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The Marathon des Sables is underway, the toughest competition on the planet is now in its 38th edition.
The desert marathon started on the 12th of April and will continue until the 22nd of the same month. With an itinerary 240km long, “The Legendary MDS”, official title of this year’s race, confirms itself as one of the most difficult and extreme ever. It takes place in Morocco, under the sultry heat of the Saharan desert, in conditions that are anything but comfortable.
Nothing should be taken lightly. To take part in it, prior preparation is necessary to accustom the body to the tests of the desert, like dehydration and high temperatures. The call for caution is serious, yet, it has not always been enough to avoid “accidents”, since complications are just around the corner.
An emblematic case of this is the Italian marathon runner Mauro Prosperi, who took part in the competition in 1994. He was unaware that his race would turn into a nightmare, from which he survived only by a miracle.
The Marathon des Sables: inclusiveness and solidarity
Born in 1986, the Marathon des Sables takes place annually in Morocco, among harsh and evocative desert landscapes. However, it is not the only competition to take place in the desert. There exist other similar events, with a shorter format (70 to 120 km), in various countries around the world. They are called HALF MDS and will take place between May and December in Namibia, Cappadocia, Fuerteventura, Jordan, Egypt and even overseas, in the Ica desert of Peru.
The Marathon des Sables has evolved over the years: participants have multiplied, female percentage has considerably grown and the attention towards the themes of sustainability and solidarity have become ideological cornerstones of the event. Nevertheless, a key word has remained unchanged: “enjoy”.
The competition embraces many values, such as sacrifice, sharing, safety, respect, and brotherhood. Athletes from all over the world come to challenge their limits, including many women. This year, female participation has reached 35% of the total registered, breaking the record of the past editions. The aim is to achieve absolute equality between the two sexes in future contests.
Furthermore, the Saharan marathon has introduced some measures this year that meet the needs of women. These are: reserved clothing areas, for greater privacy; dedicated toilets at the bivouac and the checkpoints; periodic protections; reserved tents divided by gender for the entire duration of the event (8 nights); and, finally, a free training plan adaptable to the participants’ goals. The strong spirit of inclusiveness underlying the marathon is therefore evident.
Tragedies and achievements in the Sahara
Each edition of the Marathon des Sables is a challenge for its organizers. Every detail matters: from transport to the bivouac centres to the preparation of the checkpoints where marathon runners can refresh themselves after kilometres of walking under the scorching sun of the Sahara.
Unfortunately, however, not everything can be kept under control during the race. In the last edition, for example, there was a high number of withdrawals and disqualifications, which reached 30% of the total number of participants, due to the high temperatures. In fact, although the marathon took place in October, the heat peaks of 40 degrees complicated the recovery and hydration of the competing athletes.
In the past, there were many cases of illness among participants, and in some cases these were fatal. Since the start of the Marathon des Sables, 3 people have died in the desert. The latest case occurred during the 35th edition, one of the most difficult ever due to a combination of factors. The weather was abnormally hot and humid for the period (October) and many participants suffered from intestinal problems during the race. Further, the morale was lowered both by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and by the tragic cardiac arrest of a fifty-year-old Frenchman companion competing.
Despite the sad episodes, the Marathon des Sables also witnessed great achievements. Some participants, in fact, managed to challenge their limits successfully. Among them, Lys Girard and Christian Ginter deserve special mentions. The former is a sixteen-year-old marathon runner, the youngest participant who has completed the race; while the latter is a veteran of the marathon and has taken part in almost all editions.
Mauro Prosperi, the “Robinson Crusoe” of the desert
Among the most compelling stories linked to the Marathon des Sables, that of Mauro Prosperi undoubtedly deserves to be told. The policeman, former Pentathlon champion, took part in the 1994 edition, with strong motivation to compete in one of the most incredible scenarios in the world. He was unaware that his experience would turn into a nightmare.
The thirty-nine-year-old man got lost during the 4th day of the competition due to an unexpected sandstorm that completely changed the surrounding landscape. At the time, the number of participants was smaller than today and the risk of getting isolated and lost was greater. Thus, Mauro remained wandering in the Sahara Desert for ten days before finally being found and taken to hospital.
His story is incredible. Mauro Prosperi walked 291 km off course, crossing the border with Algeria. During his misfortune, thirst was his worst enemy. When he realized he had got lost, he only had half a bottle of water left, and he soon realized that he would have to drink his urine to survive.
He had basic equipment because to participate in the competition it was necessary to be self-sufficient. Yet, the food supplies were not enough. For this reason, he had to feed on the entrails and blood of bats found inside an abandoned Muslim shrine. On his aimless journey through the desert, he ate what he could: snakes, lizards, succulents.
During the hottest hours he sought shelter, while in the evening and in the early morning light he got moving. Desperate, after having gone unnoticed by two helicopters, he took the extreme step: he tried to commit suicide by cutting his wrists, but failed due to the level of dehydration in his body which made his blood thick. He took this as a sign and from that moment on was determined not to give up.
Salvation came thanks to a group of Berber shepherd women who, initially frightened by his appearance when they came across him, eventually rescued him and called the police. Thus, the nightmare ended, and Mauro could reunite with his family. The experience had weakened him considerably: he lost 16 kg, and it took 2 years of convalescence before the Italian marathon runner could fully recover.
The autobiography
Despite the bad vicissitudes, Mauro Prosperi participated in the Marathon des Sables another eight times. He recounted his experiences on the edge between life and death in an autobiographical book entitled Those 10 Days Beyond Life, co-written with his ex-wife. In the book, he retraces the ten days of wandering in the desert and lays bare the strong feelings and sensations experienced with a simple and direct style.
Some documentaries were also born from his story: one on the National Geographic Channel in 2004, entitled Expeditions to the Edge: Sahara Nightmare, and another in 2019, in the fifth episode of the Netflix series Lost in the Desert. Mauro was even dedicated a poem from a Tuareg prince.
The Italian marathon runner embodies an emblem of resistance and his story continues to fascinate and inspire generations of athletes.
