2009 MdS Admin Day Delayed, First Stage Canceled

While we have not been told the specifics as to why, yesterday’s rain has already affected this year’s Marathon des Sables. Today’s Admin Day at the bivouac has been canceled. More important, tomorrow’s first stage has been canceled and will not be made up. The race will lose 30 km (18.6 miles) to total “only” 212 km. We will stay at our sweet hotel, Hotel Kasbah Tizimi, another night.

According to race personnel, the first bivouac was “ruined” … and not because of the British. Interestingly, a few Brits refused to take a hotel last night and slept in the washed out bivouac.

It’s still cool and overcast with a light drizzle. I expect the desert will be in full bloom by week’s end. The only change in the week’s forecast was a 1 C increase in the lowest low, which gives me comfort that my ultralight PhD Minim Ultra sleeping bag will be sufficient. I hope so, as it saves me a good bit of weight.

Related articles:

1. MdS Prelude: The Deluge iRunFar fans, friends, and family, on Wednesday I arrived safe and sound (and, more importantly, with all my gear) in Morocco. In the past three days, I’ve had enough adventures...
2. Marathon des Sables Tips, Training, and News iRunFar brings together its Marathon des Sables articles to create a Marathon des Sables Guide and resource center....
3. MdS Admin Day Redo I’m excited to share that the 2009 Marathon des Sables will start at 9 tomorrow morning. I’ve not shared how real the possibility of race cancellation has been. While the...

Filed under Bryon, Races · Tagged with Marathon des Sables

Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
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