Latest news with #RachidElMorabity
Morocco World
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
2026 Marathon des Sables: Registrations Open for ‘the Hardest Foot Race on Earth'
Registrations opened on June 11 for what has been dubbed 'the hardest foot race on earth,' a grueling 250km ultra-marathon through Morocco's Sahara desert. The Marathon des Sables (MDS) Legendary event is a 6-stage ultra-marathon race, with competitors racing 20 to 80km each day across the harsh desert terrain. The MDS Legendary race is a 11 day event, with 9 days in the Sahara desert and 6 days of racing. Competitors may run or walk the race, each trying to get to the end to claim the title of 'legend.' MDS is conducted in self-sufficiency, requiring competitors to carry their gear and food, while water and tents are supplied by the organisation. The race occurs in April where temperatures in the desert often fall between 15 to 30 degrees celsius. Racing through the desert across the sand dunes and rocky paths, contestants of the MDS Legendary are battling more than just intense heat, with wind, sandstorms and rain occasionally breaking up the monotony of the clear blue skies. This year celebrates the 40th edition of the classic MDS in the Sahara desert. The race will take place between April 3-13, 2026, with registrations for the event opening on June 11. MDS Legendary brings together participants from all corners of the globe, from seasoned runners, to your everyday adventure junkie. Past competitors have described the mood at camp as jovial and full of camaraderie. Everybody is out there to achieve something great, running for themself, a family member or a charity. Each day is a new chance to push the boundaries of what the human body can do. Past edition of MDS The2025 MDS Legendary saw approximately 1200 competitors and a 95% completion rate. This is higher than prior years, likely due to changes in the way the race is managed like the introduction of stock cubes for rehydration, cold water for cooling, and the elimination of water rationing at checkpoints throughout the race. Rachid El Morabity was the fastest male competitor, securing his 11th title in the time of 20:55:47. Meanwhile, Maryline Nakache reclaimed her 2023 crown as the fastest female, in a time of 23:57:20. The fastest competitors averaged overall speeds just over 12km per hour. This is incredibly speedy to have traversed 250km through the dunes of the desert, and the races are only getting more competitive. MDS advises that the average speed of the racers is 5.5km per hour, with a minimum cut off time of 3.5km per hour. In 2025, the slowest competitors took about 75 hours, covering closer to 3.3km per hour. While plenty of athletes return each year to race this grueling ultra-marathon, many others are there to undertake an adventure of their lifetime. One 2025 competitor said that ever since she had discovered the MDS, she had been determined to complete it. Another was racing her 15th MDS all while battling cancer. Others claim to be running for their partners and their children. Every competitor has their own motivations and their own story. While running an ultra-marathon across the Sahara desert is undeniably hard and painful, each competitor is proud to have achieved something amazing, with many claiming it is the 'adventure of a lifetime.' The number of runners enrolling in marathon and ultra-marathon events has increased exponentially over the past 20 years, following the increased visibility of marathons and ultra-marathons in media around the world. With more and more competitors each year, registrations for MDS and other running races are becoming more competitive.
Ya Biladi
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Morocco dominates opening stage of 39th Marathon des Sables
Morocco asserted its dominance from the outset of the 39th edition of the Marathon des Sables, which kicked off on Sunday between Jbel Erhraz and Oued Tijekht in the province of Errachidia. In this first 32 km stage, Mohamed El Morabity took the lead, crossing the finish line first with a time of 2h20'29''. «As always, the first stage is difficult—it's about finding the right rhythm», he said at the finish. He was closely followed by his brother, Rachid El Morabity—multiple-time winner of the event—who finished second in 2h21'37'', just over a minute behind. Another Moroccan, Hamid Yachou, rounded out the podium with a time of 2h23'11''. Despite some technical sections, including sandy stretches and cracked terrain, participants generally described the first stage as «accessible». In the women's race, French runner Maryline Nakache dominated the stage, finishing first in 2h58'22''. She was ten minutes ahead of Morocco's Aziza El Amrany (3h08'12''). Dutch athlete Ragna Debats, one of the favorites going into the event, completed the podium in 3h17'14'', nearly 19 minutes behind the leader. Held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, the 39th edition runs from April 4 to 14, 2025. More than 1,000 runners from 52 countries will tackle the grueling 250 km course across six stages. This record-breaking distance for the legendary race through the heart of the Moroccan desert challenges each participant to their physical and mental limits, making it an adventure of both endurance and athletic excellence.
Ya Biladi
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
1,000 runners gear up for 2025 Marathon des Sables in Moroccan Sahara
DR Estimated read time: 2' The 39th edition of the legendary Marathon des Sables will take place from April 4 to 14, 2025, in the heart of the Moroccan Sahara. This year, participants will face an unprecedented distance of 252 kilometers, spread over six stages. This marks the longest distance ever recorded in the history of this mythical event (previous editions did not exceed 250 km). Nearly 1,000 runners from 52 countries will forsake all comforts for an extraordinary sporting and human adventure, pushing them to explore the limits of their endurance. Organizers promise a demanding challenge, but also an exceptional experience for all participants. Among the favorites are brothers Mohamed and Rachid El Morabity, with a significant challenge for Rachid as he aims for a record-breaking 11th victory at the Marathon des Sables. He will be joined by the talented Aziz and Hamid Yachou, as well as other top-level contenders. In the women's category, the competition promises to be equally intense with the return of two great figures of the event, Marilyn Naget and Ragna Debats, who will challenge the reigning champion, Moroccan Aziza El Amrani. The Marathon des Sables is a unique endurance event where each runner must be completely self-sufficient in terms of food and carry their own equipment over 252 kilometers. But the distance is not the only challenge: participants will face the scorching dunes and rugged terrain, painful blisters, sleeping under a communal tent despite the heat and wind, without showers, subsisting solely on freeze-dried meals, and being deprived of phones and connection to the outside world, immersed in the isolation of the desert. Detailed Program: Friday, April 4: Arrival in Morocco, bus transfer to the desert, and installation at the bivouac. Saturday, April 5: Day of technical, administrative, and medical checks + night at the bivouac. Sunday, April 6: Stage 1 + night at the bivouac. Monday, April 7: Stage 2 + night at the bivouac. Tuesday, April 8: Stage 3 + night at the bivouac. Wednesday, April 9 & Thursday, April 10: Long stage over two days + night at the bivouac. Friday, April 11: Stage 5 + night at the bivouac. Saturday, April 12: Stage 6 + night at the bivouac. Sunday, April 13: Awards ceremony, festive evening, and night at the hotel. Monday, April 14: End of the adventure and transfer to the airport.
