The Race Itself

The Eye of the Sahara Ultra Marathon is perhaps truly the most difficult ultra marathon in the world. In fact, it’s 3 ultra marathons in 3 days.

Thankfully, it’s not ‘self-sufficient’. That means your Arabic tents are set-up for you to collapse into each night. It means brekkie is calling you when the camels stir at dawn each morning.

And dinner is waiting to refuel you each evening. A water is every 5km during race days. So the only thing you need is your running gear, and lunch snacks (electrolytes, gels etc). Just walk/hike/shuffle/run. You’ll get there.

You

3 ultramarathons in 3 days is no f*cking joke.

That being said, you can do it. It’s just one (bleeding, blistering, tired) foot in front of the other. Can you literally take one more step? Of course you can. So, just don’t quit.

I want everyone to realise their potential. In an era where we get medals, and patted on the back, for ‘trying our best’, we’ve lost something. These type of experiences bring it back. Just keep marching. I will help you be ready. Don’t doubt yourself. See you in the Sahara.

The Route

The Eye of the Sahara is a famous ring structure looking like an Eye from space. It’s said to hold the Lost City of Atlantis beneath it. Our race starts slap bang in the middle of this bad boy. And we keep going until we reach the ancient city of Chinguetti. 160km away.

There is a flag in each dune, 1km apart, so you won’t get lost. Water stations every 5km where you can break. And camp at 50km where you can cry, and regret your decision to join until tomorrow.

Expect soft sand. Dunes the size of buildings. And not a cloud in the sky.

Water Stations

I hate self sufficient races. So this isn’t that. I don’t like the anxiety of worrying about gear and food, and I hate the feeling of the bag on my back. I want to focus on suffering through the running. So I created a race harder than any other due to the soft sand, but hey, at least it’s not self sufficient.

With that, there is unlimited water available every 5km, with shade and seating to recover. Here you check-in, refill your water bottles, and drum up the courage to eat another 5km. You’ll get there.

Sleeping

Our Mauritanian team showcase the hospitality of the local people like no other. Coming from their Arabic and Berber backgrounds, they will showcase how communities have existed in the harsh Saharan sands for millenia, and each night we’ll have our Moorish camp set-up. Sleeping 2 per tent, on camp beds, allowing you to face the ultra the next day (and the next, and the next).

There’ll also be dining tents, and a toilet tent. After a day fighting the dunes, it’ll feel like the Four Seasons.

Food

On arrival, and in the days leading up to the event, all food is provided. During the 3 race days, breakfast and dinner are provided by our local Mauritania team. Both meat and vegetarian options are available. Any additional food needs are no problem, just let us know in advance. For the meat-eaters, expect plenty of camel stew. For the veggies, it’s endless couscous and lentils. During race days, it’s your responsibility to fuel yourself on each ultra day. We insist on 1000 calorie minimum per day. Energy bars, gels etc can quickly get you there.

Health and Safety

My team and my priority is to keep you guys alive, at least long enough to finish the Eye of the Sahara Ultramarathon. So rest assured, we have every plan in place.

Not only are we in partnership with the Mauritanian Government for the event, we have medical professionals at camp, a helicopter on call for emergencies, in addition to travel health insurance being mandatory for all participants. In terms of Mauritania being a safe country? Read the next section….

Mauritania

Having visited all 197 countries in our beautiful country, I can confidently say Mauritania is one of the safest I’ve ever visited. Aside from hitting a stray camel on the highway, there is zero danger in 99% of Mauritania. A quarter of a century ago, Mauritania had a tricky reputation but it’s been decades of safety since then.

Yet due to the image of Saharan nations, Mauritania remains one of the least visited countries in the world. It’s a shame, and once you see the warmth of the local people, you’ll be coming back again and again I have no doubt.

Iron Ore Train

Mauritania has recently become more prominent for travelers and adventurers, and it’s largely down to the discovery of the ‘Iron Ore Train’. The longest train in the world, each day it emerges from the ore mine in the inner Sahara, and travels around 1000km, 20 hours or so, to the African Coast. WIth carriages full to the brim of iron ore.

Now, if you’re crazy enough, you can wait for it to stop, and hitch a ride on top of the iron ore. All night, through the depths of the desert. It’s an epic journey. We can do it after the ultra, if you dare.