Marathon Des Sables 2021 - Desert Dad Diary Day 8

The Final Stage

Sleep deprivation begins to take its toll and breakfast today is taken a little earlier at 6:00am.  The monotony of scrambled egg and a bread roll is now becoming too much.  Over breakfast we discuss various rumours and posts that groups are making, in the knowledge that the majority are unfounded.

After a minimal breakfast and my twice daily visit to tents 52-63 to wish everyone left the best of luck, my driver and I head to the start line to await the remaining contestants who’ll be challenged over the final Marathon stage today.  The Race Directors have decided to set the men and women off earlier today, at 7:00am and the elite runners one and a half hours later.

We are off and running, literally and the final Marathon stage is underway.  Every competitor looks confident and upbeat.  Hidden in the dunes this time and laying flat so as not to ruin anyones photo with my green jacket, I am almost stampeded by a plethora of runners.

Quickly after the start, we start off to CP1 and the dunes.  It is windy up there and the sand is buffeting my feet and my eyes are like sandpaper with every blink.  My cameras are getting increasingly filled with the finest sand, so need to be careful now.  Some lovely captures in the dunes but time is of the essence to return to Bivouac which we do with 45 minutes to spare.

The race ends today and Patrick Bauer personally hands every Competitor their Winners Medal.  

Lots of great pics but I need to send some as soon as possible.  This done it then allows me the time to focus on the other finishers.

There is a gap in proceedings now between Supper and Prize Giving and I am not entirely sure how to fill the gap. May as well go and annoy some tents. Supper negotiated next and very little is eaten to be honest. I go to Prize Giving but as suspected it rambled on for far too long. I need my bed I am so tired.