Marathon des Sables

April 11, 2003 11:17 PM

A walk in the park? How about 250 km (150 miles) over Sahara sand dunes in temperatures reaching 44°C (111°F) carrying all your food and gear. Stage 4 was a 52 mile double marathon. Today it was just a simple 26 miler. 4800 masochists have done it since 1986, ranging in age from 17 to 78. The Ahansal brothers took 7 hours 33 minutes to finish the 84 km leg. Slower than last year because of the strong winds and blowing sand. Luke Cunliffe has been blogging his experience at the end of each day. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I guess. Shall we form a MeFi team for next year?
posted by Geo (5 comments total)

YES.


Seriously.
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:09 AM on April 12, 2003

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

A common misconception.

Of course I got winded just typing this message, so I'm no expert.
posted by Hildago at 12:17 AM on April 12, 2003

That which does not kill you only postpones the inevitable.
posted by blindcarboncopy at 1:18 AM on April 12, 2003

I love deserts, and the trek sounds fun - though of course I've never walked more than 15 miles in a day, so what do I know? - but I think the heat would kill me. Anything over ninety makes me uncomfortable; I can't imagine even being able to continue breathing in a 111 degree afternoon, much less hiking across sand dunes.
posted by Mars Saxman at 10:19 AM on April 12, 2003

Hmm, I remember seeing I think a National Geographic thing on this. Definitely was pretty impressive how brutal it was. Course, personally I'd have to wonder *why* someone would do something like that, but I guess there are strange people out there. But then, for me, for anything of any real distance (say, farther than down the block), I'll just drive my V8 SUV, with nobody else in it :).
posted by piper28 at 5:29 PM on April 12, 2003