RUN & TREK | HALF MARATHON DES SABLES

The HMDS has been designed to be accessible to all types of people. Everything is set up so that everyone can participate and become a finisher. You will find on this page the details concerning the distances, paces, time barriers and other particularities related to the adventure.

The HMDS course is divided into 3 stages, to be completed at your own pace: walking or running. Depending on the destination, there are 2 or 3 different formats:

70 km
100 km
120 km

Here is the breakdown for each stage:

Stage 1: 25 to 30km
Stage 2: 20, 40 or 60km
Stage 3: 25 to 30km

Depending on the edition, the type of terrain, the elevation gain and the distances may vary slightly.

A couple holding hands with each other in the desert

When registering, you will choose a certain distance. Nevertheless, you will have the possibility to adjust it until the time of the HMDS.

The exact distances of the HMDS are kept secret until the day of arrival, the day before departure.

Whatever the distance, the adventure remains the same. It’s on the 2nd stage that the biggest difference is made.

The HMDS is accessible to all levels, whether it’s on the 70, 100 or 120 kilometer distance. The only rule to respect is the minimum speed of 3,5km/h, which corresponds to a very slow walking pace, allowing you to complete the course completely at your pace.

In past editions, the average speed of HMDS participants have been 5.5km/h, a moderate walking pace.

Apart from the top 100, the vast majority of HMDS participants complete the course by walking. There is an average of 94% of finishers at the HMDS.