About Racing the Planet

The Sahara Race is a self-supported footrace across 150 miles (250 kilometers) of the Sahara Desert in Egypt. The race consists of six stages, lasting 7 days, with distances ranging from 10 to 50 miles (20 - 80 kilometers) per stage. There will be checkpoints conveniently positioned along the course every 7 or 8 miles (10 - 12 kilometers). Competitors are required to be fully self-supported throughout the event and must carry all their own food, gear and clothing which they will need to complete the 150 mile (250 kilometer) course. Water and a place in a tent will be provided daily.

Terrain: Sahara Race competitors can expect a land of contrasts: rocky mountains giving way to gold, red and white sand dunes, stony expanses, the occasional palm-filled oasis, and pools of water and dried-up river beds where oleanders grow. Two thirds of Egypt lies in the Sahara Desert which was a fertile land populated by elephant and giraffe 8,000 years ago.

Weather: Egypt is one of the hottest and sunniest countries in the world. The heat of the Sahara in Egypt is fierce and there is almost no relief from one day to another, however very low humidity makes the heat more bearable. Temperatures can fall rather abruptly at night so that desert evenings can be quite chilly.

All Mandatory Equipment must be carried by each individual throughout the event. Competitors may be subject to backpack checks at any stage of the race and missing items will lead to time penalties being enforced. As the race progresses competitors may eat or discard one pound of food or 2,000 calories each day.