Which desert is crossed by Morocco's Marathon des Sables footrace?

The Marathon des Sables footrace crosses Morocco’s Sahara Desert. The flagship event, now called MDS Legendary, is a multi-stage ultramarathon held in the Moroccan Sahara, where competitors cover roughly 250 kilometres over six stages.

The race was created by French adventurer Patrick Bauer, whose earlier solo crossing of part of the Sahara inspired the event. The first edition took place in 1986 with just 23 competitors. Runners must carry their own food and equipment, while organizers provide water, making the race as much a test of planning and endurance as of running speed.

The route is not simply a continuous sea of sand. Competitors encounter dunes, rocky plateaus, dry riverbeds, oases and small mountains. That variety is one reason the race is often described as an ultramarathon through the desert rather than a conventional marathon.

A common mix-up is that “Marathon des Sables” now refers to an international series with events in places such as Peru, Namibia and Jordan. The original and best-known Moroccan race, however, is the one associated with the Sahara Desert.