Photographer Kirsten Kortebein provides the following photo gallery of the 2013 Marathon des Sables.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Katharine Heffer](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Katharine-Heffer.jpg)
“ACDC gets me through this.” – Katharine Heffer, Great Britain
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Meghan Hicks - finish line win](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Meghan-Hicks-finish-line-win1.jpg)
Female champion Meghan Hicks (USA) celebrates at the finish line.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Miguel Capo - Carlos Sa - Mohamad Ahansal - Aziz El Akad](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Miguel-Capo-Carlos-Sa-Mohamad-Ahansal-Aziz-El-Akad.jpg)
Four of the top men’s racers – (left-to-right) Miguel Capo, Carlos Sa, Mohamad Ahansal, and Aziz El Akad – run in their typical “pack” formation during Stage 3.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Mustapha Ait Amar](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Mustapha-Ait-Amar.jpg)
Mustapha Ait Amar of Morocco prepares couscous as a final meal during the pre-race “acclimatization” day.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Rory Coleman toe nail polish](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Rory-Coleman-toe-nail-polish.jpg)
Rory Coleman of Great Britain sports international toenails during the Marathon des Sables.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Samir Akhdar](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Samir-Akhdar.jpg)
“When the weather is good, your morale is good. And when your morale is good, you are strong.” – Samir Akhdar, Morocco
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Stage 3 - nap](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Stage-3-nap.jpg)
Taking advantage of the rest tents provided, a runner naps at a checkpoint during the third stage.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Stage 3 - rocky dune](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Stage-3-rocky-dune.jpg)
Runners scale a rocky dune during the marathon’s third stage.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Stage 4 - dune field](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Stage-4-dune-field.jpg)
Runners navigate a dune field during the fourth and longest stage of the MdS.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Stage 4 - Mohamed Lahna](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Stage-4-Mohamed-Lahna.jpg)
Mohamed Lahna enters a checkpoint during Stage Four. Lahna is a Moroccan paratriathlete.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Stage 4 - road book](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Stage-4-road-book.jpg)
A runner examines her roadbook while cooking dinner during Stage Four, the race’s longest stage. After her meal, she still had 30 km to go to complete the course.
![2013 Marathon des Sables - Stage 5 - Carlos Medina](https://irunfar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-Marathon-des-Sables-Stage-5-Carlos-Medina.jpg)
USA’s Carlos Medina uses words of encouragement as motivation during the fifth and final stage of the 2013 Marathon des Sables.