At the Barcelona office they wanted to say goodbye and I took advantage of it to show them the equipment and luggage.
Joan B. couldn’t resist trying on the glasses, cap, backpack and drinks harness. Now we can imagine what the inhabitants of the Moroccan Sahara must think when they come across four hundred people dressed like this, running through the desert.
At the Barcelona office they wanted to say goodbye and I took advantage of it to show them the equipment and luggage.
Joan B. couldn’t resist trying on the glasses, cap, backpack and drinks harness. Now we can imagine what the inhabitants of the Moroccan Sahara must think when they come across four hundred people dressed like this, running through the desert.
I've been injured for a week, a week of absolute rest, a week of vacation or punishment...
With little time left before I leave for Morocco, I have developed a muscle strain. I have seen a couple of doctors, and the second has left me feeling more reassured than the first.
On the left of the image, breakfast: an energy bar, a Viennese coffee and cereal to mix with the cappuccino.
In the centre, the snacks to eat during the race: more energy bars, gels, nuts and a sachet of isotonic drink powder.
On the right, dinner: freeze-dried meals and soups instant.
“The important thing is to finish as sane as possible to, at each stage,
have enough oxygen reaching my brain to send back a few
sensations and experiences”.
Pere Mongay combines his professional work as a trip planner at Viajes Tuareg with his enthusiasm for outdoor activities. He feels a need to explore the mountains, on foot in summer or on skis in winter. He has competed in disciplines as diverse as orienteering raids, ski touring and mountain running. He is now preparing to take part for the first time in one of the world’s toughest long-distance races, the Marathon des Sables. As he talks, his passion for his work and outdoor sports shines through.
If we asked people in the street what an exercise stress test is, many would give the same definition: the medical examination footballers undergo when they sign for another team. We can all picture it: shorts and a treadmill to run on.
I have read in a document from the Marathon des Sables organisers that they recommend a minimum of 3,000 to 4,000 kilocalories per day per participant. 4,000 kilocalories is a lot! I have no idea how many calories or kcal I consume every day, but I will have to find out.
Today I rediscovered a new part of my body, the toes!
Last week I visited a shop specialising in athletics equipment. I was amazed by the space devoted to socks. Thousands of socks on display, in different sizes and colours and with a thousand and one features.
The spirit of Self-sufficiency of the Marathon des Sables is one of the features that makes this competition one of the most demanding races. Self-sufficiency in the desert means that each participant carries everything needed to survive for seven days, from a sleeping bag to all their food, except water.
The dates are getting closer and you have to start doing your homework.
There’s a list of equipment that I looked at a few months ago and thought: “Phew! I’ll take a proper look at this closer to the time.”. In fact, I think two items are essential: good footwear and a backpack. You need time to get used to both. As for footwear, we all know that you should never set off on a trekking wearing new boots, and the same goes for trainers: you have to get to know them, talk to them and let them mould to your feet.
To participate in the Marathon des Sables, planning your training well is essential.
On the one hand, there is physical preparation: the more accustomed our bodies are to running, the less they will suffer when covering 260 kilometres in seven days. On the other, we need to prepare for the conditions we will encounter in the desert. The terrain covered by the stages varies from hamada a erg and very stony areas.
What a pleasure it is to run, to put on a pair of trainers and head outside to clear your head after a long day at work. How healthy it is to let go of worries by running and exercising.
As you jog, you leave behind negative thoughts and accumulated tension; it’s a reset mental needs. I enjoy running: it gives me balance and lets me face everyday life with good humour and enthusiasm.
An activity you enjoy whenever your body and mind call for it becomes a routine requiring perseverance and discipline. Running for hours on end and getting kilometres into your legs is the minimum preparation for taking part in Marathon des Sables. With family and work commitments to consider, everyone has to juggle their time to find hours to train.
During the week, I manage to get out three evenings. I save Saturday or Sunday for three- or four-hour runs with my backpack on my back, my MP3 player, energy bars, plenty of water and... off I go!
It is hard to run in winter: you have to dress up in two tops, thermal tights, a hat and gloves, yet you still end up either freezing or wearing far too much. The classic image we all have of the jogging is the one where, on a hot afternoon, you pass along a seafront promenade among skaters and ice cream sellers with your walkman. The reality of training is different: lonelier, colder and harder. Normally it is at night, in the dim light of the street lamps, with fog or a little rain for company, and little noise apart from my inseparable comEvery step of the way...
Welcome to the blog of Viajes Tuareg!
This new blog opens with the adventure of Pere Mongay in the Marathon des Sables, one of the world's toughest endurance races, held in the sands of the Moroccan desert.
We will try to share their personal perspective with you, during both the preparation period and the race itself, and on their return home…
The Marathon des Sables is a long-distance foot race in which participants cover 250 kilometres through the Moroccan Sahara over seven days and six stages. It is one of the toughest endurance races in the world and a pioneering event that has inspired other desert races.