Motivation

Marathon des Sables: Throughout the stages with Samir Mouffok

This article is the fourth in a series devoted to the Marathon des Sables, a tough ultra-distance race often described as the toughest foot race in the world.

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Read the other articles here: Part 1: Marathon Des Sables: The Toughest Footrace in the World? , Part 2: Insights from Samir Mouffok's MDS preparation and Part 3: Mandatory Kit and Equipment

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We followed the extraordinary adventure of our French ambassador, Samir Mouffok, in the Marathon des Sables 2024.

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Join us on this epic journey, following Samir's footsteps through the demanding stages of this legendary race, and discovering with him the triumphs, challenges and valuable lessons along the way. Dive into the adventure, stage by stage.

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Stage 1 : 31.1 km

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During the first stages of the Marathon des Sables, the importance of adjusting and adapting to the extreme conditions of the desert becomes obvious, with a bag weighing heavily on the shoulders. Despite the pain and irritation caused by the weight of the bag, endurance is maintained by alternating between walking and running.

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Key change in 2024: an earlier start to allow participants to run in cooler temperatures; the first stage begins with a call at 7.00am and a 7.30am start. Preparation and admin will take place mainly in the dark. Below, Samir in full morning preparation before sunrise with his Petzl headlamp.

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Stage 2 : 40.8 km

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A magnificent 40.8km stage heading north. This region of the Sahara has been included on the route of several Marathons des Sables, and rightly so - it offers excellent terrain and remarkable splendour.

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Despite the pain and irritation caused by the weight of the bag, his endurance was maintained by alternating between walking and running. After receiving treatment to relieve the lesions, including the application of an anti-burn cream, and shedding the excess weight, Samir prepared himself for the next stage armed with determination and resolve.

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Stage 3 : 85.3 km

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Despite his apprehension about the challenge of this stage, Samir managed to pull ahead in the morning and stay with the leading group. However, the intense heat of the afternoon made the race more difficult, sometimes forcing him to walk to save energy. Despite this, Samir managed to maintain a good pace, and rode the final kilometres in the company of another competitor. He moved up 40 places in the rankings and finished 61st. The heat was so extreme that Samir had to drink 14 litres of water to stay hydrated.

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Stage 4 : 43.1 km (The marathon stage)

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During this stage of the Marathon des Sables, Samir, who was in first place, had to start 1.30 hours after the other runners due to his position. Despite a good start, the rising temperatures during the day didn't make it any easier. Samir eventually caught up with another runner, with whom he finished the stage, alternating running and walking to cope with the heat. Despite his late start complicating the race, Samir enjoyed the experience in that it highlighted the challenges of the Marathon des Sables, where comfort is in short supply and solidarity between participants is crucial.

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Stage 5 : 31.4 km

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As part of the last major stage of the Marathon des Sables, Samir spent a restless night, punctuated by sand-laden gusts - a typical desert experience. The 6.30am start, at sunrise, marked a change from the previous day. A change that Samir seemed to appreciate. Indeed, with his lighter pack and good sensations, all the conditions were in place for a successful stage race. Samir managed the race consistently from start to finish, showing a certain familiarity with the desert, while enjoying the spectacular scenery.

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Stage 6 : 21.1 km

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For the last time, Samir wakes up in tent 109, after a night marked by the omnipresent wind and sand. Excitement reigns as everyone looks forward to this final stage. There's a jovial atmosphere at the start line, with everyone smiling broadly and looking forward to receiving their medals! A few photos are taken. Then it was time for the start. Surprisingly, and to his great surprise, Samir's legs are ready, as if his week in the desert had been all about rest.

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He told us that when he saw the palm trees and the finishing arch just 200 metres away, an indescribable feeling came over him... That's it, he's done it, he's achieved his goal, even if it was difficult, he's done it...
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The Marathon des Sables 2024 is over. The race concluded with the sixth stage, covering 21.1 kilometres over demanding terrain including rocky plateaus, small dunes, a climb up to Jebel Mefatigbzef, and finishing in a palm grove. Samir has earned his coveted MDS medal!

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And so, like Samir's adventure, our series on the Marathon des Sables 2024 comes to an end. We'd like to thank Samir once again for sharing his incredible experience with us, and we wish him all the best for his future adventures.

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