Half Marathon Des Sables
Runners Are Excited To Take The Leap
Press Release / 24.09.2018
Before they can get a taste of the Half Marathon Des Sables, a self-sufficiency stage race, close to 300 runners have to undergo equipment checks, submit their medical certificate, and more..
Tomorrow, close to 300 international runners will take the leap on this 2nd edition of the Half Marathon Des Sable Fuerteventura. Memory help, the HMDS is a 120km race broken down into 3 stages, in food self-sufficiency, in a desert environment.
In 2018, two countries have the pleasure of welcoming the HMDS; Fuerteventura, Spain, one of the biggest islands of the Canary archipelago, and Peru, in the Ica desert this coming December.
The island of Fuerteventura is a superb “playing field” for our brave adventurers. They’ll grow surrounded by changing landscapes all throughout the race. Between sand and beaches, climbing dunes, and sometimes rocky trails, what’s certain is the contrasting landscapes.
The eve of the race is dedicated to technical controls, a precious moment for the runners. At the Hotel Playitas Resort, Fernando Gonzales, the Spanish race director, had the pleasure of meeting all of the runners. In a sea of running bibs, the organization makes sure to check every backpack, verify all the compulsory equipment, validate the medical certificate, and install the GPS tracking device on every runner.
“I’ve waited for months for this moment, I’m relieved to have had such a smooth technical check, now I’m getting more and more excited for the gun-off!” tells us Anne Emmanuel (bib 235 - FRA), who participates in the Half Marathon Des Sable Fuerteventura for the very first time. “It’s a real challenge for me, I have never completed a stage race before where there are sandy portions in the race. It’s a real discovery for me”.
In 2018, over 40% of the participants who’ll take on this edition of the Half Marathon Des Sable Fuerteventura are females. Certain runners are just discovering this universe, while others have already had a taste of it at the Marathan Des Sables Maroc.
The runners will be able to enjoy one last hotel night before taking on the 25km of the first stage. Tomorrow morning at the starting line begins the food autonomy part of the race, but, above everything else, begins an incredible sporting and human adventure.
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