Watch the "Marathon of the Sands" Movie

Anyone who’s been following iRunFar for more than half a year knows that we love the Marathon des Sables. I personally ran the 2009 edition and can’t wait to go back. I just can’t get enough of MdS. Anyway, I recently had the good fortune to learn that Marathon of the Sands, a documentary on [...]

Inov-8 Race Pro 22 (and Inov-8 Shoulder Strap Bottle Holders) Review

With this review, I feel as if I am revealing the location of an endangered animal, what could be perceived as both a documentation of an important scientific occurrence and a callous expose. While I’m aware that my gear-review subject, the Inov-8 Race Pro 22 backpack, is a widely available inanimate object, I still think [...]

Orginal Buff Review

One interesting aspect of the Marathon des Sables is that each of the awards is named for a sponsor. I and the rest of Dreamchasers USA team were awarded the Buff Trophy for finishing third. In a beautiful coincidence, I and others in the American contingent fell in love with the enormously versatile Buff during [...]

MdS Gear: Pack and Sleep System

Anyone who has run a self-sufficient stage race knows that the contents of your backpack become the foundation of your world throughout the week. Need to take care of a problem? A solution had better be in the pack, because if it’s not there, you’re SOL. Fortunately, my 25 liters of supplies were [...]

MdS 2009: Stage 4 and Overall Results

Wish I could have posted results earlier, but I missed a small window to post in camp after the Stage 4 results were posted and have been tied up since we arrive back in Ouarzazate yesterday afternoon. Anyway, I finished the full marathon distance Stage 4 in 3:42, which was good enough for 26th [...]

2009 MdS Stage 3 (56 miles)

As noted earlier, this MdS is unique in that we have not been made aware of future stages in advance. In the evening after Stage 2 we were told that Stage 3 would not be the already longer than usual 80k, but instead 91k/miles. We were told it was not an April fools joke & [...]

MdS 2009 – Stage 2 (36k)

Stage 2 went well for me, the Dreamchasers, & Meghan. My effort was slightly reduced today – by necessity & design. I started without any major complaint & finished the same way. However, I felt I went right at threshhold yesterday & have the long stage tomorrow. Still cool, but slightly hotter & windy.
Today’s [...]

MdS 2009: Stage 1

I received an education in dunes today. Completed Dunes 101, 102, & am cramming hard for my 201 final tomorrow. When the difference between running fast or slow in a race is at issue, you learn quickly.
Long story short, another temperate day. I felt that I gave an honest effort – actually a bit more [...]

MdS 2009: Team Dreamchasers USA

Bryon Powell – 869; Ted Archer – 868; Michael Wardian – 870Team Dreamchasers USA on the morning before the first stage.Bon Voyage!

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 cancelation has been. While the rain may make for “interesting” running, it makes driving large trucks to remote bivouacs and control points even more tenuous. Regardless, game on!
Today’s focus was [...]

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