09 April, 2017
Participants set off on a timed stage of the Marathon des Sables, in the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco.
The Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) is run over 250 kilometers in temperatures of up to 50℃. Participating runners and walkers must carry their own backpacks with food, sleeping gear, and other material. The marathon is conducted in six stages, over seven days, with one long stage of more than 80 kilometers. The first Marathon des Sables was held in 1986 with 186 competitors. The event now attracts more than 1,000 participants from around 50 countries.
Erik Sampers
He currently works with Le Figaro Magazine reporting on environmental issues.
