Hong Kong, China runner Ng Sau-wah wins 6th place in the women’s category of the Morocco Marathon des Sables
Established in 1986, the Marathon des Sables (SULTAN MARATHON DES SABLES, abbreviated as MDS) in the Sahara Desert of southern Morocco concluded on April 14, 2013. This year marked the 28th edition of the event, attracting over 1,200 participants. Hong Kong, China female runner Ng Sau-wah secured 6th place in the women’s category, marking another remarkable achievement following Chinese mainland athlete Chen Penbin’s performance in 2011, and currently the best result by an Asian athlete in this race.
The Marathon des Sables in Morocco’s Sahara Desert is one of the world’s most challenging multi-day extreme desert ultramarathons. Participants must carry their own food, clothing, and camping gear to complete six stages totaling 250 kilometers over seven days, with daily distances ranging from 20 to 80 kilometers. The 28th edition saw over 1,200 runners take part, with the route including traverses of desert quicksand, massive sand dunes, rocky peaks, and hard riverbeds. The event gathered numerous elite desert ultrarunners, with Moroccan athletes historically dominating the championship, while runners from Europe and the Americas pose strong challenges.
The Marathon des Sables is dubbed the “toughest footrace on Earth” partly because the high entry fee includes corpse repatriation costs—but this has only added to its allure for ultrarunners worldwide. Statistics show that veterans, retired athletes, and passionate trail runners make up the majority of MDS participants. French pro footballer Frédéric Adam, former Norwegian Olympic road cyclist Anita Valen who competed in Beijing and Athens, and British triathlete Andrew Faggs shared after the 2013 race that the Marathon des Sables is a mecca for extreme sports—desert running teaches us to revisit past pain and reflect positively on life. Italian veteran Marco Olmo, 65, ranked in the top 10 for six consecutive years and won the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) twice in 2006 and 2007, while French runner Vincent Delebarre, who finished second in UTMB 2004, placed 31st in this event. Age is no barrier for Marathon des Sables participants.
Event founder Patrick Bauer often says of the race: “Never seek comfort, never sigh in silence, for a wondrous world awaits your discovery. Trekkers must give their all to reach the edge of the lonely sands of time, but those who pay the price will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Sahara!” Perhaps the secret of desert ultrarunning lies in the fact that you can never truly gain anything out there—you just have to grit your teeth and persevere. The harsh desert environment favors only the brave and the strong; in this unforgiving world, you are but a tiny grain of sand.
In the end, host nation’s Mohamed El Morabity and American Megan Hicks claimed the men’s and women’s overall titles respectively. The 40-year-old El Morabity has won four championships and six runner-up spots—can his dynasty surpass his brother Lahcen’s record of 11 titles? The top ten of this race featured several European athletes, indicating that European runners are gradually closing the gap with those from desert nations like Morocco. Notably, Hong Kong, China’s Ng Sau-wah secured 6th place in the women’s category, the best result by an Asian athlete in the event to date. A practicing solicitor in Hong Kong, Ng founded Vibram Hong Kong 100, the city’s first 100-kilometer trail race, in her spare time with her husband. She is also one of Hong Kong’s top ultrarunners, having broken the women’s team fastest record in the 2012 Hong Kong 100km Oxfam Trailwalker alongside her teammates.
The Marathon des Sables in Morocco’s Sahara Desert is one of the world’s most challenging multi-day extreme desert ultramarathons. Participants must carry their own food, clothing, and camping gear to complete six stages totaling 250 kilometers over seven days, with daily distances ranging from 20 to 80 kilometers. The 28th edition saw over 1,200 runners take part, with the route including traverses of desert quicksand, massive sand dunes, rocky peaks, and hard riverbeds. The event gathered numerous elite desert ultrarunners, with Moroccan athletes historically dominating the championship, while runners from Europe and the Americas pose strong challenges.
The Marathon des Sables is dubbed the “toughest footrace on Earth” partly because the high entry fee includes corpse repatriation costs—but this has only added to its allure for ultrarunners worldwide. Statistics show that veterans, retired athletes, and passionate trail runners make up the majority of MDS participants. French pro footballer Frédéric Adam, former Norwegian Olympic road cyclist Anita Valen who competed in Beijing and Athens, and British triathlete Andrew Faggs shared after the 2013 race that the Marathon des Sables is a mecca for extreme sports—desert running teaches us to revisit past pain and reflect positively on life. Italian veteran Marco Olmo, 65, ranked in the top 10 for six consecutive years and won the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) twice in 2006 and 2007, while French runner Vincent Delebarre, who finished second in UTMB 2004, placed 31st in this event. Age is no barrier for Marathon des Sables participants.
Event founder Patrick Bauer often says of the race: “Never seek comfort, never sigh in silence, for a wondrous world awaits your discovery. Trekkers must give their all to reach the edge of the lonely sands of time, but those who pay the price will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Sahara!” Perhaps the secret of desert ultrarunning lies in the fact that you can never truly gain anything out there—you just have to grit your teeth and persevere. The harsh desert environment favors only the brave and the strong; in this unforgiving world, you are but a tiny grain of sand.
In the end, host nation’s Mohamed El Morabity and American Megan Hicks claimed the men’s and women’s overall titles respectively. The 40-year-old El Morabity has won four championships and six runner-up spots—can his dynasty surpass his brother Lahcen’s record of 11 titles? The top ten of this race featured several European athletes, indicating that European runners are gradually closing the gap with those from desert nations like Morocco. Notably, Hong Kong, China’s Ng Sau-wah secured 6th place in the women’s category, the best result by an Asian athlete in the event to date. A practicing solicitor in Hong Kong, Ng founded Vibram Hong Kong 100, the city’s first 100-kilometer trail race, in her spare time with her husband. She is also one of Hong Kong’s top ultrarunners, having broken the women’s team fastest record in the 2012 Hong Kong 100km Oxfam Trailwalker alongside her teammates.
The final stage of the 2013 Marathon des Sables was named the UNICEF Stage—the event partnered with UNICEF for a charitable fundraising run. This marked the first time in the race’s history, with funds going to support 200 children at the UNICEF Centre in Ouarzazate, Morocco. The Marathon des Sables also champions charity and public welfare. Australian runner Emma Guly participated to promote thirst4water.org, whose organization has educated over 10,000 children in China about water crises. Seventeen-year-old disabled teenager Marie was pushed across the Sahara by ten teammates, helping her realize her dream of running the Marathon des Sables.