Tipperary man conquers legendary Marathon des Sables Challenge in Sahara Desert

Clonmel man Tony Kerton recently completed the world famous Marathon des Sables challenge, a seven-day foot race of about 250 kilometres, in the desert in southern Morocco.

The tortuous challenge, which can take up to 11 days in total to complete from airport out to airport back, took place this year from April 12 to 22. Close on 900 runners took part in what was the 38th staging of the ultra-marathon event first held in 1986. This time round there were 60 countries represented including 19 from Ireland, and at the conclusion of the Sahara saga across sand and rugged terrain, the equivalent of six regular marathons, there was a 93% finisher rate.

Understandably the Marathon des Sables, or MdS as it is sometimes referred to, is a huge logistical undertaking each year requiring 140 volunteers, 450 support staff, 60 medical staff, over 500 saharan tents, 140 all-terrain vehicles, two helicopters, eight commercial planes, 25 buses, five quads and, of course what else, two camels. And that is before you even begin to consider all the other equipment necessary, including food and water, for such a staging in the harsh terrain that is saharan north Africa.

For the athletes themselves, on top of the enormous challenge of running 250km in such testing conditions, each participant has to carry his/her own backpack containing food, sleeping gear and other vital equipment.

Since the first staging of the Marathon des Sables in 1986 when 23 pioneers took on the challenge, the event has grown into the legendary event that it is today. In the intervening 38 years over 22,000 competitors have taken part ranging in ages from 16 to 83.

Now you can add another name to the growing list, from Fr Mathew Terrace in Clonmel to the ‘Door of the Desert’ at Ouarzazate, Morocco, we all join in congratulating Tony Kerton on his amazing achievement in completing the 2024 staging of the Marathon des Sables.