Marathon des Sables 2027: why I'm running 250+ km through the Sahara
A brief overview of my motivation behind the marathon des sables
11/8/20263 min read
In April 2027 I will stand on the start line of the Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan Sahara. More than 250 km, about a week, temperatures that can climb to 50 °C, and everything I need on my back. For someone who now spends most of his life in the snow, it is the hardest goal I have ever set. That is exactly why I want to do it.
Over the coming months I'll share how I train, what I carry, what it costs and how we're filming it. If you want to follow along, this is the place.
The moment I decided
The idea is older than you might think. Right after I finished my Ironman, the Marathon des Sables was already in the back of my head. But it only became real when I came back from the Arctic and knew I needed a new challenge. After years of snow and ice, the desert made no sense. It is everything I'm not used to. And that's the reason why it's perfect.
My place for the 41st edition is confirmed. The race runs from 2 to 12 April 2027.
What is the Marathon des Sables?
It is often called the toughest footrace on earth, and it started with one man. In 1984 the Frenchman Patrick Bauer crossed 350 km of the Sahara alone, in 12 days, with a 35 kg pack. Two years later the first race started with 23 runners.
Today it is a stage race in six stages through the Moroccan Sahara. The route stays secret until the road book is handed out just before the start. The longest stage is around 80 km and runs on into a second day.
The hardest part is that you carry everything yourself. Food for the whole week, at least 2,000 kcal per day. A sleeping bag, cooking gear and the mandatory safety kit: compass, signal mirror, survival blanket, headlamp. The organisers only hand out water rations and put up an open Berber tent that you share with seven other runners. My pack will weigh between 13 and 15 kg at the start.
Why someone from the cold wants the Sahara
I'm a Belgian outdoor life (friluftsliv) student at HVL in Sogndal, Norway. Most of my time goes to climbing, ski touring and winter expeditions. In the Arctic I set the records for Malangen Rundt and Malangen på tvers, two ski tours near Tromsø.
At 18 I organised my own Ironman. I wanted to do it somewhere that meant something to me, so I did it at Nordfjord folkehøgskule in Sandane, a place that means a ton to me. The film we made of it reached Belgian media. Later I finished 3rd in a 60 km ultra in Antwerp, on a day that tested how I handle heat.
The hardest part: from Norwegian winter to 50 °C
I'm not scared of the distance. What will be really hard is the heat. Sogndal in January is not exactly 50 °C, and going from a Norwegian winter to the Sahara is a huge jump for the body.
I'm not heat training yet. That starts closer to the race, and I'll write a full post about it then. For now the focus is building a strong base, with a sauna session now and then for recovery.
It has not all gone smoothly. I've had problems with shin splints, and I'm still keeping a close eye on them. The good news: they are disappearing steadily.
More than a race
For me, the Marathon des Sables is not only about running. With Xtreme Visuals, the student company I co-founded, we are making a professional documentary around the race. I want to learn how to produce a real film, how to work with brands, and build a name for myself. It is also a step towards Ad Vectem, the bigger expedition I'm working towards.
The film has one goal: to inspire people to take a chance and try something that looks impossible. Not everyone needs to run through the Sahara. But everyone has a horizon they could push a little further. You can see where we come from in the trailer of my Ironman film. It is two years old, and we have learned a lot since.
My goal
Finish. That comes first. But I'm not going there just to survive. I want to put down the best time I possibly can.
Thank you, and how to be part of it
A project like this needs support, and a big thank you goes to Climbing Managers for a large part of the backing so far. Together we have raised €2,000 of the €15,000 budget: €4,000 for the race entry, €8,000 for film production, €1,500 for gear and €1,500 for the unexpected.
We are looking for partners who want to be part of the story, from local businesses in Sogndal and Belgium to brands that want to stand on the start line with us. Packages start at €500. All the details are on the Marathon des Sables partnership page, or email me at luka.brosius@advectem.com.
Follow the journey
A new post goes up here every two weeks, with the full Everest Marathon story coming soon. For updates, follow me on Instagram. And if you know a company that should be part of this, send them this post. It helps more than you think.
See you at the start line.
Luka