10 reasons why you should register for a 4 Desert Ultramarathon Series event instead of Marathon des Sables
Dubbed the ‘Toughest Footrace on Earth’, you might have heard about the legendary footrace in the heart of the Moroccan Sahara after Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews completed the race back in 2021 or maybe you watched the first episode of last year's Netflix documentary ‘Human Playground’.
Either way my guess is you’ve probably heard of the Marathon des Sables after watching a documentary of some sort and since then it’s always on your bucket list. But I suspect you might have not heard about the 4 Desert Ultramarathon Series. Am I right?
Essentially the format of both events are very similar. It is a week-long multi-stage ultramarathon covering 250 km (155 miles) on foot, approximately the distance of six back to back marathons. To add to the challenge of not only attempting to cover this epic feat on foot, the races are self-sufficient which means you are expected to carry everything you need for the entire week in your backpack.
Whilst the lure of the Marathon des Sables has never appealed to me I have coached many athletes across the finish line of both events. If a multi-stage ultramarathon is on your radar, there are some key differences you should be aware of between Marathon des Sables and a RacingThePlanet 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series event.
Here are 10 reasons why you should choose a 4 Desert Ultramarathon Series event instead of Marathon des Sables:
1. Female founded
Founded by Mary Gadams, also an ultramarathoner and endurance athlete. She’s completed the Western States 100 Miler, Atacama Crossing, Marathon des Sables, and so much more including the Boston Marathon (three times!).
In the mid-90s, Mary saw the need for a global event series that captured the best aspects of all the events she had previously completed. Her vision was to create a series of events that would encourage participants to push themselves beyond what they ever dreamt possible and in 2022 RacingThePlanet and the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon series was born.
2. Four annual events take place across the world’s most varied terrain
The four annual events take place across the world’s most varied terrain located in the driest, windiest, hottest and coldest deserts on Earth. The races are named the Atacama Crossing (Chile), Gobi March (Mongolia), Namib Race (Namibia) and The Last Desert (Antarctica).
Many competitors also aspire to join the 4 Deserts Club. In order to become a member you must successfully complete all four 250-kilometer (155 mile), self-supported footraces. To date, 304 individuals have qualified and joined the 4 Deserts Club. Some even choose to complete the entire series in one calendar year as part of the 4 Deserts Grand Slam. “Ultramarathon Man” Dean Karnazeas was the first person to join this club in 2008.
3. Ranked as one of the top ten endurance events in the world
Time Magazine has twice named the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series as one of the top ten endurance races in the world, alongside such races as the Tour de France, Marathon des Sables, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, 24 Hours of Le Mans and others.
Whilst Marathon des Sables is often dubbed the hardest ultramarathon on the planet, you only need to look at the completion rate. At well over 90%, many competitors are not seasoned ultrarunners. It’s not that any of the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series events are any harder, they are just different. Although you could argue Atacama Crossing (Chile) has the added challenge of the heat, altitude and terrain.
4. Fifth event that moves to a new location each year
In February 2008, a fifth annual race, called the RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon, was added to the calendar. This race, of a similar format, moves to a new country each year while highlighting the natural and cultural features of each region.
The first RacingTheplanet Ultramarathon was held in Vietnam where competitors conquered the rice terraces of Sapa in the northwest region and since then these races have been held in Nepal to Patagonia and everywhere in-between. In August 2022 last year, Breaking 250 went out to Lapland, Finland to participate in the 13th RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon. And to celebrate 20 years in 2023, a special race is being held in Jordan called RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race.
5. 30% of the competitors are women
Female participation rate in trail running has grown to almost 50% in the last 25 years but struggles to reach a mere 10% at many longer and more technical events such as the UTMB or Spine Race. Since the start of the Marathon des Sables in 1986 they have recorded a 20% female participation rate.
Last year RacingThePlanet: Lapland had the highest percentage of female participants ever with women making up 42% of the field. In the inaugural Gobi March, nearly 20 years ago the female contingent was no more than 10% of the overall participants.
6. Friends and family can join the last stage of the race with you
Friends and family can come to the final camp and join the last stage of the race as part of the Friends & Family Experience. They can join you sleeping under the stars, eating freeze dried meals and have the option of completing the final stage of the race with you (less than 20km/ 12 miles) or be taken to the final line to see you finish.
It is also possible to join as a friend/family for The Last Desert in Antarctica, however for this race you will be part of the entire expedition leaving from Ushuaia in Argentina for 10 days. Antarctica is a very special place that most will only go to once (if that!) and so sharing the memory with close family or friends makes it that extra bit special.
7. Campfires in the mornings and evenings to boil water and cook food
It sounds basic but if you’ve ever been to a RacingThePlanet event you’ll know hours spent around campfires in the early hours of the morning or late into the evening connecting with other participants is all part of the experience. In events such as the Marathon des Sables where the field size can be up to five times a RacingThePlanet event you’ll rarely get to connect with anyone outside of your assigned tent crew.
As part of the RacingThePlanet 20-Year celebrations this year all 2023 events will have a cafe for everyone to enjoy after a day out on the trails. Enjoy the cosy campsite and spectacular backdrops whilst sipping your hot drink of choice.
8. Focus is on completion rather than competing
The races are set up to allow for generous cut-off times. Approximately 20% of competitors will run most of the course, 60% combine running with walking and 20% will walk the entire course. If you can complete 40 kilometers/ 25 miles in 10-12 hours you should easily be able to meet the cut-off times. Compared with Marathon des Sables where 10% of competitors walk.
Since Marathon des Sables also hands out prize money and has a much larger field (usually five times RacingThePlanet and 4 Desert Ultramarathon Series events) the event attracts a growing roster of professional athletes.
9. Support local medical and education charities
Central to RacingThePlanet is its ethos to support local medical and education charities. RacingThePlanet has worked closely with the Y.L. Yang Education Foundation and Operation Smile in countries around the world, raising more than US$1 million. And when you register for a RacingThePlanet event, fundraising efforts for personal charities are actively encouraged.
RacingThePlanet has also donated tents and raised money to support people affected by natural disasters that have occurred in countries where the races are held, including major earthquakes in China, Chile, Ecuador and Nepal.
10. You’ll form lifelong friendships
The number of participants who take part in a RacingThePlanet event is usually no more than a couple hundred people compared to what can be above a thousand people at events like the Marathon des Sables. Since the field size is much smaller, expect to get to know fellow competitors and volunteers, not just your assigned tent mates.
Many say the best part of RacingThPlanet events is meeting other competitors and making new friends from all over the world. Many competitors meet up after the race, stop to have dinner when passing through a competitors home town or register for additional races together. Some even meet their future spouses!