Running on sand is a lot harder than it looks. Photos: AFP
Imagine running in the sizzling 45°C heat of the Sahara desert for six days over 257km. No wonder this ultramarathon is billed by Discovery Channel as “the toughest footrace on earth”.
The Marathon des Sables (MdS) is made even tougher because the rules require runners to be self-sufficient ie: to carry the water, food, medical kit, sleeping bag and other stuff they need (for each stage of the race) in their backpacks as they go.
