Counting down

Fifty-eight days until they load us all on buses in Ouarzazate, Morocco and take me and some 60 other Americans out to the middle of the Sahara, along with the rest of the international competitors, to run the 26th Marathon de Sables (The Marathon of the Sands). Runners from 42 countries will converge that first week of April to test ourselves against heat, sand and fatigue in an ultra marathon called "the toughest footrace on the planet".
Over the course of 6 days and approximately 150 miles runners are completely self sufficient except for water rationed at check points and a bivouac each night. Carrying fully loaded packs with all our food, supplies, clothing and sleeping gear the course is broken into stages equaling about 20 miles each day with a middle stage of 50 miles followed by a full marathon, 26.2 miles the next day.  Compulsory items such as a compass, anti-venom kit, survival blanket and flares are checked by race officials along with a requisite 2000 calories per day each runner must have in their possession. The Sacramento Bee posted these pictures from last years race.
I have been training and accumulating equipment since December and over the remaining 2 months I will share my experiences running with a back pack, the gear required and my thoughts during the race.
Run Happy!