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The Marathon des Sables |
16th Annual Marathon des Sables150-mile marathon across the Sahara. Location: Undisclosed area in the Moroccan Sahara, Morocco Date: April 1 through April 7, 2001 The Marathon des Sables is a 150-mile 7-day stage marathon through the Sahara desert. There are six stages ranging from approximately 22 miles per day to one overnight leg of 48 miles. Each participant must be totally self sufficient for the entire race, which means carrying all necessary gear and food. Only a ration of 9 liters of water, a map and a primitive sleeping area will be provided. The race will cross some of the most desolate dessert landscape on the planet, including miles of deep sand, 200-foot dunes, small mountains and rocky plateaus with temperatures ranging from the mid-forties at night up to 125 F during the day. 
Occasional sandstorms will stop a runner in his tracks.
Each stage takes you further along the 150-mile route through the desert. There are
very few checkpoints along each day's course, causing navigation and water conservation
to be crucial elements of this race.
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