The Marathon des Sables - Marathon of the Sands - is taking place in the Sahara desert in Morocco, with more than 1,000 competitors running 151 miles in up to 50C heat [AFP]
Published On 10 Apr 201010 Apr 2010
That is 250km of carrying everything except water and a tent over six days in some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world [AFP]
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Smiles in the daytime, but runners have been known to break down in tears during the 50-mile overnight stage [AFP]
Competitors can have only 22.5 litres of water every 48 hours in the baking desert heat [AFP]
Runners must carry sleeping bags, cooking equipment and food, compasses and snake venom antidotes among many other items of kit [AFP]
The race finishes on Sunday April 10 after beginning the previous Monday [AFP]
