Rockwellian runs the Marathon Des Sables

Ross Thompson, from class of 1988, also president of the Union 2023/2024 took on the Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert, Morocco. The race started on Easter Sunday, April 3rd 2026.

Dubbed the toughest footrace on earth, the mildly legendary, self-sufficient 270km ultramarathon that is MDS is held annually in the Moroccan Sahara over 6 stages in 7 days. Participants carry all their food, gear, and supplies on their backs, battling temperatures over 35 degrees, plus sand storms and show-stopping mega blisters on their feet that could bring more than just pain if infected.

Now in its 40th year, the fun began on Sunday, April 5th, and wrapped up yesterday, Saturday 11th, participants sleeping out in berber tents and tucking in to the sugar and banana sandwiches their mums had packed.

“I have spent the past 8 days out in the desert,” Ross tells us, “running, walking, crawling and clawing my way to the finish line after what sometimes felt like an endless 270 kilometres. And yet, it felt pretty great each and every day too…“Except maybe on day 4, when we had to cover a fairly gruelling 100 kilometres…”

You can find out more about MDS HERE