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 […]

By on March 28, 2009 | Comments

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.

Bryon Powell

Bryon Powell is the Founding Editor of iRunFar. He’s been writing about trail running, ultrarunning, and running gear for more than 15 years. Aside from iRunFar, he’s authored the books Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running, been a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, written for publications including Outside, Sierra, and Running Times, and coached ultrarunners of all abilities. Based in Silverton, Colorado, Bryon is an avid trail runner and ultrarunner who competes in events from the Hardrock 100 Mile just out his front door to races long and short around the world, that is, when he’s not fly fishing or tending to his garden.