Want to enter the MdS? This website is for entries from the UK and Republic of Ireland. To register for a place, please visit the registration page, indicating the year you would like to compete.
Availability
The MdS is run annually at the end of March or beginning of April. The good news? There are more than 500 places for each event reserved for UK & Irish Entries. The bad news? Interest in those places is very high, so they usually book up well in advance. You may have to wait. But there is a bright side: you’ll have more time to train and raise money for your chosen charity.
Charity Places
Some of the UK & Ireland allocation is reserved for charities, which may have a place even if we don’t. Please check our charity places page for information.
Teams
If you know two other people as adventurous as you, why not enter as a team? You’ll treble the fun and the money you raise. Team members pay a slightly higher registration fee and your ranking is recorded as a team.
To Compete
To compete in the Marathon des Sables you must:
1. Accept the rules, which govern the race. 2. Meet all deadlines for payments. 3. Meet all deadlines for completion of registration forms(an online form must be completed after registration). 4. Keep your contact details up to date. 5. Provide a sealed letter addressed to the Medical Director if you are undergoing long-term treatment for any chronic disease. 6. Provide an ECG and medical certificate signed by a doctor. This must be presented the day before the start of the race. 7. Take out insurance that will (as a minimum) cover you for cancellation in case of illness or injury prior to the race.
What To Do Next
In a word: prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Then prepare some more. Get yourself fit, get your equipment right and get yourself sponsored because MdS is a challenge like no other. Ideally you would have started training and preparation from October – six months before the race. Check out the rest of this site and the wide range of available books and other online resources for advice on how to prepare nutritionally for adventure racing. www.runultra.co.uk also has all you need to know about training, nutrition and kit for MdS.