al.]: Le Marathon des Sables. Paris, SPE (Société de production éditoriale) 2000. (English version by David Waldron). John Bonallak: The desert run. Wellington, New Zealand, Learning Media Ltd. 1999. . Steve Cushing: 24th Marathon des Sables – a competitor's tale. Leicester UK, Matador 2010, . Guy Giaoui; Foued Berahou: Ultramarathon stage racing - from our experiences of the Marathon des Sables, the Trans Aq', and other races - a practical guide. St-Genest-Malifaux, Raidlight 2008. . Mark Hines: The Marathon des Sables - seven days in the Sahara - enduring the toughest footrace on earth. London, Health Body Publishing 2007. (hbk.). (pbk. 2010). Marcel Nickler: Running the Sahara - a diary from the desert and beyond. Norderstedt, BoD 2019. Monika Nicolle: Histoire d'un Marathon des Sables – 245 kilomètres dans le désert... Paris, Éditions de l'Onde 2010. . Eddy Poirier: Vaincre soi-même : Marathon des Sables! Toute une histoire. [S.l.], Glob 2009. . Pierre-Emmanuel Rastoin: Regard sur le Marathon des Sables : 2004/06. Biarritz, SAI 2007. . Mark Roe: Running from shadows - my Marathon des Sables. Kibworth Beauchamp, Matador 2014. . Herbert Meneweger: Marathon des Sables - die Grenze ist, wo die Vorstellungskraft endet - der härteste Marathonlauf der Welt, 243 Kilometer durch die Sahara. Anthering AUT, Meneweger 2003. . Mike Stroud OBE. (re-issued 2004). Survival Of The Fittest: Understanding Health and Peak Physical Performance.Mike Stroud: "Survival Of The Fittest: Understanding Health and Peak Physical Performance", at amazon.co.uk Accessed 7 June 2017 Dr Dan Tunstall Pedoe: Marathon Medicine. 2001,Dr Dan Tunstall Pedoe: "Marathon Medicine", at amazon.co.uk Accessed 7 June 2017 page 186.Dr Dan Tunstall Pedoe: "Marathon Medicine", page 186, at books.google.com Accessed 7 June 2017 .

Notes

External links Official website of the Marathon des Sables Pictures of the Marathon des Sables from Rob Plijnaar, competitor in 2008 by Les Guthman