The Marathon des Sables has long held legendary status in the world of endurance sport. Widely regarded as one of the toughest foot races on Earth, the multi-day race sees competitors cover roughly 250km across the Sahara Desert while carrying everything they need to survive for the week on their backs.
It’s a race that has fascinated trail runners, adventurers and endurance athletes for decades, but what is it actually like to experience it from the inside?
In the latest episode of The Outsider Podcast, we sat down with Ross Thompson to hear the full story of his journey to the start line, the months of preparation beforehand and the lessons he brought home from one of the world’s most iconic endurance events.
Preparing for the Unknown
Unlike many modern endurance events, Ross deliberately avoided spending hours researching the Marathon des Sables online. Instead, he relied on advice from a handful of trusted friends who had completed the race before him, preferring to discover much of the experience for himself.
His preparation centred around long, solitary training runs, deliberately uncomfortable terrain and learning to become comfortable with discomfort.
“It’s a game of chess with the body.”
Rather than trying to race every stage, Ross viewed the event as an exercise in patience. Every decision, from pacing to hydration to blister management, had to be made with the bigger picture in mind.
More Than Just a Race
While the Marathon des Sables is famous for its endless sand dunes and brutal temperatures, Ross says the people are what surprised him most.
Competitors from more than 60 countries quickly became a community, bonded by the shared challenge of crossing the desert together. Friendships formed in the camps each evening, where stories from the day’s stage were exchanged over dehydrated meals before everyone prepared to do it all again the next morning.
“Everybody there has got this invisible tattoo.”
For Ross, the race wasn’t simply about reaching the finish line. It was about becoming part of a unique community of people willing to embrace discomfort in pursuit of adventure.
Blisters, Sandstorms and Staying in the Game
No conversation about the Marathon des Sables would be complete without talking about blisters.
The combination of heat, fine desert sand and hundreds of kilometres on foot creates an almost unavoidable battle with damaged feet. Ross recounts the infamous blister clinic, where medical staff worked tirelessly each evening to treat runners before sending them back out for another day in the desert.
His philosophy throughout the week remained remarkably simple.
“Just stay in the game.”
Rather than chasing positions, he focused on protecting his body, managing the heat and making decisions that would allow him to keep moving forward. Sometimes that meant slowing down. Sometimes it meant resting through the hottest part of the day before continuing into the night.
Adventure Is About More Than the Finish Line
Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
