Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) My favourite part of watching the Marathon des Sables unfold every year is the finish line photos. It’s just the most incredible raw human emotion, after a week of intense struggle. Gets me every time. ;-) Results here.

Moroccan competitor Mohamad Ahansal won his second Marathon des Sables, treating himself to a stage victory, and the crowd to a splendidly accrobatic cartwheel on the finish line in Tazzarine. After a long series of MDS coming second after his brother Lahcen, this child of Zagora demonstrated this year a great strategic sense. He took a clear lead on the first stage, gaining 17 minutes over his challengers, and then simply kept control over them. Despite his best efforts, Jordanian runner Salameh Al Aqra’ could never make up for his stage one defeat, although we owe him much of this week’s excitement. Just like last year, Aziz El Akad won a well deserves third rank.

Another stage event just finished is the 4deserts Atacama Crossing. It got lots of attention this year with Dean Karnazes running (and winning!). He even kept a Runners World blog going:

The past week had been brutal, beautiful, and at points (like when faced with a 500-foot sand dune after 40 miles of running) seemingly impossible

Congrats to Irishmen Joseph Kelly, Shane O’ Rourke, Rossa O’ Donnell and James McQuillan who finsihed 4th, 6th, 26th and 48th respectively. Brilliant running! Next stage event in the 4deserts series is the Gobi March in which some of our Wednesday Night Runners are taking part…..

-Aisling-

Photo from Darbaroud.com