There are five stages in the race, along with a “solidarity” or charity stage that does not count for the overall ranking of the race. Each day race organizers provide the athletes with water and put up a tent for them to sleep under – otherwise they are on their own. This year’s race, the 36 th edition, will feature 1,100 competitors from 50 countries who will, like the 25,000 athletes who have participated in the event since 1986, take on the 250 km course carrying their food and equipment. Since then, Bauer’s event (he remains the race director) has continued to grow, with a record 1,300 competitors taking part in the 30th-anniversary race in 2015. Two years later the first Marathon des Sables (MDS) was born, with 23 “pioneers” taking on a similar challenge.
Running the Sahara inspired Matt Damon and the film’s producers to create H20 Africa, a non-profit foundation to raise awareness and funding for clean water initiatives in Africa.It all started in 1984 when Patrick Bauer (who was 28 at the time) took on a completely self-sufficient 12-day journey across the Sahara Desert, covering 350 km on foot. The films score was produced by Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, composed by Heitor Pereira, with songs from U2, Pearl Jam, and original songs performed by Wyclef Jean and the African Children's Choir. It’s a grueling test of will and a chance to accomplish something that no known person has ever achieved. Charlie Engle from the United States, Kevin Lin from Taiwan, and Ray Zahab from Canada, have run together in marathons before. Their goal is to run across six African countries, anticipating two marathons per day, for eighty days. This powerful and inspirational film chronicles an attempt by three ultra marathoners to run across the entire length of Africa’s Sahara Desert, tackling not only the elements, but also unimaginable physical and emotional obstacles. Running the Sahara is a feature documentary narrated and executive produced by Academy Award winner Matt Damon and directed by Academy Award winner James Moll.
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