Just how hard is the Marathon des Sables?
One runner shares the story of his first-ever DNF at the 250-km race through the Sahara Desert and how it changed his perspective on why we push ourselves in racing

When it comes to the world’s toughest running challenges, anyone familiar with the Marathon des Sables would tell you that it ranks near the top. It’s often referred to in the off-road running world as the “toughest foot race in the world,” for good reason. The 250-km, multi-day stage race across the Moroccan Sahara is mostly unsupported (participants carry all their belongings on their back, minus water and tents for sleeping at night, which are provided by the race) and the conditions are punishing–think sandstorms and 40 C heat. For runners facing the ultimate test of grit and endurance, it delivers in spades.

Like many competitive runners, Toronto’s Pro Sarbadhikari has spent years training hard in the hopes of squeezing a little more out of himself each time he lines up at a race. The realtor and father of two has travelled the world racing big-city marathons (he has 30 marathon finishes and 14 Ironman triathlons in all). He realizes that at 53, he’s likely not getting much faster, but the satisfaction of pushing himself as a serious, recreational runner has kept him hungry for the challenges our sport has to offer. When he first heard of Marathon des Sables, he knew that a challenge of that magnitude would be the perfect opportunity to push his own limits.
Sarbadhikari entered the race last year feeling strong and ready. His impressive racing history gave him the confidence that he could get through any race, no matter how difficult. But no level of meticulous planning or training (he had logged regular weeks of 150 kilometres in training) could prepare him for the brutal conditions of MDS. A few days into the race, his body and mind reached their breaking point and he was forced to face his first ever DNF when medical staff pulled him off the course.

That’s when his entire perspective on running and racing changed. Sarbadhikari realized he had to erase his competitive mindset if he was going to be successful in a future attempt. He realized that racing is about more than numbers and finish lines.
“It’s not just a running race,” he explains, of MDS. “The first time around, I looked at it as just six back-to-back marathons. But you have to forget about speed. In those conditions, it’s about survival, not running.”
Sarbadhikari, who is recovering from a stress fracture that prevented him from racing last month’s edition of the race, plans to return next year. He has thrown previous performance expectations out the window and says all he can think about is giving it another go.

“It humbled me to the core,” he says. “I run marathons because they’re hard. Now that this race has defeated me once, I know I have to go back and finish what I started, but next time I’m going in realizing that I’m not as invincible as I thought,” he laughs.
Sarbadhikari’s experience is a great example of why runners seek out seemingly impossible challenges. We long for the feeling of accomplishment after facing adversity. We want to push ourselves past our perceived limits. We want to come out the other side stronger.
“People comment that running marathons in cool cities must be such a great way to sightsee,” he says. “That’s never been the case when I’ve run marathons–I’ve been focused on the jersey of the runner in front of me while I hunt them down. Next time I take on Marathon des Sables, I’m not worrying about the jersey in front of me. I’m going in for an adventure, likely walking more than running, and most importantly, I want to have fun. Getting to do races like these is a gift.”