Imagine…running over 250 km in an ultramarathon through the Sahara Desert—enduring scorching temperatures, treacherous mountains, sand dunes, jagged black rocks, and grueling sandstorms. The seven-day race through the Sahara Desert is called The Legendary Marathon des Sables (MDS), dubbed the toughest footrace on the planet. A true test of physical and mental fortitude!
CAA Members Lloyd and Roanna Sehn from Estevan went on this adventure of a lifetime in April 2024. “It was on our bucket list,” explained Lloyd. “We needed to know we could do it and we cherished the fact that we did it together as a married couple.” The Sehns have participated in races in the past, but this was the hardest race yet. They carried their own supplies and slept on the ground under a covered tent. Although, they didn’t get much sleep due to the sandstorms and soaring desert heat.
Lloyd and Roanna trained for about a year and a half to help prepare them for the race. This included running and weighted vest and heated workouts to try and acclimatize their bodies to physical activity in extreme temperatures. They entered other events/races to help develop their strengths and abilities.
The Sehns contacted a trusted and experienced CAA Travel Consultant who planned and booked their flights, accommodations, and excursions. Of the experience, they said: “We’re so happy with how things turned out and everything went smoothly.” They travelled from Regina, Saskatchewan to Paris, France where there was a charter to Morocco for the race. Afterwards, they spent time as tourists in Nice, France, enjoying the sights and sounds.
“The MDS was divided into six stages,” said Lloyd. “Each stage had its own unique challenges, and none were easy. There were two camels that kept the minimum pace and if you didn’t stay ahead of them, the race was over for you. To add to that, each stage had a time limit, and we had to reach the checkpoints (along the way) in a timely manner as well.”
During stage 1, Lloyd and Roanna passed through a beautiful gorge lined with large, jagged, black rocks which opened up to soft sand dunes.
Stage 2 began with a series of highly technical climbs. “It was slow moving with the elevation of the mountains, trekking through the soft sand that zapped your energy, and the sharp edges of the rocks,” said Lloyd.
Stage 3 started with a steep climb up on the rock face side of the mountain. The descent was truly magical. They had to lower themselves down the opposite side using rigging anchored into the mountain (a 25-degree slope), and then “slalom skied” down the sand to the bottom.
Stage 4 and 5 consisted of sand dune after sand dune, and more jagged rocks. “We were fatigued,” said Lloyd, “everything seemed hard, but we made it through. We were thinking and talking about what life will be like once we collect our medal, get on the bus, and head back to civilization. After eight days of desert life the simplest things seem amazing. We have had an incredible time despite the hardships we have had to endure.”
On the final day, the Sehns wished their tent mates “good luck,” stating, “we are all going home today!” They pushed hard and made it across the finish line. 1,000 runners entered the race. Lloyd and Roanna finished 448th and 449th out of the 781 participants that completed the race. Many dropped out due to fatigue, injury, and illness.
“This is more than a foot race. It’s a survival event. It’s about preservation, mental fortitude, and enduring a lot of suffering. But on the other side of all that it’s gratifying, exhilarating, and a personal journey for growth,” said Lloyd and Roanna.
To book your journey of a lifetime, wherever and whatever that may be, contact a CAA Travel Consultant by visiting a local CAA Store, call 1-800-564-6222, or visit caask.ca/travel.
Watch the 2024 MDS Legendary video for some more insight into this incredible ultramarathon!