The Sahara Marathon Is Exceptionally Brutal
Foot-wrapped heat-insulating booties, a water bottle with a straw hanging from the chest, a wide-brimmed sun hat covering the head to the neck, and a large backpack containing a sleeping bag and survival gear — this is the standard gear for participants in the Sahara Desert Marathon. The 26th edition of the annual race, known as the "Hell Marathon," has just kicked off.
Participating in this race also comes with requirements — a medical certificate and an entry fee of 2,200 euros (approximately 18,166 RMB). This fee includes daily drinking water and tents for competitors, and, of course, the infamous body repatriation fee.
To prevent participants from dying of dehydration, the organizers allow one intravenous drip during the race, but those who require more than two will be considered to have withdrawn. Harsh weather conditions and strict race rules have associated this event with "death" from the start, and athlete fatalities during the race are no longer news.
Despite its brutality, the Hell Marathon holds a certain allure that attracts more and more brave souls each year — over 13,000 people have signed up for this edition.