Miles Hilton Barber logo and link back to Home page the adventurerrunners in the Marathon des Sables

In April 1999, a 54 year-old Miles completed the toughest foot-race in the World - the Marathon des Sables, a 150 mile Ultra-Marathon race through the 120 degree heat of the Sahara Desert.

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Desert Adventures

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image of runners at the starting line

Starting Line
Over 500 competitors from around the world lined up to start the Marathon des Sables in Morocco.

image of Jon and Miles

Jon and Miles
In the dunes or less rocky ground, Miles would hold tapes attached to Jon's waist as they ran. Miles depended on Jon for verbal signals to avoid rocks or holes and for any change in angle of the ground.

image of dunes in the desert

Dunes
Miles and Jon made faster progress than many through the energy-sapping dunes but were slower over the more complicated rocky ground.

image of a visit to the Medic's tent

Medic Tent
Most competitors would visit the medic's tent at the end of each day to have blisters sliced, and wounds dressed. If you required to be put on a drip to treat dehydration more than twice you were eliminated. Everyone feared the medics.

image of runners

Challenging Landscape
Endless days of sand or rock, but always a word of encouragement between competitors.

image of Miles on a dune

Miles alone
The sense of space, standing alone in the vast dunes of the Sahara is awesome.

image of Miles' feet

Miles' Feet
After just three days the heat, sand and sweat had taken its toll on Miles' feet.

image of Miles on a dune

Finish Line
Miles and Jon proudly wear their finishers medals after completing the 160 mile Marathon des Sables, known as the "Toughest Footrace on Earth".